Rab down jackets for summit ascent

Which to buy

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Marvin55
30/04/2012 at 23:13
Im doing the three peak challenge this weekend and never having climbed either Ben Nevis, scafell, or snowdon, I'm not sure what to expect. I do though think it gives me a great reason to buy a nice down rab jacket. I prefer rab, pretty much because it's got one of the best reputations and I love all their kit so I'd like to go with them. I've looked at the apline microlight, which looks great but I'm not sure it'll be warm enough, and also at the infinity, but that looks too overkill. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Craig H
30/04/2012 at 23:22
If your doing the full 3 peaks I wouldn't have thought you'd have enough time to spend on the summit to warrant a down jacket. Do you mean just an insulated jacket as a spare layer?
StoneHuggingHippy
30/04/2012 at 23:25
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Marvin55
01/05/2012 at 09:27
Ok fair point, should have made myself a bit clearer, we're not actually doing it in 24hrs so well probably be spending some time at the summits as most of us have never been up them, so ideally I'd like a warm down jacket that I can stick on when I'm up there to chill out in
Martin Carpenter
01/05/2012 at 09:33
Get a snythetic insulation thing. Given these season - and especially the recent weather! - a very good chance of a lot of rain which wouldn't treat anything with down well at all.

A bunch of primaloft options on RABs website, as well as nice things from sundry other people of course.
Mole
01/05/2012 at 09:55

yeah - it could (probably) be wet up there.

Down not recommended unless guarateed dryish or freezing really

A hooded synthetic to chuck on over your shell (or under) will be  much more useful than a down jacket.

Rab Photon is good (or Generator Alpine)

Berghaus Ignite Hoody

Paramo Torres Jacket

plenty other brands available

Ian Gibson
01/05/2012 at 11:11
Rab Alpine Event might suit your purposes better.  It's waterproof and has a down filling.
Edited: 01/05/2012 at 11:14
Peter Clinch
01/05/2012 at 14:42

If you want X then buy X.  The need for a down jacket is about zero for the particular job in hand though (just stick an extra fleece in, layered under a good shell it'll all you need).

Pete.

Explorer
01/05/2012 at 15:35
I'd agree that a down jacket is probably overkill for these sort of conditions, and would also be unsuitable in the current damp climate. A synthetic jacket is a good investment, but if you can't find anything suitable before you go, don't worry - another (thickish) fleece would do. I don't think that it's forecast to be too cold, so that will be all you need.
Martin Carpenter
01/05/2012 at 15:48
MWIS is actually muttering about some potentially rather 'interesting' sounding, and quite cold, weather at some stage in the near future.
(snow to lowish levels, hail etc.).
Explorer
01/05/2012 at 15:55
Down jacket still probably not needed, but gloves, hat and other cold weather gear a good idea.
Ian Gibson
01/05/2012 at 16:31
As you can see from the Weather forecast for Ben Nevis wind chill is expected to be between -13 and -15 this weekend.  For all those that say a down is useless or overkill - At what temperatures would you start wearing one?
Peter Clinch
01/05/2012 at 16:48

I'm not saying it's useless or overkill, just that it's not needed.  My pal Dave is on the list of completed Munroists, doing a significant proportion in winter.  His specialist walking clothing was boots and a shell and occasionally long-johns, other than that it was trousers and shirt you could turn up to work in (I rather suspect he did) and a woolly pully.  Later on he turned gear junkie and got himself a fleece!

So it's not the case that you ought to get some special insulation to go up, but if you want to use it an excuse to justify some Retail Therapy then go right ahead.

I bought myself a downie about 15 years into my main Munro career, again with lots of winter in there, including climbing beforehand.  They're nice but they are absolutely not necessary.  Mine mostly gets used camping.

Pete.

Ian Gibson
01/05/2012 at 17:34
Peter Clinch wrote (see)
So it's not the case that you ought to get some special insulation to go up,

Pete.

What you say Pete is fair enough.  But the OP is talking of spending some time at the summit.  I think I'd take a down just in case.
Craig H
01/05/2012 at 18:32
I'm with Peter (as my first post might suggest). I did a few hills this winter and other than a spare fleece pull on, I had a Mountain Hardwear thermic micro jacket to put on. I sat for a good half hour on the summit of Siabod in quite cold conditions and was fine.

If you fancy a Rab Down jacket, just buy it (Not wanting to encourage debt mind!).
rob dixon 3
01/05/2012 at 20:01

Rather than splashing out specifcally for this one event, why not think hard on what you might need in the future?  If, say, you might get into winter camping, bothies etc, a down jacket wud be really useful.  If more walking, less nights out, a primaloft jacket would be handy, or simplest, another fleece.  Maybe thicker or thinner than what you have already?

PHD do a very nice range of lightweight down jackets.  I have a Minimus and it's fabulous.  I also have heavier, warmer jackets for colder conditions - the lighter ones would be best for you, I suspect - and light enough to take!

Enjoy trip - good luck!

Peter Clinch
02/05/2012 at 07:29

But the OP is talking of spending some time at the summit.  I think I'd take a down just in case.

Ever been winter climbing?  When you're belaying you can be stood around for "some time", not even able to move much.  My entire pitched winter climbing "career" (given up in favour of ski touring) was long before I had a down jacket, or anything like it.  You can't get past it being a nice but ultimately unnecessary bit of kit in the UK.

Rather than splashing out specifcally for this one event, why not think hard on what you might need in the future?

Sound advice!

Pete.

benp1
02/05/2012 at 14:02
To summarise then, if a down jacket is what you want go for it

But its probably not what you need, a primaloft or synthetic fill would be more use

Personally i'd carry a very light down vest and a thin primaloft jacket. they can go under or over each other, and both of them under a shell. combined with a microfleece this makes for a good combo
Jon Doran
02/05/2012 at 15:18
[quote]As you can see from the Weather forecast for Ben Nevis wind chill is expected to be between -13 and -15 this weekend. For all those that say a down is useless or overkill - At what temperatures would you start wearing one?[/quote]

Wind chill and actual temperature are quite different. Wind chill is all about how cold you feel because of the wind stripping the warmed air close to your skin away, but it's not the same as an actually temperature of -13 or so and a good windproof top will take much of the edge off that.

What you don't really want to do is get down wet, which is why people are suggesting a synthetic like PrimaLoft, which would probably be my choice to be honest. The Rab Microlight down jackets are nice things, but not super warm, the Berghaus Hybrid jacket with a mix of water-resistant down and PrimaLoft would be a better UK option, I think.

Fwiw, I have sat on the summit of the Ben in a down jacket, but it was a freak New Year - 1996 I think - with temperatures literally around -20°C and mostly still air. Of you do get a down jacket, make sure you keep it dry, wet down simply collapses and gives minimal insulation.

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Explorer
02/05/2012 at 16:47

Ian Gibson wrote (see)
As you can see from the Weather forecast for Ben Nevis wind chill is expected to be between -13 and -15 this weekend.  For all those that say a down is useless or overkill - At what temperatures would you start wearing one?
Regardless of whether you take a down jacket or not, with windchill like that a lightweight group shelter or bothy bag could be a good idea, especially if you're spending a while at the summit.
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