Rapha Down Jacket Redesign: have we lost a bikepacking gem?

Equipment
1

I’ve just spotted a significant downgrade in the spec of the Rapha down jacket - 750fp from 850, heavier, no more detachable hood, looks like pack size is bigger, etc. and no price decrease either.

New: Men's Explore Hooded Lightweight Down Jacket | Rapha
Old: Men's Explore Down Cycling Jacket - Insulated Jacket | Rapha
Original 2019 product launch page: Explore Down Jacket | Rapha

Got me thinking about mine, which I got off of SportPursuit for £130 (I guess bright orange wasn’t very popular). I bought it not because I thought it was ‘best’ but because 130 was so much cheaper than any of the ultralight mountaineering options.

But I think it might actually be ‘best’ by a significant margin now I compare to the mountaineering jackets: Mens Lightweight Down Jackets | UK | Ultralight Outdoor Gear

Montbell Ex-Light is the only hooded option on that list that comes in under the weight of the (outgoing) Rapha jacket and it’s more expensive. Montbell Plasma 1000 is only a few grams heavier, probably significantly warmer, and might even pack down smaller due to 1000fp, but it’s £400.

Rab Mythic Alpine Light is 37g heavier than OG Rapha, and I’ve always heard that Rab Mythic products are meant to be the pinnacle of ultralight down tech.

I wouldn’t have expected Rapha to be a tech leader in down garments so I imagine they probably achieved those stats by using a much lower total fill weight than the mountaineers’ options, but I can’t actually find a fill weight quoted anywhere. I wonder if anyone knows the figure or can make a direct comparison to another summer-weight down jacket? It’s very very much a summer weight piece of kit, but that’s also exactly what I need it for - warm layer for summer evenings and nights with minimal size for bikepacking.

So I guess this is a bit of a fan letter and maybe a PSA to say if this kind of jacket appeals to you then go find one of the old ones ASAP if there’s still stock where you are or be prepared to jump at secondhand listings when they come up! I’m certainly going to be even more careful with mine now…

Does anyone know of anything else out there that can compete? Was the Rapha Down Jacket V1 a totally unique and underappreciated bit of kit? Did we just lose a total gem?

1 Like
2

Hate it when places don’t list total fill. Heck, dropping fill power and increasing weight could have worked out cheaper too, but the price went up. :confused:

Reddit /r/ultralight gear list is basically the closest to definitive source I’ve found: Crowd-Sourced Gear Weight Database (Responses) - Google Sheets

3 Likes
3

I got this one and it is perfectly lightweight, packable, and warm

1 Like
4

Looks like a great bit of kit. Maybe more Spring/Autumn than the Rapha one though? Looks like it might even do winter from some of the photos.

900fp is great - among the best available. But the photos make it look like it probably still has about double the total fill weight of the Rapha jacket. Means it should be a lot warmer but probably also a lot bigger. Also looks like a more robust face fabric, which is again hardier but less packable.

Do you mind putting it on the kitchen scales? And measuring the compressed pack size?

My size Medium Rapha V1 is 236g and a cylinder approx 9cm diameter and 18cm long.

6

PXL_20230808_154728863
PXL_20230808_1547288631920×2560 322 KB

336g
10x10x20cm

It does run a bit big but is very comfortable.