Rab Borealis - Women's Review

The Borealis is an active softshell designed to shield you from the wind during alpine and summer climbing, peak-bagging, trail running, and other three-season aerobic activities. It features Napoleon-style harness-compatible pockets and a stow-away pocket for clipping onto a harness, making it ideal for climbers. At just a few ounces and compact, it won't weigh you down. It's one of the lightest softshells on the market, perfect for weight-conscious hikers counting every gram. This versatile layer provides wind protection for activities ranging from climbing to backpacking to all-day paddle trips on the water. It has performed exceptionally well in most categories and is a wallet-friendly option for those looking for a great all-around value.

Performance Comparison

Weather Protection

Although the Borealis isn't notably warm or water-resistant, it offers excellent wind protection. The lightweight fabric provides excellent breathability and a shield from wind chill, plus exceptional sun protection from high UV days above the tree line, in snow glare, or on sunny paddles on the water.

The Borealis is made of their Matrix wind-resistant shell fabric, which has a DWR finish to boost water resistance. In the end, we still found its water protection to be fairly minimal — not unexpected due to its super lightweight status. The Borealis will provide nominal protection if caught in a light drizzle, but it won't keep you dry in a full-on downpour. We love this jacket on windy days. It is ideal for throwing under your harness on a wind-blasted crag or over your swimsuit on a blustery boat ride.

Being an active softshell, it has no extra fleece in the material lining to keep you warm. Then again, keeping you warm in winter differs from what Rab designed this jacket to do: protect you from the wind while high on rock routes or mountain ridges. The Borealis will take the cold edge off the wind when climbing or hiking on windy days, so you can focus your energy on getting sendy instead. And while we particularly love its minimalist fit and ease of use for just this purpose, we still appreciate the addition of a simple hem cinch, which helps boost its wind protection. If you need something cozy against your skin, pair this jacket with a lightweight fleece. Its superior wind-blocking performance will help you hold the warmth of any underlayer you choose.

Breathability

The Borealis crushes breathability and sheds sweat like the best technical fabrics we've tested, no matter what activities our testers engaged in, be it trail rans, power hikes, or peak bagging in the summer sun. This rad little jacket is one of the most breathable softshells on the market.

The Borealis is made with a single-weave fabric, making it the lightest weight softshell made by Rab — a U.K.-based company. It is sufficiently breathable for all but the toastiest approaches or desert days when you would do better to hike at night anyway. It didn't feel overly swampy or suffocating when used solely as a skin-protection layer in off-widths. The thin covering of stretchy fabric doesn't hold heat against your body, although it does block wind, allowing any underlayers you have added to do their job of keeping you warm when needed. When hiking on warm days, we appreciated that we didn't have to take this layer on and off because it could double as a sun hoodie in all but the hottest temps. When the day heats up, we unzip the large side pockets lined with a breezy mesh to enjoy airflow inside the jacket.

Mobility

The Borealis strikes the perfect balance between a snug fit and easy movement. Nothing feels restrictive. Jumping, running, climbing, or cartwheeling – it's all easy and natural within this flexible form. The body material offers excellent stretch, and the well-executed slim cut prevents any excessive fabric from bunching up or getting in the way of movement. It's a delight to wear while scaling canyons or stretching after a long day of playing in the woods.

The stretchy Lycra-binding on the wrist cuffs of the Borealis makes it easy to push your sleeves up and trust they will stay in place. The fitted hood fits well underneath a helmet instead of over it to aid in unrestricted movement, although it is stretchy enough to fit over the helmet on occasions when you might desire more wind protection. We like the minimalist elegance of this hood design because it never needs to be fussed with or adjusted — it just always fits. As for the rest of the shell's body, the Borealis is pleasantly long enough that it doesn't ride up while climbing, which is a must for anyone not thrilled at sharing a “climber's crack” from the rock face and makes it much easier to stay focused on the task at hand.

Weight

The Borealis is one of the lightest softshells in our review, and the size X-Small weighs a measly 7.75 ounces. The lightweight material folds compactly into a neat package smaller than a Nalgene.

While little-to-no weight means that weather protection is less robust, it's a fair tradeoff for suitable activities. If you're high on a rock wall or climbing a Fourteener, you will appreciate the ultra-lightness of this layer. Indeed, it's so lightweight that you'll barely notice this jacket when it's clipped to your harness or stashed in your pack. If you're looking for a thin softshell to combat the wind on chilly morning runs, alpine, big walls, or forest hikes, this jacket is a prime option for a very affordable price.

Versatility

We determined this metric by considering each jacket's features, style, durability, and ability to move between varied activities and climates. On this metric, the Borealis delivers well enough but still really excels only as a fair-weather jacket since it doesn't offer much weather protection.

The Borealis isn't particularly feature-rich when stacked up against other models in our review. It fits nicely over or under other layers, making it a versatile part of your layering system. It is highly durable, attractive, and appropriate for many warm-weather adventures where unimpeded movement and breathability are paramount, but you need a layer to protect yourself from the wind and sun. The Borealis has lightweight, single-weave, wind-resistant fabric and offers protection from the sun. The drawcords on the hem are easy to use, and the fitted hood and chin guard provide great coverage around the face. The long, slim fit is flattering and practical for all types of movement. Simple and smart, that's the Borealis.

The Borealis has some fantastic rock climbing and canyoneering features. It fits well with a harness and helmet. It has two zippered hand pockets that are harness-compatible, meaning you can easily use your pockets while hanging at a belay or while wearing a pack. You can stuff the jacket into one of its own pockets, which easily zippers shut and has a durable-ish loop for clipping to your harness. This is a feature all climbing-specific jackets should have because it doesn't add any weight, and it means you can easily take the jacket off while climbing and put it back on at belays.

Should You Buy the Rab Borealis?

The Borealis is a favorite among softshells we've tested for good reason. This lightweight, well-priced, active softshell is an excellent layer for blocking the wind. It is highly breathable, moves comfortably through a full range of motion, and offers many features for its price. While it doesn't provide as much weather protection as more expensive technical softshells, it is well-suited for its intended use. It's an excellent layer for squeezing in one more climb or staving off the chill during a sunrise trail run. If you're looking for a well-fitting, lightweight wind layer that you can easily forget you're wearing, the Borealis provides a good balance of performance and affordability. While it's not a champion in the weather protection department, we know this is an article of clothing you will be happy to own for mild weather applications or as part of a more comprehensive layering system. The Borealis is one of the lightest soft shells in our lineup and a valuable addition for anyone psyched on ultralight gear.

What Other Softshell Jackets for Women Should You Consider?

The Borealis is an easy layer to fall in love with. It fits like a dream, has stellar mobility and breathability, barely registers on the scale, and won't break the bank. However, it won't keep you dry in a downpour. If you want a jacket with burlier weather protection, then check out the storm-worthy Arc'teryx Gamma Hoody - Women's. If you want a weatherproof jacket and have a curvier build or want something to cover your thick and warm layers, the Marmot '96 Active Anorak is another budget option that does a better job at shedding water.