ProView – Rab Women’s Cinder Adventure Cycling Kit Review

I tested the Rab Cinder collection including the women’s Cinder Phantom waterproof jacket, jersey top, and cargo shorts on a trip to northwest Arkansas and on my local trails in southcentral Alaska. As an endurance rider I’m always on the hunt for packable outer layers, comfortable shorts, and plenty of pockets. The Rab Cinder kit exceeded expectations in all cases. 

Fit & Comfort

This well constructed kit is designed for a slim fit, and meant for off road use like bikepacking trail rides. I had not worn Rab before and followed the sizing guide, which put me in a medium for everything. I found the top and jacket fit with a perfect relaxed fit. If you prefer a slimmer fit you may want to consider sizing down. I prefer a relaxed fit and was very comfortable with the style and cut of the jersey and jacket. The shorts unfortunately were just a tad baggy at the bottoms (chicken legs?), but otherwise fit well. They have a somewhat high cut waist, but I found I liked the fit. Rab has put considerable research into the chamois and the material used in the shorts, and it shows. The women’s specific chamois – which I found very comfortable – are designed to be low bulk, with raised padding in the perineal area for added comfort.

Look & Style

The jacket and jersey come in a variety of colors that include both understated and fairly bright options. I went with the Sahara jacket and Orion Blue jersey and loved the colors! Both jacket and jersey have thoughtfully placed reflective graphics – it wasn’t dark while I was riding but these should also perform well for commuting or low light conditions. The relaxed fit is ideal for the mid-ride coffee stop and looking cool at the trailhead. All pieces are constructed with a tailored bike fit with articulation as needed for optimum comfort and performance.

Weight/Packability

Let’s talk about weight! The featherlight, ultra-packable jacket weighed in at an incredible 97 grams including the tiny bag that it packs into. The jacket stows easily in a bike bag or jersey pocket and even better, the stuff sack has a shock cord attachment system and can be attached directly to the bike frame. The shorts and jersey packed into an average volume and weight for the item. The pair of shorts weighed 212 grams and are made of sturdy material, given that they are both high waisted and long enough to extend almost to the knee, they are probably a bit heavier and bulkier than average cycle shorts. The jersey I tested weighed in at 122 grams.

Function & Performance

With temperatures in northwest Arkansas in the 70-90 degree range, I was concerned about the heavy material used in the shorts, but my concerns were unfounded. The shorts never felt hot and were comfortable when worn under a pair of baggy shorts. I would love to also test out the Cinder Crank Shorts, baggy shorts that look like they would pair perfectly with the cargo shorts. The jersey is made with sturdy material that feels like it might be warm, but it was as comfortable as any jersey could be at 90 degrees. The jersey is constructed with Motiv fabric, a lightweight, quick-wicking fabric that feels soft against the skin. I didn’t wear the jacket above about 65 degrees and aside from that, all pieces of the kit were comfortable in temperatures ranging from 40 to 90 degrees. 

The jersey became my go to for daily morning rides in the Arkansas early summer heat, and the Phantom jacket is my new biking favorite, the perfect extra layer for cool mornings and moist conditions. Rab provides information on their website about the Hydrostatic Head of garments. The Phantom has a 2.5 layer construction, which means it has a single layer of fabric with a laminated or coated membrane, and an additional layer of light coating or print which is applied to the surface of the membrane. All this adds up to a soft, waterproof, and breathable fabric. 

Durability & Construction

All pieces of this kit feel and look well-constructed and it’s clear that Rab has put considerable effort into designing something that’s comfortable and built to last. I really appreciated the pockets in both the shorts and jersey. This is the first time I’ve worn shorts with cargo pockets and I loved them! There is one pocket on each side (in the thigh area) and though small, they fit a phone, snack, or trash perfectly. The jersey has 3 of the typical pockets across the back, and an additional zippered pocket built into the center pocket. Pockets were sized typical to most jerseys and large enough to fit essentials like wallet, phone, small repair kit, and several snacks.

Friendliness to the earth

Rab is passionate about helping its customers make informed choices by providing raw data in their Material Facts tables. These tables provide specific information about recycled and fluorocarbon content, and drill down into the quantity of these in each part of the garment. These tables also tell you where it was manufactured. For example, the jersey contains 50% total recycled content, fluorocarbon content in the zips, and is manufactured in China.

The final word

The Rab Cinder kit is thoughtfully designed, durable, and comfortable in a wide range of temperatures and conditions. The ultralight Phantom jacket is the perfect packable layer that’s small enough to carry on every trip and performs well in all conditions. In addition to the pieces reviewed here, there are several additional men’s and women’s bike specific pants, shorts, jackets, and jerseys in the lineup.

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