REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly breathable
Easy to pack
Great affordability
Pockets double as ventilation
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as weather-resistant
Minimal adjustability
Less accessible pockets with a hip belt
Rab Borealis Review
This well-fitting option is one of the most breathable and lightweight softshells available today
Credit: Zach Lovell
By Zach Lovell ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 9, 2026
RELATED: The Best Softshell Jackets for Men
Our Verdict
The Rab Borealis is incredibly breathable and affordable, making it a great choice as a light layer for hiking, running, mountain biking, or backpacking. Previous versions of the Borealis have been well-loved by our review team, and it remains a great layer as long as you don't need much storm protection. The latest iteration is slightly lighter, coming in at 9.2 ounces in a size medium, though the pockets are harder to use with a backpack hip belt and there's a bit more fabric bunching. Beyond these minor complaints, the Rab Borealis is a trustworthy layer for your next outdoor adventure.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Rab Borealis | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for the Buck |  Best Year-Round Softshell |  A Great Hoodless Option | ||
| Price | $130 List Check Price at REI | $165 List Check Price at REI | $160 List Check Backcountry (on sale!) | $78 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $36 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This well-fitting option is one of the most breathable and lightweight softshells available today | This is the layer for you if you need versatility and affordability in your next softshell jacket | When you don’t want or need a hood with your softshell, layers like this offer great ventilation and style for a variety of applications | This feature-filled option boasts excellent weather protection at the cost of being one of the heaviest softshells available | A budget softshell that tops the charts in heat retention, with a casual aesthetic for around-town hangs |
| Rating Categories | Rab Borealis | Outdoor Research Fer... | The North Face Tek A... | TACVASEN Special Ops... | Amazon Essentials Wa... |
| Weather Protection (30%) | |||||
| Breathability (30%) | |||||
| Mobility (25%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Versatility (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Rab Borealis | Outdoor Research Fer... | The North Face Tek A... | TACVASEN Special Ops... | Amazon Essentials Wa... |
| Fabric Weight Class | Lightweight | Midweight | Midweight | Heavyweight | Heavyweight |
| Insulated | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Pockets | 2 exterior hand zip | 1 exterior chest zip, 2 exterior hand zip | 2 exterior zip hand, 1 upper sleeve | 2 exterior hand zip, 2 exterior arm zip, 2 exterior rear zip | 1 exterior chest zip, 2 exterior hand zip |
| Material | Matrix single weave stretch nylon with fluorocarbon-free DWR | 86% nylon (46% recycled), 14% spandex 90D stretch woven ripstop | 75D WindWall 91% recycled polyester, 9% elastane fleece with non-PFC DWR | 100% polyester shell, fleece inner | 92% polyester, 8% spandex |
| Measured Weight | 9.2 oz (medium) | 13.8 oz (medium) | 11.3 oz (small) | 29.4 oz (medium) | 24.1 oz (medium) |
| Hood | Yes, under helmet with Lycra binding | Yes, adjustable, stowable | No | Yes, helmet compatible, adjustable | No |
| Unique Features | Mesh pockets for ventilation | Adjustable hem, left hand pocket doubles as stuff sack, UPF 50+, stowable hood | Adjustable hem | Tactical-focused design, additional rear hip and bicep pockets | Top-tier heat retention |
| Layering Capabilities | Can be layered over or under other layers | Can be layered over or under other layers | Best worn near base layer | Best worn over other layers | Can be layered over or under other layers |
| Adjustable Cuffs (Material) | No (fixed elastic cuffs) | No (fixed half elastic cuffs) | No (fixed elastic cuffs) | Yes (Velcro cuffs) | Yes (Velcro cuffs) |
| Available Sizes | XS - 2XL | S - XXXL | S - XXL | S - 2XL | XS - 5XL |
Our Analysis and Test Results
This wallet-friendly softshell is both breathable and mobile. Credit: Zach Lovell
Weather Protection
As a softshell jacket that prioritizes low weight and breathability, the Borealis is not meant to keep you dry in a rainstorm. Its Matrix nylon construction has a DWR treatment that beads water well in a light drizzle, but you're bound to get soaked if the Borealis is your outermost layer on a wet backpacking trip.
While we didn't love the Borealis's minimal water resistance, the single-weave nylon worked quite well in the wind. In one of our primary softshell testing grounds in the Sierra Nevada, we took this layer up to about 12,000 feet on a day with a wind warning in the forecast. The Borealis was impressively effective in sustained 20-30 mile-per-hour winds, though we would have needed a hardshell layer over it in colder temperatures.
