 Hi people! Heard back from Rab to say they couldnt find a problem with the seams and as far as they were concerned it wasnt their problem because they assumed it must be the zips which are not garaunteed 100% waterproof. This left me up a bit of the creek as there is no point in owning a leaky waterproof. However the shop manager knows that I wasn't throwing a pack of lies at them (and i had nothing to gain as I wanted the same jacket) and so he rang rab, and after a bit of an earful they did agree that they would credit the old jacket so that I could have a replacement. All in all im not very impressed by Rab's testing procedure, all they had to do was put someone in the jacket and then put them in a shower for 5 mins and the water would have soon started flowing! However customer service is clearly excellent and hats off to the shop as well. They are fantastic. Trekitt in Hereford so you all kno! Stock fantastic equipment at very competitve prices and you can get some cracking advice as well! Thanks for all your thoughts! Hope that the new jacket it better!!
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 They did swop it though as they said the eVENT was "De-Laminating" on the front of the jacket. Used to be a very common problem with Goretex, back in the 80s and early 90s. The eVent membrane that actually keeps the water out is separate to the face fabric(s) which are usually nylon. The membrane is laminated to the face(s). if it's delaminating the usual tell-tale is what looks like wee bubbles in the face fabric(s). Pete.
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 So-called waterproof (water-resistant officially I think) zips seem a huge con to me, I just think it's crazy to use one for the main zip on a jacket. I'm also glad I didn't buy an Event jacket --it does seem to be very susceptible to getting dirty, needing frequent aggressive washing. The design seems to have a fundamental flaw: yes, it's more breathable, but this is because it's missing the protection that other products have and so it has this sweat/oil/dirt issue. Too many stories of leaks/problems to make it worthwhile...
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 Interesting. I am in the process of cleaning my Rab Bergen Pants, as I got soaked last week, so that I can return then to Rab. This is what they suggested as they were purchased from a shop over 80 miles away. Hopefully I'll have a better result because there definitely not waterproof.
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Hmm...there seems to be more Event problems than you might expect. Has having a dodgey Rab Latok put me off Event? Yes slightly, but im willing to try again, and there no doubting the breathability. Event just needs a lot more TLC than Gore-Tex. There are alternatives out there that claim to be more breathable than Gore-Tex mayb people should look at those too. One thing is for sure however...no-one makes a jacket like Rab. Zubald wrote: So-called waterproof (water-resistant officially I think) zips seem a huge con to me, I just think it's crazy to use one for the main zip on a jacket. I say, check out the Rab Bergen Jacket. (also the Latok has event lined pockets which they say eliminates the problem of leakages, even if they occur. Unfortunately they have a put a hole in each pocket for a length of shock chord to pass through. DUH!!!!) The "waterresistant zips" are a bit stupid...but they do look pretty gucci. There is no longer any doubt in my mind that it was they that caused the leak in my Latok. Apparently i claim the prize for the 1st ever rab Latok Jacket to be sent back! woop! lol
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 I still don't get this 'handle with care' thing about e-vent. I've had a Rab Latok and a Crux Flak Smock. Both just get stuffed into rucksacks. They've never even been washed. Never had a problem. I've got a few other things as well and the only problem was my Keen Targhee's. They leaked pretty quickly. E-vent doesn't seem to work very well in footwear, and i wonder if people are reading about this, and then judging it across the whole range of gear?
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Rich - RAB are straight enough about the zips being only 'water-resistant' on the Latok. They say the Latok and the Super-Dru have an internal storm-flap and rain drain - why they don't put it outside beats me - but I think it's more sense to regard them as winter jackets, in which case snow is much less likely to get driven through a zip than rain. Perhaps they don't use an external velcro type storm flap because in winter velcro loses its velcro-ness in the snow and ice. If you wanted water-proofness, shouldn't you be looking at the Bergen, which does have an external storm flap over the zip. The pockets still have only water-resistant zips, but apparently they are sealed and have an 'innovative drainage system'. (!)
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Heard back from Rab regarding my Bergen Pants and they are sending me a replacement pair so well done Rab. It would have been easy enough to state that there was nothing wrong with them.
