Walking and Climbing

Well there's actually even a picture of the light weight VR at - http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/orsm08_appealing_apparel.html so we must stand a decent chance of seeing it, Still got to get it past the shop buyers I suppose....

In fact there are pictures & even specifications of one of their new Event shells on lighthikers blog - http://lighthiker.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/outdoor-2008-clothing-part-i/ . I guess it must be the minimalist climbers one that. Looks nice.

Now the base layers I've not read anything about. I wonder what they might be

Funny that...

the Microlight stuff is already on sale in Intersport Igloo in Toulouse for a week or two. I talked a bit with the  sales manager and she said that they're expecting them to sell well here as 1) it's relatively dry 2) it doesn't get that cold and 3) - most importantly - they are perceived as fashion items more than technical kit! They were being sold with the ski-wear...

I wonder. Rab makes a jacket that looks just like the Patagonia Down Sweater and uses (on paper) a somewhat less high-spec down (650 European compared to 800 US fillpower)...

With the mark up on Patagonia stuff sold in Europe (rrp £150), I suspect that Rab might be trying to take a bite out of the cake that Jon so kindly showed us at the bottom of the article...

It does certainly seem plausible to view them as fashion items as much as anything else - if they were gunning for PhD etc instead it'd no doubt be full on quantum + super top quality down like in the Neutrino's.

(which aren't so much heavier overall but are much warmer.).

Instead they've managed to keep the price down quite low. They do look nicely made mind.

Anyone caught sight of their new pertex shield based waterproofs yet? They're seemingly meant to be competitors for montanes atomics.

'Standards' are such wonderful things

iirc When these first came out their website happily had them listed as  650 EU/750 US fill power. Now it's just listed as 750+ fill power without qualification. However since the Neutrinos and stuff are still listed as  750 EU/850 US I'm pretty sure it's a US fill measurement.

Annoying to see RAB doing this but I guess everyone else is at it Someone really should sort the tests out of course! If it matters to anyone the loft on them seems to be about 2cm so probably quite like 100g/m2 primaloft in warmth terms.

Still not so sure quite what they're for mind, especially the vest. The generator vest (100g/m2 primaloft) is only 40g heavier and fine in rain of course. The neutrino vest is 100g heavier but has something like twice the loft.

The hooded jacket is maybe more interesting. The weight difference cf primaloft starts to matter by then. Interesting comparison to the neutrino vest too - about half the loft but arms and a hood extra.

Of course there are several UL down jackets which are about the same weight and a lot warmer (hooded ultra pullover say.). Rather more expensive though.

I'm really dissappointed with my Rab micro jacket, it sheds down every time I wear it, very noticeable if wearing black under it.

Their literature gives the following statement....

 "Active range of clothing combines the most technical of modern fabrics...."

Mary