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.

New Down Sleeping Bags

Just taken delivery of the awesome Rab Summit 700 Down Sleeping Bag - great for trekking holidays and mountaineering. This fully specced down sleeping bag will keep you warm down to -17c and weighs in at only 1600g. Perfect for trekking the Annapurna Circuit and trips to the alps.

Not only that also now have the incredible Rab Quantum AR Top Bag. Is this the ultimate sleeping bag for adventure racing and mountain marathons? 200g of down on the top half and a Pertex Quantum sleeve on the bottom to slip your sleeping mat in, keeping you warm and keeping your bag very lightweight when you are out running over the fells.

Going to see how well the Rab Summit sells and may start to increase the range of them.

Have you used one? Let me know your thoughts on the Rab Summit Down Sleeping Bags, would be great to get a review of the Rab Summit 700 or any others in the range.

I want one, but have a Rab Ladakh 600 which is still going strong...

Sleeping bag for Kilimanjaro

Sleeping bag for Kilimanjaro

Hi
I'm due to climb Kilimanjaro in the next few months and need a 3-4 season sleeping bag. Ideally, I'd like one that's light, doesn't take up much space and keeps me nice and warm. I intend to use the bag on my return for camping trips on my bike so again size and weight is important, but i don't want to freeze. Any advice gratefully received.

Thank you very much


Thank you very much for your email and for looking at www.walkandtravel.com.

It sounds like a great trip - some friends of mine went up Kilimanjaro last year and thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

The bag that I would recommend would be the Rab Quantum 600 Womens. This sleeping bag is one of the lightest and because it is down filled, with some of the best down available, it is highly compressible, therefore taking up minimal space. It comes with it's own stuff sack, but the sleeping bag can easily be crammed into a smaller stuff sack when needed. The sleeping bag is made from Pertex Quantum fabric which is one of the lightest available and also very high wicking, taking any sweat you produce in your sleep away from your body, helping to reduce chill from being damp in the sleeping bag.

Rab comfort rate this bag down to -12c which is 3+ season usage. Rab are usually pretty good at rating their bags for an 'average' person, but it is always worth remembering that different people feel warmer or colder in their sleep.

I would recommend getting a silk sleeping bag liner to go with the Rab sleeping bag. This will help to keep it clean as you can wash the liner rather than the bag. I recommend a silk liner as this won't impair the wicking abilities of the lining fabric as silk helps to transport moisture out to the liner fabric, whereas cotton will not and can leave you feeling cold and clammy and may reduce the warmth rating on the sleeping bag. A silk liner may add up to a half season of extra warmth to the sleeping bag.

Another great plus with a down sleeping bag is that they last a lot longer than a synthetic sleeping bag and with occasional use could last up to 20 years before you notice any great reduction in their performance. For a synthetic sleeping bag this can be as low as 7-10 years.

If price is a consideration that I would recommend the synthetic 3 to 4 season sleeping bag, Snugpak Softie Chrysalis Autumn - however it's pack size and weight to warmth ratio is not as good as the down sleeping bag.

Rab Sleeping Bags

The first tranche of new Rab Sleeping bags now available on line.

Rab Quantum 250 Endurance Lightweight, highly water repellent down sleeping bag

Rab Atlas 750 - excellent 3 season down sleeping bag, in women's version too - check out the lovely lupin colour.

And of course all at the best web prices with free delivery!Rab Summit 700 and Rab Quantum top bag coming soon...

I've been using Rab Down Sleeping bags for nearly 20 years now - still the same ones! I keep wanting to upgrade them to a sexy new Rab Quantum, but can't warrant it, because the ones that I have are still in fantastic condition. That is what I like about down, it lasts and lasts. The down still has it's loft, the fabric is still not worn and most importantly - it keeps me warm!

Many people will argue that Rab make some of the best down sleeping bags in the world - and I would tend to agree. It always makes me happy when I sell one, because I know that the customer will be very happy with their selection.

Here are my top 5 reasons for choosing a down sleeping bag:

1 - Down gives you long lasting warmth.
2 - Down has a better warmth to weight ratio than synthetic fillings.
3 - They can pack smaller.It is an all natural filling, making the bag feel more comfortable.
4 - They wick moisture better than synthetics - which can help keep you warmer in cold 5 - weather, cooler in warm weather and ultimately more comfortable.

Buy down, you won't regret it - and it comes in lupin colour too. You'll look great at the campsite.

Rab Quantum Endurance 400 Sleeping Bag

Rab Quantum 400 Endurance Sleeping Bag

Walk and Travel are pleased to now be able to offer the Rab Quantum 400 Endurance Sleeping Bag.

Rab make some of the best down sleeping bags in the world. Hand filled in the UK for the best polish goose down with a 750 fill power (the best loft to weight ratio you can get), these sleeping bags have a weather resistant outer to help keep the down dry and are warm down to about -5c (depending on a lot of factors!). Ideal for Mountain Marathons, backpacking, trekking and travelling.

Web competitive price, free delivery.