Rab Neutrino Pro Down Jacket Review

Bottom Line

The Rab Neutrino Pro is a warm and versatile winter jacket that ranks near the top of our lineup of best winter jackets and best down jackets.

We love its hearty baffles packed with 800-fill power down and outer shell resilient enough to handle light rain and frozen precipitation. It quickly entered our rotation of jackets and remains one we reach for often on the coldest days.

The Neutrino Pro’s impressive loft packs down small in a pack, making it an excellent choice for carrying into the backcountry. Treated with Nikwax, the down insulation is also hydrophobic, which helps prevent the down from soaking through.

Gear thrashers beware, the shell is not as durable as others we tested. We found a few feathers poking out of the seams after a few months of repeated use, and it is not very resilient or protective to encounters with brush or scraping past rocks.

The Neutrino Pro is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a packable down jacket with an impressive weight-to-warmth ratio. While you might not need the technical performance for most in-town outings, this jacket is an excellent backcountry puffy for stuffing into a backpack and deploying for rapid warmth when the temperatures plummet.

How We Tested

We tested the Rab Neutrino Pro in Alaska’s winter cold over three months. From below-zero temperatures to snow and sleet, the Neutrino Pro was tested in a variety of conditions experienced in the Alaskan backcountry.

Warmth

The Rab Neutrino Pro is a masterclass in technical warmth, making it a standout choice for those braving frigid conditions. Packed with 7.5 ounces of high-loft, 800-fill power goose down, this jacket offers serious insulation, rivaling some of the warmest parkas on the market. The baffles of the jacket are well placed through the torso and eliminate any cold spots.

We found that this jacket is best suited for low-output activities like wearing at camp, or throwing on when taking a break on a cold weather hike. We used this in Alaska’s winter cold from the single digits to above freezing and found it to be too warm to exercise in temperatures above twenty degrees. While this jacket may be too warm to be a viable three-season option, it excels in cold temperatures and is the perfect choice for a basecamp coat, or lightweight winter camping puffy.

Weather Resistance

In line with most down jackets, we found the Rab Neutrino Pro to have less than stellar weather resistance. Though not designed to guard against heavy precipitation, the Neutrino Pro was able to withstand light rain and moderate amounts of frozen precipitation. The Pertex Quantum Pro shell is treated with a DWR finish that is enough for quick exposure to moisture but is no match for heavy rain.

We took this jacket out in a winter snowstorm and were impressed with how it handled frozen precipitation. It quickly shed snowflakes and worked well enough to keep us dry. However, due to this jacket’s length, layering a waterproof shell over the top leaves the bottom of the jacket exposed to moisture. It quickly wetted through from water rolling off the shell. The Rab Neutrino Pro has its place as an insulating jacket and does that very well. However, it’s very easy for winter storms to surpass this jacket’s weather resistance and we suggest this jacket for times without heavy precipitation or only in dryer snow.

Comfort

While the Rab Neutrino Pro lacks the trim and sleek fit of other jackets, it isn’t overly large or overbuilt like other parkas tested. We found that it strikes the balance between an athletic cut while still being roomy enough to layer underneath comfortably. As mentioned previously, the Rab Neutrino Pro does not layer as well with a shell over top due to its length. This leaves the bottom hanging out and exposed to moisture.

The Neutrino Pro is a decidedly technical jacket. Most at home in the mountains and on the trails, it may not be the best fit for city wear. This jacket functions best as an insulating layer on the trail or at camp. Too warm for three-season use, this is definitely a jacket for cold winter months. We loved throwing this jacket on for quick warmth whether at camp, pausing for a hike, or before a frigid backcountry ski descent.

Weight & Packability

The Rab Neutrino Pro is a well-designed jacket built with attention to detail. The fleece lining in the pockets and along the collar is warm and comfortable on the skin. The synthetic insulated baffle guarding the front zipper is a great addition to provide warmth in an area frequently exposed to moisture.

With only two hand pockets on the exterior, we were frequently left wanting an exterior chest pocket. However, the interior chest pocket is large enough for a phone in addition to other smaller items like a hat or gloves.

The adjustment on the hood is tightened in the front with two cinch cords located on the inside of the collar. This meant unzipping the jacket and exposing us to the elements to tighten it down. The back of the hood has a simple velcro strap that doesn’t provide the same cinching power as an elastic strap.

The left-handed main zipper may take some getting used to if you’re not used to European brands. While relatively light on features, the Rab Neutrino Pro fulfills its mission as a streamlined and technical jacket. For those who want the bare necessities, with none of the weight and bulk of more heavily featured options, the Neutrino Pro is a great fit.

Breathability

Let’s be real—breathability isn’t what the Rab Neutrino Pro was built for. This jacket’s main mission is keeping you warm in cold conditions, and it does that incredibly well. Like most high-fill-power down jackets, it traps heat efficiently but doesn’t vent much of it once you start moving. If you’re working hard on the trail or skinning uphill, you’ll probably find yourself needing to unzip or shed a layer quickly to cool off.

That said, the Neutrino Pro does offer small relief valves in the form of adjustable cuffs and a two-way front zipper, which allow for limited airflow when needed. The Pertex Quantum Pro shell is tightly woven to block wind and moisture, which naturally restricts ventilation. During our field tests in Alaska and Colorado, we found that even light exertion caused a noticeable heat buildup inside the jacket.

If breathability is your top priority, a synthetic or hybrid insulated jacket like the Arc’teryx Cerium or Outdoor Research Helium would make a better choice. The Neutrino Pro, on the other hand, is purpose-built for maximum heat retention—it’s the jacket you reach for when you’re standing still in the cold, not when you’re breaking a sweat.

Should You Buy the Rab Neutrino Pro?

You probably would be psyched if you did. The Rab Neutrino Pro is an excellent technical jacket for anyone searching for a packable jacket that is easily deployable for instant warmth.

Its high amount of loft is easily compressed into a small volume, and we loved throwing it in our pack on cold weather hikes. With a technical appearance, the Neutrino Pro is more at home in the backcountry than on city streets. This jacket is decidedly a winter jacket and is too warm for active outings or high-output sessions.

This puffy is a great basecamp coat, winter hiking insulative layer, or puffy emergency layer. We’ll continue reaching for this jacket on days well below freezing, or while spending long hours without generating body heat. If you’re someone searching for an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio in a lightweight platform, this is the jacket for you.

What Other Down Jackets Should You Consider?

Check out our other best winter jackets for men if you want even more options or take a closer look at these similar models:

Outdoor Research Super Alpine Down Parka Review: With a slightly more resilient shell, the Super Alpine offers extreme warmth in a slightly more durable platform.

Patagonia DAS Parka Review: If you love the warmth-to-weight ratio of the Neutrino Pro, but are looking for the wet weather performance of synthetic insulation, the DAS Parka will be the jacket to try next.

Feathered Friends Khumbu Parka Review: With even more insulation than the Neutrino Pro, the Khumbu is the king of cold weather, expedition-level parkas fit for your next foray into the deep cold.