Rab Generator Smock Tested

Rab Generator Smock Tested

Price: £80

Weight: 330 grammes (medium)

Features: Lightweight insulated smock with Primaloft 1fill. Pertex Quantum inner and outer fabrics, 60g Primaloft 1 insulation, single chest pocket, overlapping kangaroo pocket, Lycra cuffs and hem, long half-zip neck opening, packs into chest pocket. Available in black and denim.

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What's It For? The new Generator is part of Rab's ultra-lightweight Quantum range and aimed pretty much at anyone who wants very light, very packable insulation that's also damp friendly - unlike down - and windproof. Climbers, runners, trekkers, lightweight backpackers could all use it.

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The Techy Bits There's nothing particularly magical about the design; the key to the Generator's weight and pack size is the use of top quality materials, in particular the ultra-lightweight Pertex Quantum fabric that's used both inside and out and the Primaloft 1 synthetic insulation.

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How It Performs Traditionally the warmth without weight thing has been done using down - Rab has its own take on that with the 400g Neutrino jacket - but down has one major disadvantage for UK conditions; it really doesn't like dampness.

Rab's Neil McAdie has the Generator on his Christmas list

Sythetic insulation like Primaloft, is far more robust - get it wet and it will retain far more of its insulating properties than down, which turns into sludgey porridge when mixed with water... Generally though, synthetics have usually weighed quite a bit more and lacked that soft, luxurious down feel.

All that stops with the Generator. Its genuine 330-gramme weight is in microfleece territory, but it's as warm as a mid-weight fleece plus the windproofness of the Quantum fabric makes it much more useable in anything other than still conditions.

As a bonus, the silky Pertex Quantum fabric and soft Primaloft insulation gives it a great, soft, luxurious feel good factor. It's not quite as pub-friendly as a traditional fleece, but everywhere else it blows its fabric cousin into the weeds thanks to a smaller pack size and windproofing.

Conveniently it compresses into its own chest pocket, though it will go smaller if forced producing a pack size, oh, about the same as a small pineapple or maybe a very large grapefruit.

At any rate, it doesn't take up much room in your pack and sits there unobtrusively 'til you need instant insulation. You get a loop to hang it from your harness as well making it an option for climbers moving light on multi-pitch routes.

Cut is snug - this isn't a belay-type garment - and long enough to feel protective. You get a single zipped chest pocket that will take an OS map or guidebook without protesting, plus a non-zipped 'kangaroo' handwarmer pocket with a central divider so although you get the full width of the pocket on either side, your hands don't actually touch. Great for keeping cold fingers warm on chilly days.

The deep chest zip works well for venting and easy donning and removal and people with normal-sized forearms will be able to roll sleeves up as well.

The Generator's not particularly water resistant per se, but you will get a sort of soggy warmth even when it's damp and there are no care issues with getting it wet.

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Verdict

If you're looking for all-condition warmth with minimal weight and a dose of windproofing thrown in, Rab's Generator will be bouncing up and down shouting 'Me! Me! Me!'

It doesn't weigh much, travels small and packs a bigger insulation punch than you'd expect with added wind resistance over traditional fleeces. It's happy with damp and, as a bonus, it feels lovely and soft.

If you were being really picky, you might ask for a hood as well and a full-length zip, but that'd weigh more and minimal weight, maximum warmth is the name of the game here.

Very, very nice and very effective.

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Light, small-packing, warm, soft and windproof. Nothing really.

Performance
Value

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Rab web site

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