Rab PrimaLoft Technology Explained
Nov 28, 2024
Synthetic insulation is completely man-made. It is usually created from polyester to form either sheets of wadding or lofted (blown) structures that behave very similarly to down. Different sized filaments are intertwined with each other to create air pockets that insulate you from the cold.
What’s so great about Synthetic Insulation?
Synthetic insulation is strong, lightweight, and resilient. It’s ideal for environments that are cold and wet, as it’s fast-drying and remains effective in damp conditions. There are three types of PrimaLoft® Synthetic Insulation that Rab choose to use for their Synthetic Jackets, each with its own unique benefits depending on activities and environments it's designed for. Below is an overview of Rab's Primaloft® Synthetic Jacket ranges.
Loose Fill Insulation
(PrimaLoft® Silver: RISE and PrimaLoft® ThermoPlume®+)
Otherwise known as ‘blown’ insulation, loose fill allows you to create baffled synthetic insulation that looks, feels, and performs like down, but in a more weather-resistant package. Unlike sheet insulation, it mimics the appearance of down by lofting and trapping air within its fibres, making it great at boosting warmth.
Static Sheet Insulation
(PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation with Cross Core™)
This woven sheet insulation contains a structure of microfibres that traps heat and reflects it back to you. It provides reliable insulation in situations where you’ll be static, such as exposed belays. Protective and versatile, it withstands compression well and remains warm even when wet.
Active Insulation
(PrimaLoft® Gold Active+)
Active sheet insulation is especially well adapted to stop-start activities or fast-moving ascents, as it can be teamed with highly breathable fabrics. It’s designed to respond to your output, insulating or breathing to regulate your temperature across a wide range of conditions.
PrimaLoft® Silver: RISE
Made using 100% recycled material, this high-lofting, loose fill synthetic insulation provides impressive warmth for low weight. Highly resilient, it copes well with damp and cold conditions, ideal for general use, all-mountain jackets.
The Cirrus Collection
We’ve taken our classic loose fill synthetic insulated jacket, and cranked up the heat with PrimaLoft® Silver RISE insulation, larger baffles, and a fresh design that feels warmer than ever before. The fully recycled insulation offers great loft for minimal weight, giving you immediate warmth in bitter conditions and welcome respite when you reach the blustery ridgeline. Layer up in the winter or use it as an outer in the warmer months, this versatile jacket is perfect for year-round, all-mountain use.
Women's Cirrus Flex Insulated Vest - Weighs: 254g (UK12)
Cirrus Flex Insulated Vest - Weighs: 278g (Medium)
Women's Cirrus Insulated Vest - Weighs: 280g (UK12)
Cirrus Insulated Vest - Weighs: 319g (Medium)
Women's Cirrus Flex Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 357g (UK12)
Cirrus Flex Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 387g (Medium)
Women's Cirrus Flex Insulated Hoody - Weighs: 401g (UK12)
Cirrus Flex Insulated Hoody - Weighs: 429g (Medium)
Women's Cirrus Alpine Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 471g (UK12)
Cirrus Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 482g (Medium)
Cirrus Alpine Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 540g (Medium)
Nebula Pro Insulated Jacket
If you need hardworking synthetic insulation that you can stuff in a pack and wear anywhere, the Nebula Pro is built to hold its own. Powered by new, high-lofting, synthetic PrimaLoft® Silver RISE insulation, it delivers instant warmth and burly protection, with greater resilience in cold, damp conditions. Offering mountain utility and climb-specific features, it’s geared up for winter hikes, mountaineering, and bitter belay ledges.
Women's Nebula Pro Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 533g (UK12)
Nebula Pro Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 601g (Medium)
PrimaLoft® ThermoPlume®+
Used in our synthetic jackets offering the best warmth for weight, this soft, feather-like synthetic insulation mimics the feel and fluidity of down. 100% recycled, it combines ThermoPlume® plumes with fibre balls to create a resilient loft that resists clumping, even in damp conditions.
Cirrus Ultra Insulated Hoody
The Cirrus Ultra takes synthetic performance to the next level, offering exceptional warmth for weight. It’s filled with new PrimaLoft® ThermoPlume®+ loose fill insulation, which closely mimics the lofting capabilities of down while expertly dealing with damp, cold weather. Boosted with heat-reflective TILT and body-mapped sheet insulation that stands up to moisture and rigorous use, it offers you instant warmth and comfort in any conditions. Durable, packable, and loaded with storage, this is the ultimate synthetic jacket for your multi-day mountain adventures.
PrimaLoft® Gold Active+ Insulation
Efficient synthetic insulation that provides just the right amount of warmth, breathability, and stretch to keep you moving fast and free, perfectly adapted to stop and start activities. Layered with air permeable fabrics, it keeps you warm when you pause and breathes when you’re on the move again.
Xenair Collection
Breathable, adaptable, and resilient, the Xenair is filled with PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Active+ to keep you warm and comfortable through peaks and troughs of activity and changeable winter weather. The synthetic insulation is fast-drying in damp conditions, and body-mapped to effectively regulate your temperature and retain heat when you’re static. The result is a jacket that is perfect for layering up on a chilly belay ledge yet highly breathable during high-energy ascents. Built with Pertex® Quantum Air fabric to balance breathability and weather protection, the Xenair thrives in winter conditions, whether you’re pushing for the summit or taking shelter at the top.
Women's Xenair Insulated Vest - Weighs: 192g (UK12)
Xenair Insulated Vest - Weighs: 201g (Medium)
Xenair Light Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 258g (Medium)
Women's Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 299g (UK12)
Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 324g (Medium)
Women's Xenair Alpine Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 474g (UK12)
PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation with Cross Core™
The fibres of PrimaLoft® Gold are infused with aerogel, renowned for its ultralight insulative properties. The result is a synthetic insulation which is exceptionally warm, lightweight, and keeps you comfortable in the harshest conditions, the perfect refuge on icy belay ledges.
Generator Alpine Insulated Jacket
Having spent decades on the sharp end in challenging and bone-chilling conditions, we know that Insulation Type provides unrivalled warmth in wet weather. That’s why we’ve strategically body mapped two weights of PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation with Cross Core™ Technology throughout this jacket for maximum warmth where you need it most. The PrimaLoft® fibres are infused with Aerogel, an ultra-low-density material composed of 95% air that was originally engineered to insulate space shuttles! We’ve combined this highly effective insulator with an outer of durable, abrasion and weather resistant Pertex® Quantum Pro Diamond Fuse fabric, made from diamond shaped filaments that lock seamlessly together creating a snag resistant flat surface. The Generator Alpine jacket offers unrivalled protection from the wildest storms in the most rugged terrain.
Generator Alpine Insulated Jacket - Weighs: 558g (Medium)
From active sheet insulation that responds to your output to loose fill insulation that mimics the structure of down, we use a variety of types of PrimaLoft® synthetic insulation in our gear. Each one has its unique benefits, tailored to particular conditions and activities. So how do we select which one to use in each product? Discover how these PrimaLoft® insulations work to provide you with enduring warmth and comfort in a range of mountain environments.