Rab Latok Alpine 2008

I bought one of these may time and i took it walking with me to the black mountains for a few days :) It was brilliant first off all the event breathability is amazing as i was walking along my friend who i was walking with could see the steam coming off the jacket :) although the only problem is that because it is so breathable in colder weather you can get cold quite easily Although it is a lightweight it feels so much heaver that i feel you could easy use it in winter as long as you layered up correctly. The waterproof abilities of the event fabric are easily on par with the similar fabric on offer from Gore-Tex their Paclite fabric (which i have experienced with the North Face Prophecy Paclite Jacket) and surpasses it easily along with the breathability mentioned above :) I mean in all honestly if you just need a lightweight jacket that you need for all year round use then this is the one to go for it is brilliant the Rab build quality is brilliant amazing piece of kit and is well worth the £180 price tag

(Written by: dixie124)

I bought my Rab coat as was subliminaly pursuaded by last years BBC Autumn watch presenters all championing Rabs out door goodies. They werent wrong! I went up Snowdon on a wet August Tuesday and was blessed by the metreological offices fire hose all the way up. The coats event shell stopped the water getting in and sucked out the sweat my body was busy pumping out as I headed to the new cafe with the masses in their 3/4 length jeans and trainers. I felt smug, dry and warm as these poor souls were no doubt put off walking forever due to the great British weather and lack of good kit. I tried the coat out again a week later on a hot but windy day on the carnedd;s. The coat kept the chilly wind off my warm torso whilst sat on top, leaving me to enjoy the impressive view of tryffan. I've been used to goretex, I'm converted but wait to see if it keeps up this fabulous 1st test. The map pockets are great but I only need one, they could have used the zip and pocket weight to have two hand warming pockets lower down. The inside pockets are great for walking treats but phones etc may get damp with condensation, maybe someone else can answer that one? The hood is great as it can fit snugly to my head and would fit Marge Simpsons gravity defying bouffant should she choose not to wear a helmet. This is the ideal light weight coat that actually keeps you dry in the great British weather come perspiration or precipitation.

(Written by: Asinspike)

I bought the Latok Alpine in January to replace my ageing, well worn, but much loved Marmot Alpiniste. As soon as I took it out of the bag and tried it on, I was impressed, it oozed quality. It cost me £120, so is far cheaper than some of the new Proshell jackets out there. Its not the most stylish, but then its not designed to be. I tried it first on the hill on a jaunt over Bleaklow. I wore it over my Vapour Rise jacket, and was toasty, dry and comfortable all day in some pretty grim conditions. At 525 grammes, its lightweight, so you when its in your sack, you don’t know you are carrying it. Its made of 2 layer eVent and breathes superbly, so when you could comfortably wear it all day and not really notice, and I have yet to find condensation inside it. The hood is well designed, with a wired peak, front and volume adjusting cords that are designed to allow 1 handed operation, and when adjusted correctly it fits like a glove and moves well with the head. The cords are neatly threaded through the jacket to keep them out of the way, but unlike some they are still outside, and when adjusted and they are long, they could still whip you in the face on a windy day. There is also plenty of room to get a climbing helmet underneath. The fabric is pretty hardwearing and is designed to prevent tearing, and the design allows for plenty of freedom of movement in the arms, so its great for scrambling and climbing, and the cut of the jacket is neat ensuring there isn’t lots of flappy material. There is a scooped tail and a drawcord at the hem allows you to stop the wind whipping up into where you don’t want it to go!! The real beauty of this jacket is its simplicity. No bells and whistles, just a simple, clean design that keeps you dry and gets the job done with no pfaff. Highly recommended!! Pros: 2 layer eVent – very breathable Great design, simple yet functional Lightweight – carry it or wear it, you wont know you are! Cons: Those hood drawcords could be a bit annoying on a windy day. Price: around £150

(Written by: PWSY16)