 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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| Edited: 25/07/08 22:27 |
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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