Rab Down Sleeping Bags - 2010 Range

Rab down sleeping bags – 2010 range

OK, so it is a little way off yet before these bags are available, but I just felt I needed to share with you how incredible they are.

Rab have been on a journey, just like most of their sleeping bags probably have been. Notching up thousands if not millions of miles around the world. From their Rab Explorer travel sleeping bags, through their Rab Neutrino sleeping bags to their range of ultimate top end bags, the Rab Expedition series. Designed to keep you alive when the temperature around you is as low as –67c, at the extreme.

Rab were taken over by Equip outdoor technology about 5 years ago and it appears that a lot of investment has been in their clothing range. Making the brand more robust, but still one of the best technical, outdoor clothing brands, never losing sight that they are probably the best designer and maker of down clothing and equipment.

The down sleeping bags speak for themselves. I’ve been using them for over 15 years now – a Rab Ladakh 600 and a Rab Premium 200. Both of which have morphed over the years. The sleeping bags have been holding their own over the years and now Rab have invested their time and money into the range.

Has anyone really worked out the ultimate angle a trapezoidal baffle should be? Rab have. With the help of Leeds University. The result? The new range of Rab Down Sleeping bags – coming to you next year. The ultimate angle means you get the ultimate loft from the down, getting the ultimate loft, means using the optimum amount of down. Not too much, not too little. Keeping the weight down and keeping the warmth up. They have even researched down migration within the construction of the bag. The result of this? Vertical baffles across the chest on some of the range to stop the weight of the down pulling it to the sides – reducing the potential for cold spots.

Not only have they optimised the construction and the fill they have added in some great features too. I think the best of these is the draw cord neck baffle, simple but ingenious. (A little like those compare the meerkat folk). The cord is placed behind the down, so tug on the cord grips and you end up with a cosy, snugly down collar. Why hasn’t this be done before? So simple…

Finally they have added a small pocket, just inside for keys, money or whatever else you deem small and valuable and can’t sleep without. Perhaps ear plugs if you have a noisy tent partner?

All this design, all these little new features, great new colours – red and orange, very mountain if I do say so and bright blue for travel bags means you need to look out for these when they arrive in the shops. Save your pennies and treat yourself to one of these long lasting beauties, keeping you warm, snug and feeling secure, whether you are on an 8000’er in Nepal or an overly air conditioned bus in Asia.