Rab Vapour-rise Trail
Jacket -Tested
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Price:
£110 RRP
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Weight: 620
grammes (men's large)
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Features:
Pertex Equilibrium shell fabric with water-repellant Shield treatment,
soft micro-velour wicking lining, two zipped handwarmer
pockets, full-length double-ended main zip, adjustable hem drawcord,
Velcro-adjustable cuffs, zip-off, roll-away hood with wired peak,
single zipped chest pocket. Also available as Women's
Vapour-rise jacket.
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What's It
For?
TheVapour-rise Trail is Rab's hill and mountain-walking Vapour-rise
top. It's cut relatively long with a handy double-ended zip and has a
handy hood for stops. Like all Vapour-rise, it's about a balance of
protection, wicking performance and breathability.
The idea is that you should be able to wear it in most conditions short
of proper rain when you'll need a lightweight waterproof, and get
microfleece type insulation but with much better wind resistance.
The Techy
Bits
The key to Vapour-rise is the outer Pertex Equilibrium shell fabric.
Unlike traditional Pertex fabrics, Equilibrium is highly wind resistant
rather than 100 per-cent windproof. The pay off is better breathability
and, because of its denier gradient construction, it performs a bit
like a baselayer when it comes to shifting moisture outwards.
The Equilibrium provides wind and a bit of rain protection, then a soft
micro-velour lining adds both wicking performance and some thermal
insulation, a bit like adding an additonal, thickish baselayer.
How It
Performed
We're big fans of Rab's Vapour-rise system. Most similar garments use a
closely woven, windproof outer fabric, and while it gives great wind
protection, the level of breathability is often significantly lower
than you'd expect.
The Equilibrium fabric feels really breathable by comparison and makes
Vapour-rise significantly more breathable, something you really notice
- along with excellent wicking performance - when you're working hard.
Yes, you do lose some wind resistance, but it has to be blowing really
hard for that to be noticeable and it's generally only when things get
wet that you need an additional hardshell for rain protection. And then
the excellent breathability and wicking performance still goes on
working.
In really gnarly conditions, it's possible to layer two Vapour-rise
garments to create an effectively windproof system but still with good
breathability.
The jacket's designed with hill and mountain walking in mind. It's
slightly tight across the shoulders and we ended up going up a size
from our usual medium, so it's worth trying before buying if you're on
the broad side of average build. It's nice and long so you get some
handy crotch protection and there are two massive handwarmer pockets
which you can stuff full of OS maps, chocolate or simply your hands.
The downside of these is that they sit quite low, so may well be fouled
by a pack belt. There's also an external, zipped chest pocket that's
just right for a phone or wallet. The double ended zip was handy, the
sleeves are loose enough to roll up for added venting and cuff Velcro
fasteners make for quick, easy wrist adjustment.
The lined hood's a slightly complicated affair in that it's held in
place by both a zip and Velcro tags, but we mostly left it attached
anyway. Simple adjustments allow you to use it as a handy hat
substitute for stops and just walking along, and while it doesn't
compare with a full-on mountain hood for protection, the wired peak
does give you a little extra drip room.
The Vapour-rise Trail Jacket gives a superb balance between protection,
breathability and wicking. Put it on at the start of a day in the hills
and chances are that it won't be coming off until the end. Really high,
cold winds just about penetrate the Equilibrium outer fabric, but it
doesn't happen often and you can always throw on the lightweight
waterproof shell you'll be carrying in case of heavy rain.
The lining is comfortable, wicks well and gives just about enough extra
insulation to remain feasible for hard use in colder conditions. And
while the cut and design aren't radical, everything does the job it's
intended to do. We did have issues with the pockets and hip-belts, but
taller users may not have the same problem.
Buy if you
run warm and want an optimal balance of protection, breathability and
wicking for all-round hill and mountain walking use.
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 System gives
great compromise between protection and performance.
 Pockets may
overlap pack belts for some wearers.
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Performance
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Value
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