Revolution Race Aphex Pro review: a rugged and durable hardshell jacket at a good price

Meet the reviewer

Revolution Race Aphex Pro: first impressions

The Revolution Race Aphex Pro waterproof jacket is the brand’s flagship waterproof hardshell . It’s the priciest waterproof jacket the company sell, designed to put up with the harshest and most demanding conditions. As well as coming with a host of extra features that make it suitable for mountaineering trips and expeditions, it instantly instils confidence in you when you put it on.

• List price: $289 (US) / £279 (UK)
• Sizes: XS - 3XL
• Materials: Fabric 1: Polyamide 88%, elastane 12%; Fabric 2: Polyamide 86%, elastane 14%
• Weight : 697g / 24.6oz (medium)
• Colors: Black, Classic Blue
• Compatibility: Hiking, trekking, climbing, scrambling, camping

The Aphex Pro can currently be bought directly from Revolution Race for $289 (US) / £279 (UK). Which, while certainly not cheap, is substantially more affordable than equivalent three-layer waterproof hardshells from more premium brands. The Patagonia Triolet , for example, will set you back £111 more in the UK at £390, while the Rab Latok will set you back £201 more at £480. And while those other jackets come in around 200g / 7oz lighter than the Aphex Pro, how does the rest stack up? Or could this be the best bargain out there if you’re looking for a durable three-layer waterproof jacket for the harshest, most demanding adventures?

Revolution Race Aphex Pro: in the wild

I got my hands on a sample of the Revolution Race Aphex Pro several months ago. It arrived at the start of winter, right before I headed out on a series of trips planned through the worst of the British weather. And over the last few months, I’ve been able to test this jacket in a ton of different conditions. All in, I’ve worn it on a handful of overnight wild camping trips on Dartmoor in south-west England, dozens of walks through typical winter weather in my local hills and a few runs up in Pen y Fan in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (the Brecon Beacons) where it had to put up with plenty of rain and a few bouts of snow. And I’m happy to say that after all of this, I’m mostly impressed with its performance, especially for its price tag – with only a few niggles to note.

Revolution Race Aphex Pro: wind and waterproofing

The first thing which is undeniable about this jacket is that it keeps out the elements. The Hypershell membrane used in the Aphex Pro has a hydrostatic head rating of 30,000mm, which means you can really trust its ability to keep you dry. And my experience only speaks to that: even when out in miserably wet conditions, the material never let in any moisture whatsoever, and I think it might be one of the most waterproof jackets I’ve ever tested.

The same sentiment also applies to its performance in the wind. Due to the thickness of the material, it’s as if you’ve been hermetically sealed inside. When walking the Beacons Horseshoe in Bannau Brycheiniog in March, for example, the Aphex Pro really came into its own as sideways rain and beating wind drove into me as I walked along the ridgeline. Thankfully, I stayed dry and (relatively) comfortable wrapped up in this thing, at which point I was happy for the thickness and weight of the material.

The durability of the jacket does mean that it’s comparatively less breathable than many more premium models, however, I found that even with the pit zips fully open, I still worked up quite a sweat in the Aphex Pro when charging up steep inclines; certainly more than I was used to from my Patagonia Triolet , for example. And while this was never an issue for me, it does mean that I wouldn’t wear this on summer trips or in milder temperatures.

Revolution Race Aphex Pro: weight, packed size and breathability

Owing to the durability of the Aphex Pro, this jacket is unfortunately far from light. The medium version weighs in at 697g / 24.6oz, for example, which is substantially heavier than most other three-layer mountaineering hardshells out there. Due to the thickness of the material, it’s also not the smallest to pack away. For me, however, due to using this only on more ‘serious’ trips when the weather demanded I take a larger daypack , this never caused me any issues, though it is worth keeping this in mind if you’re looking for something to wear on a demanding thru-hike .

Revolution Race Aphex Pro: extra features

In order to help recovery efforts should you be caught in an avalanche, the Aphex Pro comes with a built-in Recco Reflector in the arm. It also has waterproof zips that are really easy to use, a pocket on the left arm (which is presumably for a ski pass if you use this on the slopes), a generously sized Napoleon pocket for stashing a map or a phone, and an internal stuff pocket that’s stretchy and surprisingly useful. On the wrists, large velcro fasteners can be easily tightened even when wearing thick winter hiking gloves , and the straight shape of the hem does a great job of keeping water out.

Unfortunately, however, I feel like the hood on the Aphex Pro lets the jacket down a little. It’s simply impossible to pull tight, and no matter which cord I tightened or how I tried to position it, it never sat comfortably on my head. As it was so big, rain would sometimes blow inside if I was walking into the wind, which meant that I had to keep playing around with the configuration or had to manually pull on the bill of the hood to keep it down tight enough over my face.

Revolution Race Aphex Pro: sizing

The sizing of the Revolution Race Aphex Pro is intentionally billowy and boxy. Which, to be clear, I really like. This allows you to layer up underneath when you’re using the Aphex Pro in winter, and I found I was even able to wear a bulky Mountain Equipment Lightline down jacket underneath it without squashing the feathers too much. Thanks to the large drawcords around the waist, neck and sleeves, you can also tighten the fit somewhat when wearing the jacket in warmer weather.

Revolution Race Aphex Pro: the bottom line

The Revolution Race Aphex Pro is far from perfect, and may not be the best choice for alpinists and climbers who value weight, packability and breathability over durability. But for most of us, if you’re looking for a super hard-wearing waterproof shell that will keep you dry in situations where you’ve no right to be, without shelling out twice as much, then the Aphex Pro is an excellent choice.

• How Advnture tests products