Rab Vapour-Rise Trail Smock Tested

We take a look at Rab's shelled microfleece with a difference - the outer is wind-resistant Pertex Equilibrium giving much better breathability than similar fully windproof equivalents.

Rab Vapour-Rise Smock Tested

Price: £100.00

Weight: 477 grammes (men's medium)

Features: Pertex Equilibrium outer with micro wicking inner. Shield water-resistant treatment, two venting mesh-lined chest pockets, drawcord hem and venting Velcro cuffs, two-way chest zip, wired peak hood which zips into collar. Women's VR jacket also available, but no smock version.

Great compromise between protection, breathability and moisture management. Slightly tight across the OM test shoulders...

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The Concept The idea of a windproof and water-resistant outer shell married to a thin, insulating microfleece inner is nothing new, it first emerged as a cooler alternative to pile / Pertex garments like Buffalo.

Completely windproof outers however, often fall down when it comes to breathability. Rab's Vapour-Rise kit uses Pertex-Equilibrium instead. It's not completely windproof, but the pay off is better breathability combined with excellent wicking qualities thanks to the structure of the material.

The promise is a garment that offers decent weather protection and some insulation but still allows enough breathability and wicking performance to stay comfortable in milder conditions.

If you're built slim to athletic-medium and have a tendency to overheat in fully-windproof tops, then the VR is near perfect. It's an ideal compromise between warmth, protection, breathability and venting performance that we've used for everything from mountaineering to mountain biking.

If we had to suggest improvements, we'd ask for some Pertex Equilibrium Stretch panels to improve fit over a wider range of body shapes and take some of the tightness out of the shoulders, but really that's just quibbling.

The bottom line is that while it's not cheap and it's not flash, Vapour Rise is massively effective. Just good, no-nonsense kit that works so well you mostly forget that you're using it. And that's what it's all about.

If you'd like to add your own experiences of this product check out our user review system and post your opinions to the world. If you have questions you can mail us direct, ask Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear forum.

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