The Borealis can combat light to medium strength winds on days like this without snow or rain. Credit: Zach Lovell
The Borealis offers some protection from the cold, but we used it only as a stand-alone jacket in the warmer months or during a high-output hike. Its single-layer construction doesn't trap much heat, which is also what makes it so breathable. Ultimately, the Borealis can handle brief afternoon thunderstorms as the outermost layer, but it should be viewed primarily as a breathable, stretchy windbreaker. The DWR treatment is a great addition, but just remember this is a soft shell, not a hardshell, so don't rely on this for moody weather.
The DWR treatment on the Borealis beads light rain, but the nylon fabric won't keep you dry in heavier storms. Credit: Zach Lovell
Breathability
The Borealis has amazing breathability. We've always appreciated past versions of the Borealis for shedding heat, and this update reaffirms our opinion: this is a layer that you can keep on longer when you start to warm up, whether walking around town or enjoying a camping weekend in the alpine.
The single-weave construction of the Borealis makes it inherently breathable, and Rab kept the mesh pocket design in this latest version, which was especially handy on warmer days or on long uphill stretches on the trail. The pockets sit slightly lower than on older iterations of the Borealis, but we didn't notice any impact on its mesh ventilation.
If the lightweight fabric isn't enough to shed heat, just unzip both of the mesh-backed pockets for more airflow. Credit: Zach Lovell
Mobility
The Borealis offers exceptional range of motion for climbing, fly fishing, or scrambling up a steep section on a hike. This layer's cut is relaxed enough to put arms overhead or across the body, but trim enough to reduce fabric bunching. We slightly reduced the Borealis's score for this latest update, with new bunching in the chest area that we didn't see in past iterations, but this softshell has no movement restrictions.
Our primary softshell tester could do everything he wanted while wearing the Borealis. Rock or alpine climbing was a breeze, and the hem barely lifted with arms overhead. This latest update almost kept everything the same, except for some new bunching in the stomach/chest area at the top of the pockets. This didn't restrict any motion, but it gave the Borealis a weird look and felt slightly less comfortable under tight overlayers.
This softshell still has great range of motion, but the bunching at the top of the pockets is a new qualm with this update (likely due to the pockets being moved down).
Weight
We loved the lower weight of the Rab Borealis, across day hikes and backpacking trips where we were trying to cut weight. In a men's medium, this layer got even lighter than the last version, and won't slow you down on your next adventure.
We measured the new Borealis at 9.2 ounces, keeping it in the lightweight category. While a couple of softshell jackets posted even lower scores on the scale, this is a top recommendation if you count every gram going into your backpack.
Rab managed to trim some weight in the latest Borealis without getting rid of pockets. Credit: Zach Lovell
In addition to the weight of the Borealis, it's also very packable. We noticed it could compress slighlty smaller than past versions, and we squeezed it into any backpack or luggage we needed.
The latest Borealis (the dark green jacket in the first photo) is lighter and more packable than past versions.
Versatility
Overall, the Rab Borealis can go anywhere you want and works well in most layering systems. However, lightweight models like this inherently lack weather protection, so it's not ideal as a stand-alone piece if the weather forecast is iffy. This softshell offers less adjustability, but for its weight class, we didn't mind its minimal features.
The Rab Borealis can be adjusted at the hem, but there's otherwise no way to fine-tune the fit at the hood or cuffs. The slimmer hood is designed to fit underneath a helmet, and we appreciated its snug fit over a baseball hat in the wind. The Borealis is also easy to layer, whether you need to fit a fleece under it or slide insulation or a hardshell over it.
This softshell fits thinner layers underneath and easily accommodates insulation or weather protection over it.
Our largest issue with this update was the lower pocket placement, which isn't as accessible with a backpack hip belt or climbing harness.
The Borealis used to have higher pockets, but the latest iteration's lower pockets are harder to access with a backpack. Credit: Zach Lovell
Should You Buy the Rab Borealis?
A layer this affordable and breathable is hard to come by. If you want a softshell you can wear in the heat of summer and as part of your close-to-body winter layers, look no further. It will not keep you dry in a real rainstorm, but the Borealis is a versatile jacket that plays well with other layers for year-round adventures. Plus, it's a lot more affordable than similar models from other big name brands.
The Rab Borealis remains a packable and affordable softshell that'll keep you from overheating on the trail. Credit: Zach Lovell
What Other Softshell Jackets Should You Consider?
If you want a bit more stand-alone weather protection, the Outdoor Research Ferrosi Hoodie is worth checking out. It's a bit heavier than the Borealis, but it also has more features, including a pocket that doubles as a storage sack. If you like the sound of a lightweight softshell, the Black Diamond Alpine Start is a featherweight model, though it'll put a bigger dent in your wallet.
—Zach Lovell
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