would like buy a vaper rise jacket but not sure if i will use it. hill walk 3 seasons in scotland how warm is it is it only a winter jacket at present use a light fleece and waterproof jacket
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 I don't have one, but it is probably equivalent to wearing a light fleece and a windshirt. The shell is only water-resistant. You will still need a waterproof jacket.
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 No, it's definately not a winter-only jacket. Depending on how hot or cold you run you might not get very much use out of it in summer but I find it useful over quite a wide range of temperatures. You can regulate temperature fairly well by lowering/raising the front zip and opening/closing the velcro wrist adjusters. You could probably replace the light fleece and waterproof jacket with the vapour rise. It has a soft mircofleece-type of lining and the pertex outer is quite good at sheeding light drizzle so just wear a base layer (thickness depending on the temperature) along with the VR and keep the waterproof in your rucksack in case the rain gets heavy. I find mine useful from about September to May. It's one of the few items in my clothing kit I wouldn't be without.
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 Can also dump the base layer and wear it as your sole layer to extend the range a bit. Works very well this way. More natural with the smocks perhaps. With this you might well get usage from Autumn - Spring. I was very happy in my duality smock (roughly equivalent Montane thing) two weeks ago in the peak. It was a little hot climbing out of Longendale but it had got really quite warm by then. Colder earlier/on top!
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The great benefit of VR and similar tops from Buffalo and Marmot is that you very seldom need to stop and adjust layers, ime, and you don't tend to get clammy unless it's a very warm day. So yes, it is useful for a good part of the year. I find my Buffalo Fell jacket (very similar to the VR Trail) keeps me comfortable on really cold winter days as long as I'm moving, either on its own or worn over a merino base layer when it's really freezing. I stick on a belay jacket when I stop. Be careful with the fit of VR stuff tho -- I find it too tight under my arms and across my shoulders when it fits the rest of my body.
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Yeah the fit is a bit odd. I find it a little snug across the chest and shoulders and it could do with being a bit less roomy around the midriff. And I'm no Arnold Schwarzenegger!! It's not bad enough to be constricting though.
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 Ive only had mine a few months so haven't had chance to test it in proper cold conditions but Id say that its not as warm as you'd expect.
My plus points:
Its is very breathable
The fit is good including the hood (possibly a bit large round the middle and tight on the upper body)
It sheds water well
Even when its very wet it stays warm,
Negative points:
Arms are too tight to roll up (a pet hate of mine)
Its not as windproof as I had expected (my Paramo Fuera smock does a much better job at wind-stopping).
No vents.
If you usually wear a light fleece and a waterproof then this will probably do a very similar job, though if its going to really rain then you will need to carry a waterproof with you anyway.
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 Just spent the weekend trudging around Lancashire in my VR and would second what Ben says. Decent stuff but there's better out there doing the same job. And the windproofing is pretty lame although I've got the warmer VR Climb which has highly un-windproof stretch panels. Lightweight fleece plus windshirt combo is better IMO for 3 seasons and buffalo / paramo better for the rough stuff.
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thanks for the help still not sure if i need one will look at a light windproof could be more practical for me
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 I've just purchased a Montane Featherlight from Rock and Run for £20.45. Although this does not have the hood it gives greater flexibility as you can either wear the windshirt, fleece or both or nothing at all and at this price you can't go wrong. I have a pertex equilibrium jacket and its not as windproof as the pertex windshirts.
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It's never a bad idea to have at least one light windproof.... The VR's aren't totally windproof due to the face fabric they use (Equilibrium). It's only about 98% windproof or something. Some people - Jon here for instance - like them for this very reason I have wondered why they didn't use stretch equilibrium instead of power stretch for those stretch panels. Not enough stretch perhaps. The primary vent is the big front zip. For the rest they rely on the air permiability of equilibrium. If that's not enough then the new Montane scarab (very similar spec to VRs) seems as if it might have venting chest pockets. Not seen one to check yet. (in contrast my duality smock seems somewhat like an experiment by Montane to see how many vents they could fit on one garment  ).
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 I would also definitely consider the Marmot Driclime Windshirt (OM reviews here). Maybe less robust than the Rab VR and it doesn't have a hood, but otherwise seems to do all that the Rab VR does (some would say better) for around half the price (normally around £50 as opposed to around £100).
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 I've not used any VR kit, but as mentioned above the Duality is similar (more windproof though). I really like mine, and as long I'm moving I'm at a perfect temperature with nothing underneath it (with trousers before you lot start!) Not the most attractive piece to wear though... It was definitely too warm in the summer even with the vents open and sleeeves rolled up, but was lovely in the Beacons last year when there was ice on the ground. When I stopped moving I just chucked my Prism on over the top. I wouldn't be able to comment on Scottish weather though.
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