Rab Arc Eco - Women's Review

The Rab Arc Eco is an affordable hardshell jacket constructed with recycled Pertex Shield Revolve 3-Layer waterproof technology with fluorocarbon-free DWR. It excels in drier climates, and for high-output activities that require good breathability. This jacket fits a range of body types, and has a regular-athletic fit with a slight drop hem. We liked the comfort, feel and packability of its highly flexible material.

Perhaps our favorite attribute of this jacket is its highly affordable price tag — but we found it had decent performance across the board, too, making it an exceptional value.

Weather Protection

We had full confidence in the Rab Arc Eco for facing heavy snow, but it wouldn't be our top pick for venturing out in storms below the freezing line. As long as temperatures stay cold and the snow remains dry, this hardshell does a solid job of repelling moisture. The Pertex membrane provides decent wind resistance, though it doesn't seal out strong gusts quite as effectively as more heavy-duty GoreTex Pro fabrics. However, what it lacks in windproofing, it makes up for in breathability, which is a key advantage. By allowing better airflow, it helps regulate body temperature, ultimately keeping you warmer when exerting yourself in stormy conditions.

The Rab Arc Eco wouldn't be our choice for super wet days in the mountains, or in a snow climate where you'd frequently encounter “wintry mix.” While it was sufficient for even relentless blizzards, as soon as the precipitation turns wet, its absorbed into the face fabric. This was also the case when riding chairlifts, when full saturation happens a bit quicker. During our shower and spray test, the outer fabric tended to absorb water — though it did dry very quickly. It's worth noting, too, that the saturation wasn't widespread, but we'd expect the DWR to continue to degrade throughout the jacket's life. This saturation testing was done at the end of a three-month testing period. Overall, the waterproofing was this jacket's most notable shortcoming, although it still for the most part got the job done.

Mobility and Fit

The slight stretch and supple feel of the Arc Eco is generally a pleasure to wear and to move in. The more flexible fabric makes it easy to shove into a pack, and we hardly noticed it on when compared to higher denier, GoreTex hardshells. It doesn't bunch up in any particular area, which made it comfortable for wearing a pack.

While we love the malleable feel of the Arc Eco, it's not tailored specifically for movement like some other hardshells and moving your arms overhead can feel a bit more “catchy” than other jackets with more articulated shoulders. We also wish it had a bit of a drop hem, as that can create both a more streamlined fit and a more protective jacket. But, overall, we found the fit flattering and accommodating to a range of body types. On most women, it sat just below their hips, as seen below.

Venting and Breathability

The Arc Eco is made from Pertex, as mentioned above, which has a higher breathability ratio than other fabrics like GoreTex. It allows some heat and vapor to escape passively, keeping you a bit drier when working hard when compared to more “plasticky” hardshells, which can tend to trap perspiration. This was noticeable on warmer days with high winds or cold, snowy days when we wanted to keep moving without taking our jacket off.

The breathability is additionally boosted by the underarm vents, which provide easy access to let extra heat escape. “On colder days, I could easily keep this jacket on for the uphill when moving at a moderate pace backcountry skiing,” noted our tester.

Weight

The Arc Eco is on the lighter end of the spectrum when it comes to weight; we measured it at 13 ounces, slightly lighter than the manufacturer claims for the size small. It comes in just above average for our hardshell jacket lineup.

While this jacket weighs in modestly, its packability is further improved by the fabric. “Since its so flexible, I found that it stuffed into a full pack much easier than other, stiffer jackets — even those of a similar measured weight,” said our lead tester. The packability adds some additional utility to the Arc Eco, especially compared to some stiffer hardshell jackets that are difficult to pack down effectively.

Features and Design

The Arc Eco has a fairly simple build, but didn't leave us wanting. This hardshell has all of the bells and whistles that we'd expect on a much more expensive jacket. It's Rab's first hardshell made from 3-layer Pertex, and the interior polyester fabric is fully recycled. The “single polymer” construction is also easier to recycle at the end of its life. We commend brands that keep sustainability in mind — especially when it doesn't sacrifice performance and cost like in the case of the Arc Eco.

We appreciate that the Arc Eco is not only made with all recycled fabric, but also harmful chemical and fluorocarbon free materials. “For ice climbing and mountaineering, I appreciated the easy to access pockets that I could still get into even with a harness on,” noted our lead tester. The storm hood also comes with a wired hood brim to keep the snow out of your eyes, a fleece backer, three adjustment tabs, and fits well with or without a helmet.

Should You Buy the Rab Arc Eco?

If you're looking for a good value hardshell for a range of activities at a reasonable price — it's tough to top the Arc Eco. However, if you live in a maritime snow climate where you frequently encounter very wet and heavy precipitation, it might not be quite enough to keep you fully dry. The Pertex fabric makes it better for cardio and high output activities than a more traditional hardshell made from GoreTex.

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