When we popped over to preview Rab's spring 2011 range of new kit, the one item that really caught our eye was the £40 Boreas Pull-on, a light and stretchy hooded summer soft shell.Yep, we did say £40 and yes, that was 'summer soft shell'. Anyway

manufacturer says a particular product is designed for one thing, doesn't stop it being useable for others. Take Rab's new £40, affordable and light summer soft shell, the Boreas. Someone on the OM forum reckoned it was essentially a 'summer top for the Alps

We're dead impressed with the new Rab Boreas soft shell pull-on that we have on test, it's getting a proper spring thrashing, but we also have another Rab soft shell that's new for this spring in the shape of the Sawtooth Jacket.Like the Boreas

liners give a bit of harness-friendly stowage.We're biased but we really like light, breathable soft shells - Rab's bargain bucket Boreas was one of our favourite bits of 2011 kit - and while the Javelin's a lot more featured and more technical, the basic

Jacket is another zoned soft shell jacket. It uses double weave stretch woven fabrics with a combination of lightweight stretch material for the main body - like the Boreas Pull-On - with a tougher, double-weave fabric in the arms. It has thumb-loops too

about that soon, a Haglöfs Infinity vest with a Windstopper front but non-membrane back and my fave soft shell of the year, the Rab Boreas. They've all been used and they've all worked pretty well.So I can't blame my equipment....Right now I don't know