Rab | Last Year | Women's | Live for the Outdoors

It’s hard to believe that something this light (290g, size 10 – lightest on test) can help keep you warm on the hill. But thanks to the super-light Pertex Quantum used on the inner and outer coupled with the warming quality of the PrimaLoft One insulation, the Rab Xenon Jacket packs heat well above its weight. As soon as I ...

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Rab Double Pile (2012)

£60.00

A heavy fleece and therefore very warm. Double-pile fabric really traps the heat in. That also makes it bulky, however, and this certainly isn’t the kind of garment to tuck away in your pack for emergency use. Although it may not look like it, the face fabric has a water-repellent treatment which means that you can wear the top in ...

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First test: Rab Neo Stretch jacket

£250.00

The Rab Stretch Neo jacket is made from a new Polartec fabric called NeoShell, which claims to ‘fall in the sweet spot between traditional soft shells and hard shells’. So NeoShell is designed to be waterproof and breathable like a hard shell, while maintaining the stretch and comfort of a soft shell. Polartec NeoShell does have some stretch in it, ...

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Rab Stretch Neo

Rab’s first jacket to use Polartec’s all-new Neoshell membrane. It’s this element that is really key to the jacket’s uniqueness. It claims to be much more breathable than other membrane equivalents. In use that certainly seems to be the case, and even on hard ascents on cold days there was no trace of condensation. Aside from the stretch fabric, this ...

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Rab Latock 2011

£280.00

The Rab Latock is made from eVent fabric, and this version feels particularly robust and hard-wearing. It does make the jacket heavier than some others (762g, men’s L), but it’s likely that it will also stand up to abuse far better as well. The feature set is ideal for wet or wintry mountain days, thanks to the four large chest ...

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Rab Traverse

£50.00

Fabulously lightweight and stretchy trousers that will be a favourite in any walker’s wardrobe. There’s no DWR on the fabric, but if they do get wet, they’ll dry incredibly quickly, and they’re superbly breathable too. They’re wonderfully easy to walk in, with a diamond crotch gusset for really easy movement, and the soft, lightweight fabric feels great against the skin. ...

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Rab Generator Vest 2011

£75.00

A gilet that packs away into its own inner pocket and can be used as a camping pillow? You’ve got to admit that’s pretty cool. The Rab Generator Vest uses synthetic Primaloft to deliver damp-proof insulation. It doesn’t quite pack the warmth-per-gram punch of down, but it does hold up much better against our typical British mountain weather conditions. The ...

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Rab Demand Pull-On

£150.00

Uniquely, this top is designed in a smock-style, which harks back to the uncluttered designs of climbing kit. The result is a top with minimal stitching and fuss to impede its technical ability to shed water and breathe. As an emergency waterproof to throw on in a sudden downpour it’s great. The 3-layer eVENT waterproofing does make it more substantial ...

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Rab Sawtooth

£80.00

The Sawtooth is a great example of a performance-driven style of soft shell, although this time without Olympic track-star styling. I didn’t expect the lightweight fabric to be so warm, but during more energetic activity, it really kept the heat in. During a snow-bound jaunt up Snowdon’s Pyg Track, with only a pair of gloves on (and trousers, obviously) the ...