Rab Bergen jacket problems

Hi folks,

I was wondering if I could have a bit of help with a new bit of kit I got a few weeks back.

As the thread title says its a Rab Bergen jacket and the problem seems to be its letting in the rain.

I have only wore the jacket twice, first time was to try the fit and was indoors and then again today in the rain giving it its first proper test which it seem's to have failed miserably.

I took my dog for a walk which took about 30 mins and although the weather is drizzly its hardly the usual heavy downpour we are used to here in the ennerdale valley, lakes district.

I am a "hot" walker and wanted a new jacket for all year round use that was light, breathable had a good technical cut (hood, collar, length) that was hard wearing enough to handle general use with a backpack and the Rab seemed to fit my requirements.

The jacket did seem to bead the rain along the arms and lower back of the jacket for a little while, but it started wetting out badly along the front and most seams, after 20 mins i started to feel very damp.

please see the pictures below.

 first pic is of the neck area the seams and area where the collar tag got very wet, my neck felt very wet.

Arm shows random beading and random wetting out.

front right chest pocket, again seams very wet, jacket front also.

very wet front, no beading at all but let in a fair bit of water, inside fabric very wet.

more seams wetting out.

 Im sure this is not normal, especially for a brand new jacket.

Does anyone have any experience with this Event fabric? its sounds great on the tin, but seems to fail badly in practice.

considering this jacket is made for hill walkers and is supposedly hard wearing I feel a bit dissapointed that it has fallen at the first hurdle in only moderatly bad weather, the whole jacket feels very soggy with all the rain it has absorbed and the front has random wet patches inside.

It was bought a month ago from www.roughgear.co.uk which has great service btw.

In contrast my "cheap" Berghaus deluge over trousers, kept me dry and breathed well and they only cost me £20 in an amazon sale.

Never had problems with Event fabric wetting out like that except when my Montane Superfly got very old.

You could either do a reproofing and see what happens, or contact roughgear aboutsending it back.

Thanks for the reply Kate, Im not sure I want to try washing it seeing as its basically brand new, to me that says there is a problem with it from the outset.

I know the instructions say it needs regular washing but on its first go?

On closer inspection an hour or so later the rain has managed to completely soak through the material so the inside of the entire jacket is now wet.

not good

I think I will contact Rough gear and see what they can do.

Thanks.

Edit* contacted rough gear, they will contact Rab to see who I return the Jacket to?? they said they will email me shortly with a response.

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Hi Crag Scrambler, how you getting on wiv ya Rab now?

Graham

Just 'cos this thread has popped up again...

... I have an old(ish) Rab Latok (second hand from a friend) that has performed really well. I bought (from flea-bay) a Lowe Alpine eVent and that has also done what's been asked (expected). However...

... January sales. Thought I'd treat myself to a Rab Latok Trek — pretty much half-price, and the piggy-bank is never full. First walk this last Easter (staying low along Mawddach Estuary in steady rain) wetted-out big time, even my fleece below shell was wet, wet, wet.

Back home, usual wash (for eVent) and reproof, then cool iron (always worked before for eVent). The next walk was Moel Siabod in rainy-down-a-load mode (June), with the same disappointment of jacket performance. Emails sent. No useful response.

If anyone from Rab or eVent looks at these posts, then please do something to get your market share back, 'cos I (and others, it would seem) are a bit miffed.

I trust my OMM Kamleika far more at the moment.

My appologies to the OP, I've not been of any help — just a rant!

@ pete_rbg

Both of my brothers bought the Rab Latok Trek and have used them in awful weather but haven't experienced the problems you describe. It sounds like a manufacturing error, because from their use of them, they have beaded well in rain and they have never got wet.

I believe the jacket was a Cotswold exclusive, so (if you haven't done so already) I'd try contacting them, because their customer service is normally very good and manufacturers are more likely to respond to a big company.

Thanks Explorer,

I did email Cotswold and heard sweet nothing in reply. May be I should try telephoning them.