I’ve been using this for: One and a Half Years
Where?: Scottish winters, Alpine routes, Nepal, China.
Official website: http://rab.uk.com/products/mens-clothing/vapour-rise_1/vapour-rise-guide-jacket.html
The 2017 version is on Amazon here.
This jacket in the “Vapour Rise” range, is the warmest of the collection, with a fixed helmet compatible hood.
This soft-shell jacket is designed for colder weather, ideal for Scottish Winter climbing, Alpine routes etc
Good Stuff:
There’s some great aspects to this particular hard-fleece/softshell style jacket;
It’s warm, and the fleece fibre are very comfortable against the skin, it’s definitely high quality fleece.
The hood is great, and goes right over my helmet giving an extra layer whilst climbing but easily pulled back if your overheating.
It is pretty weather-proof, and certainly windproof and (unless it’s raining or wet snow) I can walk into the corrie or climb and not have to put my shell on until I’m there, avoiding too much sweating.
Plenty of pockets for stashing gear, phones etc
Not so good bits:
I’m not a massive fan of pit zips (underarm zips for venting), and I find the wind can get through these ones sometimes.
The sizing is generous compared to my other vapour rise top, and I had to go down a size which means I suffer in the arm length a little.
The two chest pockets go quite deep, which is good whilst your walking, but annoying when my harness is on, as the harness goes across the bottom third of the pockets.
I’d love a pair of thumb loops on this jacket, but perhaps this is because of my long arms…
Finally, the ladies could do with a version of this jacket that’s cut to fit…
Conclusions:
A really good jacket for colder conditions, especially Scottish Winters or alpine climbs. It could do with a few tweaks if your a climber, but I’d recommend it (and wear it nearly every day in the winter..)
