Rab Summit Jacket

Therma-pest
Reviewed: 04 May 2008

GREAT DESIGN....DUBIOUS QUALITY?

Great design - pockets and wired hood
Good fit
Large stuff stack

Quality of manufacturing?

I had wanted a RAB duvet jacket ever since my mate got the Peak Smock in about 1999 which I was very impressed with. Having found one with 30% off on the net I thought I had a bargain. However, since owning it I have been dissapointed with the quality compared to the earlier products.
There is hardly any down fill in the collar of the jacket and very little in the cuffs. Also, compared to the earlier version, the outer shell feels lighter and less durable.

My mate brought a peak smock for his girlfriend this Christmas and was similarly disappointed with what was once a great product. What has happened?

The jacket still does the job, but when paying top money for a top brand you'd expect top quality. Would buy Alpkit next time.

Cruxster man who talks absolute blox on the windy thread
Reviewed: 06 February 2008

TOP QUALITY DOWN JACKET

Good fit, nice hood excellent pockets. Good fabrics are used on this jacket and is deffinatly windproof. Nice torso length and the arms are well cut too. Wired peak is nice as is the inside mesh drying pockets,

Not keen on the chin cover on the hood, would like to have seen a secon run of poppers to increase the tightness. also velcro between the poppers on the hood attatchment.

I paid £200 for mine and my wifes at the end of 2006 in a £50 off deal, can now be got for £100...yes £100 stonking value for money.

Rod Standing
Reviewed: 18 February 2005

BRILLIANTLY WARM AND COSY

Very well fitting, arms long enough to hide your hands in if you've forgotten your gloves. Well made throughout.

Pertex does get caught in zips if you're not careful. Washing instructions suggest sending to Franklins in Sheffield for cleaning - has anyone done this? What does it cost?
I guess RAB may have taken comments about inadequate size of stuffsac onboard as mine didn't come with one at all!

A great jacket - durable, good looking, reinforced in the right areas, warm with an excellent hood.

Andrew Dixon
Reviewed: 27 January 2005

VERSATILE, DURABLE & TOASTY!

Good fit, wear patches in appropriate places, great collar, good loft down and lots of it, awesome hood, detachable hood, external pocket layout.

Incredibly difficult to get the hood in the stuffsac with the jacket.

I've got a '96 vintage of this jacket and the pockets are slightly different in layout. It has been used for everything from in the hills in the UK to work in the Pamirs where daytime temps were down to -40 deg C at night. 5 winters of that and the jacket has never let me down. Now it is proving itself in the Southern Alps of New Zealand and doing very well.

Despite it age and the use its had it still looks in very good nick. The pertex fabric has been amazing in that all the down has stayed inside the jacket; never even had a leak through any stitching.

Despite paying an arm and a leg for it 9 years ago it is probbably one of the best value outdoor clothing items I have ever purchased.

Julie Meikle
Reviewed: 27 January 2005

FABULOUSLY WARM, GREAT WEIGHT

This jacket is fantastic, warm, good sized hand pockets, great hood that fits. Inside mesh pockets useful.
Packs down small and is light for the warmth. Even a good fit, with sleeves that adjust well to offset the too long for me arms. The shoulders and sides are reinforced fro extra durability. great for carrying packs and tripods which tend to rub along the sides of jackets.
So pleased with it, I have proposed!

Inside zipped pocket is at a silly angle so is a little awkward to access....outside would be better so you don't have to open the jacket and can keep the warmth in.

I even got it at a bargain price, but although it is expensive at full price, it is good value compared to much of the competition.
Can't beat it!