Rab Down Jackets (1 Viewer)

[Scribbly Jack]

I recently purchased a Rab Summit Batura Jacket, as recommended (apparently) by Simon King. I have had nothing but trouble with it. All the down insulation in the arms has moved to the tricep/ back of the arm area and left the whole inner arm with no insulation at all. Rab have since told me that the jacket is intended for high level mountaineering and Polar exploration, not bird watching!
This is a very costly jacket (£350+) and should be more than at home in a British bird hide, if it’s intended purpose is polar exploration, apparently not. Please be aware of these issues if you are thinking of purchasing this particular Jacket.
I have worn down jackets for years and can whole heartedly recommend them as a light weight way of staying warm whilst birding. My advice would however be to avoid Rab and in particular their Batura Jacket.
There are loads of quality down manufacturers on the market, shop around. I will be ordering the Mountain Equipment Greenland Jacket once I have resolved this with Rab.

 

[skywatcher]

Well, if I was a mountaineer or a polar explorer I'd be just as hacked off! Sounds like bad design and at that price, unacceptable.I've had a RAB down jacket for 16 years and I'm still wearing it this week so they can be good.
I hope you can get the situation resolved.
Good luck

 

[Scribbly Jack]

Well, if I was a mountaineer or a polar explorer I'd be just as hacked off! Sounds like bad design and at that price, unacceptable.I've had a RAB down jacket for 16 years and I'm still wearing it this week so they can be good.
I hope you can get the situation resolved.
Good luck

Thanks mate, I've got an old Rab down jacket too and I agree thet can be good. I have spent a fortune on Rab gear over the years and not had an issue.That is why this is all the more dissapointing.

 

[dbradnum]

That's interesting, since I was seriously considering buying a down jacket from their range.

In what way do they suggest that birdwatching would cause the jacket unexpected problems?!

 

[Scribbly Jack]

That's interesting, since I was seriously considering buying a down jacket from their range.

In what way do they suggest that birdwatching would cause the jacket unexpected problems?!

Apparenty (I have the email to substantiate this) frequent bending of the elbow to use bins and telescopes etc causes the down to migrate or compress. Of course mountaineers never bend their arms.
In my opinion they have produced a new design that has been found wanting, so they are making up alsorts of excuses to deflect blame.

 

[StuartReeves]

I've had a Rab down jacket for years, a Kinder I think it is, and it has been a brilliant piece of kit. Have to say the Summit Baltura looks a bit over-specified for birding in the UK.

 

[dbradnum]

Apparenty (I have the email to substantiate this) frequent bending of the elbow to use bins and telescopes etc causes the down to migrate or compress. Of course mountaineers never bend their arms.
In my opinion they have produced a new design that has been found wanting, so they are making up alsorts of excuses to deflect blame.

Hmm, and ice climbers wouldn't put their hands above their head or bend their arms either, would they?!

Having said that, Stuart's response is useful to add balance - maybe it's just this new jacket (which is higher spec than I'd be looking at) which has an iffy design? Anyone else bought one from the Rab range recently?

 

[Andrew]

Rab have since told me that the jacket is intended for high level mountaineering and Polar exploration, not bird watching!

Canny ploy. Not many of those might come back alive to complain.

Seriously, I am surprised as I value Rab highly as I have had two coats and a top with no problems plus good fittings.

 

[Pitvar]

Not in the same league as a RAB but field and trek have a 90% down 10% feather jacket on offer at £50 this week - down from £130 or similar. I've ordered one for the car given the current weather.

 

[Scribbly Jack]

I've had a Rab down jacket for years, a Kinder I think it is, and it has been a brilliant piece of kit. Have to say the Summit Baltura looks a bit over-specified for birding in the UK.

Waterproof and warm are exactly what you need for birding in the Great British winter. It's just a shame that the warmth bit doesn't extend to the arms.
I too have had loads of Rab gear (I still own a Summit jacket and a Ladakh 1000 sleeping bag) and never had cause to complain. No one is more disappointed than me with this current problem, but I'm not going to sit back and accept a jacket with a flawed design, especially at £350

 

[typo]

Sorry to hear of your problems with the Rab.

Perhaps not quite the technical spec (or price) I can recommend the Alpkit Jackets (Filo) and Gillet (Fillet), which I find excellent. However I would wear a shell outer in wet weather. They are designed for climbers, and perhaps suit a trimmer figure.

http://www.alpkit.com/shop/

Looks like they have sold out on the Jackets at the moment. They have and ETA page here:
http://www.alpkit.com/support/product_updates

David

 

[number6]

RAB gear is not what it once was , not the same company anymore and lots of offshore production with their products . 'Patagonia' do some nice light down gear as do 'PHD'.
Get your money back and invest it elsewhere if you can . Let us know how you get on.