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well done Rab You are very generous with your praise Lindsay! After all, they sold you a pair of trousers which leaked - what on earth is 'well done' about that?!?!? Hope they paid your postage. Still, mine have been good so far.
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ALoveSupreme - Any waterproof coat made by a company with Rab's reputation should keep out water. More extensive testing in very poor conditions has led to my belief that the jacket will keep you dry if you wash it every month, and re-waterproof. The most essential part being to reactivate the DWR. When the DWR depleats the wates eventually gets through everytime. This Jacket is clearly intended for use in the snow as some of you have said. The bergen jacket is a much better choice when there is mucho rain! I am now pretty happy happy with the WR zips. I actually think they are fine now ( i know ive gone back on myself). As long as the seal stays good they work ok. Another probelm ive found with event is that the inner lining wears through VERY easily, casuing red patches through the grey! This occured after giving a 12 stone mate a piggy back for about 15m, just once! Im now wary of event, but i guess it is still better than Goretex. Those of you who have had no leaks, I reckon you havnt had it in bad enough rain for long enough. Ive had similar problems with two jackets, so i reckon its just summit you have to put up with. Either that or you have looked after your jacket as well as i have had to learn to. Thats my verdict anyway!
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So i've not been using mine in heavy rain.  PMSL! It's always dry in Scotland. 
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.jpg) So i've not been using mine in heavy rain.PMSL! It's always dry in Scotland.
And theres me thinking you were hardcore Mike  .
Fair weather walker you!! 
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Haha! No offence meant! Either I sweat 100x more than you or you havnt been in hard enough rain! Sorry chaps! To be fair the jacket definitely performs better when the DWR is maintained to the best it can be!
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 The eVent on my Rab Superdru is starting to look like the "bad" bits that were on the Suilven (see page one of this thread) when it was leaking. I havent noticed water coming through though. I think its beeing caused by the buckle on my Rucksac. If it starts to leak at these bits, and I suspect it will I doubt RAB will let me have another replacement. I will probably just end up patching it. TBH if the Superdru does give up the ghost I have been considering replacing it with one of the far cheaper options using one of the manufacturers own brand fabrics eg Montane's Atomic. That way when I destroy my new waterproof my bank balance wont suffer so much. £200ish quid for a jacket that starts to fail after 1 year is rather cr*p IMO
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My only regret going with a cheaper option would be the loss of the absolutey fantastic cut on the Superdru.
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My dad has a super-dru. I was actually gna get one, but before I could save up he bought himself one because I had been talking about it. There was no way i could have the same jacket as him, so I had to go one better with the Latok. Going with a cheaper jacket is probably a gd option if you give them a gd beating. If you are id check out sprayway, as they are on the whole cheaper and ive been impressed by their kit in the past! However the Super Dru is supposed to be a very lightweight jacket. If you are going to a give a jacket a pounding and still want to go with rab the latok, latok alpine or bergen jacket would be better. I would have expected the Super Dru to hold out better. Dont give up so easily on Rab though! I have found their customer service pretty gd. If you have proof you only bought it a year ago, and it is obvious that it is a failure of the jacket they will probably refund you or replace.
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Rich the Suillven I had was supposedly their super strong rufty tufty durable jacket and it only lasted best part of a year. They replaced it with the Superdru so I cant prove I bought it. I dont think I am giving the jackets a "beating" at all. They get far less abuse than they should be able to take. BTW I think there is still plenty of life in my Superdru at the moment but I suspect I shall soon have to patch the area where my rucksack buckle was. (I have since replaced the sack)
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Fair. It just proves the point that event needs alot of TLC. My latok's inner lining is rubbing through to the outer and going red, and thats after just a few months. It isnt that impressive. Gd luck with any repairs!
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Fair. It just proves the point that event needs alot of TLC. My latok's inner lining is rubbing through to the outer and going red, and thats after just a few months. It isnt that impressive. Gd luck with any repairs! How can you make that statement? What has been proved? Just because you trash your jackets proves nothing. Like i have said, i've never had any problems with my e-vent jackets.
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To be fair Mike the problem ist really with the Superdru or the eVent in this case. Its the rucksack that was the cause. Hopefully the damage should stop now I have changed the pack. I think I was just unlucky with the Suilven.
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