Rab already offers a DWR finish to the outer fabric of the jacket to keep the wet out.

“We guard against this by protecting our down beneath very tight weave and coated fabrics treated with robust DWR finishes, but for a while now we’ve been working on protecting the down itself.

When we started we found that our raw down was actually quite hard to wet. Perhaps because we only use very high quality down, sourced, processed and accredited in Europe.

But we weren’t content to leave it there. We worked closely with a company with decades of experience in proofing technologies to develop unique treatments that make our down fully water-resistant.

Our Hydrophobic Down treatment now ensures that our down absorbs substantially less water, so retaining more loft and warmth. It also speeds up drying times when damp and will withstand repeated washing.

Developing our Hydrophobic Down was a complex process. Duck and goose produce down with different characteristics and each grade of down required a separate formula.

Because our Hydrophobic Down treatment is applied to the raw down at source it is far more effective and durable than DIY down-proofing products. With these only a small percentage of the proofer reaches the down as the outer and inner fabrics act as a barrier.

Our Hydrophobic Down treatment is unique to Rab and fluorocarbon- free.

This jacket is great for all kinds of outings, from walking in the mountains to skiing in the Alps.

What I like about the Rab Neutrino Endurance

Fit: I have rarely found a down jacket that fits so well. It might be a puffy down jacket but it still has great shape and looks good on the female physique. I prefer the shorter version, but if you are looking for more warmth in your butt area you could choose the Rab Women’s Neutrino Plus jacket. The arm length is brilliant, even for someone with very long arms like me. And the hood is fitted with xxx so it stays up even when it’s windy.

Warmth: I have worn a Rab 800-fill down jacket through many winters and felt very smug about how warm I am when others are shivering. The Rab Rab Neutrino Endurance has proved to be just as effective this winter. We haven’t had too many really cold days but I have tested it on high-level winter walks (I keep a down jacket in reserve for when we stop for lunch or when the snow comes and we’re walking downhill) and on a winter’s camping trip. It keeps the wind out and the warmth in.

Features: The two-way zip is a useful feature, as are the zipped “hadn warmer” pockets (perfect for adding extra warmth to cold hands). I like the zipped internal zip for keeping small valuables safe.

Colours: Six colours give lots of choice, from Beluga and granite to bright Red and Aqua.

The Rab Women’s Neutrino Endurance down jacket comes in sizes: UK 8 to 16. I found the UK 10 to be a good fit. It is roomy enough to add several baselayers but not so big that it felt Michelin Man styley.

Price: £150 to £200 at good outdoor retailers.

Note: This article was restored from the archives. It's published creation date is inaccurate.