 

[SUGS]

£350 + for a birding jacket ?

Mountain Warehouse fleece lined puffa with hood £20 sorted ! Waterproof and warm .



.

 

[socksitis]

What a dissapointment for you. I have a RAB waterproof jacket which I had trouble with - RAB were superb in dealing with my problem and sent me a new jacket - could not fault their customer care, so I am surprised.
I hope they refund or replace and you get something fit for purpose - I have a Mountain Equipment down jacket - superb.

 

[hebog]

I recently purchased a Rab Summit Batura Jacket, as recommended (apparently) by Simon King. I have had nothing but trouble with it. All the down insulation in the arms has moved to the tricep/ back of the arm area and left the whole inner arm with no insulation at all. Rab have since told me that the jacket is intended for high level mountaineering and Polar exploration, not bird watching!
This is a very costly jacket (£350+) and should be more than at home in a British bird hide, if it’s intended purpose is polar exploration, apparently not. Please be aware of these issues if you are thinking of purchasing this particular Jacket.
I have worn down jackets for years and can whole heartedly recommend them as a light weight way of staying warm whilst birding. My advice would however be to avoid Rab and in particular their Batura Jacket.
There are loads of quality down manufacturers on the market, shop around. I will be ordering the Mountain Equipment Greenland Jacket once I have resolved this with Rab.

Why are you talking to Rab over this? the dealer who sold the coat is responsible if it is not fit for purpose.

 

[Scribbly Jack]

Why are you talking to Rab over this? the dealer who sold the coat is responsible if it is not fit for purpose.

I have tried to get this resolved via Rab as the jacket has already been back to them once.

£350 + for a birding jacket ?

Mountain Warehouse fleece lined puffa with hood £20 sorted ! Waterproof and warm .



.

You're probably right,all gear is over priced. I do spend a lot of time running residentials for my students, so I always try to invest in good kit.

 

[StuartReeves]

Waterproof and warm are exactly what you need for birding in the Great British winter. It's just a shame that the warmth bit doesn't extend to the arms.
I too have had loads of Rab gear (I still own a Summit jacket and a Ladakh 1000 sleeping bag) and never had cause to complain. No one is more disappointed than me with this current problem, but I'm not going to sit back and accept a jacket with a flawed design, especially at £350

I have a suspicion that 'waterproof and warm' is where the problem lies in this case. Down jackets are not usually waterproof, and nor are they claimed as such. If I remember rightly this is because they are divided into compartments to keep the down evenly distributed, and the stitching required to do this is not compatible with keeping the jacket waterproof. I find that the lack of waterproofing is not an issue as if it's cold enough for a down jacket then it's too cold for rain. I have only once worn mine under a waterproof shell and that was in Arctic Norway!

Just checked the Rab website and my jacket is now sold as the Peak smock. It can be found for just under £100, which admittedly isn't cheap but I have had mine for over fifteen years now!

 

[Chris Oates]

Paramo Torres Smock - had it for years and - my favourite winter garment.
Makes me larf when I see folk that don't do things correctly - they buy a nice warm coat, don't wear a hat and cover their legs with denim jeans.

I've been using Paramo & Montane trousers but this year I've got salopettes - they avoid that problem of everything coming apart at the waist when you bend.

 

[Scribbly Jack]

The jacket is being re-returned to Rab today. I hope it is a manufacturing fault and a solution i.e. a replacement can be found.
If I'm honest I believe it to be a design flaw, so I expect the outcome to be a refund.
I'll keep you posted.

Mick

 

[Scribbly Jack]

Paramo Makes me larf when I see folk that don't do things correctly - they buy a nice warm coat, don't wear a hat and cover their legs with denim jeans.

I've been using Paramo & Montane trousers but this year I've got salopettes - they avoid that problem of everything coming apart at the waist when you bend.

I agree 100% Chris. I tend to wear salopettes (not always) but doing it right is the key to warmth and comfort.
I went on an expedition with John Blashford Snell when I was younger. I had no time for him at all if I'm honest, too imperialistic for me. He did however say something in one of his many lectures, that has always stuck with me. I quote "Any bloody fool can be uncomfortable." Wise words indeed.

Mick