Bottom Line
The Rab Ascendor Light Hoody (men’s / women’s) is one of the lightest and most packable fleece jackets in our guide to the best fleeces for men and women. We tested the Rab Ascendor on chilly morning hikes in Northern California to determine its fit and comfort(with and without a backpack), versatility, packability, and ease of cleaning.
Designed for hiking, peak scrambling, mountaineering, and rock climbing, this fleece balances breathability with warmth to provide ultimate comfort on your strenuous mountain adventures. While its slim-fitting design may not be the best fit for all body types, it does fit easily under a harness, backpack, or an extra layer.
The snugly-fitting hood also fits easily over a hat or under a helmet for extra insulation and wind protection. Our gear analyst appreciates how stretchy the fabric is for ease of movement, as well as its resistance to debris trying to hitch a ride on your back.
Our only wish is that the jacket came with hand pockets, but we understand Rab’s focus on this being a technical layer, and not a hand warmer or a Chapstick/phone carrier. To compare the Rab Ascendor to other fleece jackets in our lineup, check out our fully updated gear guide to see our favorites for both men and women.
How We Tested
We tested the Rab Ascendor Light Hoody on early morning hikes in Northern California to determine its comfort with and without carrying a backpack, its packability when shedding a layer, and its durability when exposed to a variety of terrain and conditions.
Quick Specs
Rab Ascendor Light Hoody
Best Lightweight Alpine Fleece
CleverHiker Rating: 4.6/5.0
Price: $130
Measured Weight: 6.8 oz.(Men’s M)
Pros
- Lightweight and packable
- Slim-fitting/not bulky
- Insulating
- Hooded
- Can easily be layered under an outer shell
- Debris doesn't cling as much as other fleeces
Cons
- Can be snug in shoulders and chest
- No hand pockets
- Not as warm as other thicker fleeces
Warmth
The Rab Ascendor isn’t trying to be the warmest fleece, but it still provides adequate insulation to take the nip out of a cool breeze, or alpine nip. It also adds warmth to your overall layering system when worn underneath an outer shell. The added hood provides extra warmth around the head and stays in place when turning your neck up, down and side-to-side.
Even with its thinner fabric, we were impressed by how the Ascendor still effectively cut the chill and trapped our body heat during our chilly morning hikes in Northern California. The Thermic ™ S synthetic fabric is quick drying, moisture-wicking, and insulating, making it a go-to pick for strenuous mountain adventures including hiking, rock climbing, and mountaineering. The alternating ridges of high and low lofted fleece on the inside of the jacket provide better breathability and warmth without sacrificing weight.
Comfort
The Rab Ascendor is a thin, adaptable, and moisture-wicking layer that is created with Thermic ™ S, to provide top-notch insulation and breathability year-round. Its stretchy, slim-fitting design fits easily under a harness, extra layer or backpack, while the snug hood can be pulled over a hat or worn under a helmet for protection from the wind or cold creeping in. Our gear analyst found the fleece soft to the touch and appreciates its movement-friendly and non-bulky design.
However, she did find that the shoulders, chest, and upper arms were a bit snugger than desired when lifting and reaching. Although the fabric is stretchy enough to prevent any movement restrictions, this fleece is best suited for smaller-framed individuals due to its tighter fit. Or size up.
When sitting or squatting, the fleece can bunch up a bit around the front zipper due to the longer torso design. While not inherently uncomfortable, it isn’t the most flattering look. Besides that, the fleece stays put and the fabric does not bunch up uncomfortably. Overall, we are pleased with the comfort of the Rab Ascendor.
Durability
We’re big fans of Rab gear, and this layer fits right in. The Rab Ascendor feels high-quality and very durable, even for a lightweight layer. Though like all fleeces, it won’t be as hardy as an outer shell. Since it is not as fuzzy and fluffy as more leisure-focused, high-pile, high-cozy factor fleeces, it is more resistant to debris cling and easier to clean when it does get dirty. This fleece also fits snug to the body, making it less likely to snag on bushes, branches, and rocks when hiking.
With the Ascendor’s quick drying, breathable, and moisture-wicking properties, it handles water better than the thicker fleeces in our lineup. Due to the nature of the fabric, this fleece requires special care when washing. We suggest either hand-washing or using a gentle cycle and turning the Ascendor inside out if you are using the washing machine.
Weight
At just 8.5 ounces (men’s medium), the Rab Ascendor is one of the lightest fleeces that we tested. With its slim-fitting silhouette and non-bulky design, the Ascendor is also one of the most packable jackets we tested.
When shedding a layer during your adventure, this jacket packs down small and takes up minimal space in your daypack. Due to its high rankings in packability and weight, we highly recommend this fleece for alpine adventuring and backcountry trips.
Features
The Ascendor is designed to keep you moving when conditions and routes constantly create varying temperatures and exertion levels. For that reason, it is not the most feature-filled fleece in our lineup. Still, the Rab Ascendor boasts many excellent qualities to amplify its intended purpose. Its flatlocked seams improve comfort, a dropped hem down the lower back adds extra coverage, and elasticized binding at the cuffs and around the hood.
The under-helmet hood is snug and comfy when pulled tight around the head or worn over a hat.
While the fleece does have one zippered chest pocket, we can’t help but wish that it came with hand pockets for extra storage and warmth for the fingers.
The fleece features thumb holes inside the sleeves to help secure the jacket when worn under an outer shell. However, we would have also liked to have external thumb loops to provide some extra warmth around the hands when in motion.
Should You Buy The Rab Ascendor Light Hoody?
The Rab Ascendor is designed for the mountain adventurer with its slim-fitting under-harness build and unique insulating material that is also moisture-wicking and breathable. With its lightweight design and competitive packability, the Ascendor is a perfect layer for backcountry expeditions. The main feature this fleece lacks is hand pockets. But, if you are busy climbing up a mountain, you likely won’t need them!
If you are in need of a fleece with wider shoulders and more space in the upper arms and chest, the Ascendor may not be the best fit for you with its narrower, body-hugging silhouette. For hikers looking for a thicker and plusher fleece jacket for ultimate warmth, the Ascendor would not be your go-to – this fleece prioritizes balancing warmth with breathability for intense physical pursuits.
What Other Fleeces Should You Consider?
To compare the Rab Ascendor Light Hoody to other top-performing fleece jackets for the year, take a look at some similar suggestions below or check out our fully updated gear guide for more thorough reviews.
Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoodie Review: Similarly, a comfy, warm and slim-fitting hooded fleece, the Kyanite is also quick-drying and breathable with two zippered hand pockets.
Outdoor Research Vigor Review: The Vigor is a lightweight, quick-drying, and breathable hooded fleece that comes at a similar price point as the Rab; the Vigor may not be as warm, but it also boasts two zippered hand pockets.
REI Trailmade Fleece Review: For a budget-friendly hoodless fleece that also offers a slimmer fit, check out the REI Trailmade. This is a great lightweight alternative to consider if affordability is your main priority.
