My lovely wife Kirsty has been testing this jacket for the last couple of months and I’ve been trying to talk her into writing a guest review. She didn’t have time to sit down and write it up, so I had to quiz her on it and here I am writing up some ladies kit for a change. I do like a challenge!
The Scimitar is designed to be a technical softshell. The material is Rab’s own Matrix DWS, with heavier weight hard wearing panels on the shoulders, across the upper back, on the hips and over the hood. The material has a pleasant soft feel and it stretches well, so your sleeves don’t ride up if you reach up for a hold.
It has a napoleon pocket and two chest pockets which are massive with mesh inners, which is handy for venting. The zips are weather resistant with a storm baffle behind the main zip and the cuffs are adjustable. The hood is the usual Rab quality ( they make the best hoods in my experience) and the adjustment toggles are captive so you don’t get whipped in the face on windy days.
So much for the details, how does it perform? Well so far it’s proven to be very weather resistant and very breathable, as you would expect from a softshell. The hood fit is excellent, and it moves nicely with your head.
Now onto the crux: fit. Kirsty normally takes a size 10, but it seemed really tight across the chest, so she swapped up to a 12, which was a better fit, but her view is that the jacket is cut for the ahem, smaller-bosomed lady. Maybe that should read ‘athletic build’. I’m sure someone will keep me right here.
The size 10 fitted well around the waist and hips and the arm length was great, but it was too tight around the chest. Her ideal would be a 10 on the hips and a 12 on the chest. The material does seem to relax a bit and it definitely stretches so if you’re considering a purchase bear that in mind. Check your sizing and allow for some give.
This jacket has drawn some admiring glances when out and about, so it does a good job of being technical, stylish and a nice colour all at the same time, which I’m told is important. Like I’d know, I’m about as stylish as Boris Johnson.
by MT
David l - The cut for women on rab gear seems weird as hell. As much as my significant other wld like to buy a rab jacket, she’s yet to find one that fits. She is on the errm, petite side but with broad shoulders. A size 8, and nothing works – most of time 8 is no available and a 10 is too long in arms. Please mr rab, back to the drawing board. Ps my gf is a tailor and would gladly help you!
brenda freer - I have just read your (wife’s) review of the rab scimitar jacket. I am interested in buying a soft shell, and the review has been really helpful. It does appear to be a minefield out there. Have you any advice on a similar men’s soft shell?
We are both at the stage of a hard shell and a fleece, and feel that the soft shell looks a lot better. But is it as practical.
Any info would be useul.
Brenda
MT - Hi Brenda, I came from a similar fleece/hardshell combo and I find softshell to be a very practical option, particularly in British weather. You have the benefit of more breathability coupled with decent weather protection. Bear in mind that it won’t keep out a sustained downpour so you’ll still need a hardshell in some conditions. There is a huge choice out there, but for a bloke I’d suggest a look at the Rab Vapour Rise Alpine Light, it’s never off my back.
Mel - No two women are built the same, so finding a manufacturer that works for you is part of the challenge. I’m a 5’11 athletic woman and I find Rab make the only outdoor clothes that fit me in the arms and down the back. Please Mr Rab, don’t change a thing! There’s plenty of other brand out there that cater to the petite girls, but very few that fit the lanky ones.
MT - Aye the sizing is always the thing. Talking of ladies kit, Kirsty’s got a load of stuff that I’ll need to write up. Watch this space.