About Rab
Jul 08, 2026
Since 1981
The story began in 1981 in the attic of a small, terraced house in Sheffield, where Rab Carrington made the first sleeping bag to bear his name. Hand-stitched and devised with his own ingenious eye, Rab's experience from years spent in the mountains was apparent in his designs, and soon there was popular demand from friends and the growing local climbing community.
Things didn't stop there. Word soon spread, and the Sheffield attic became a factory floor, creating sleeping bags and jackets for customers far and wide. Now, decades later, those honest, hard-wearing designs can be found all over the world, wherever adventurous individuals face the elements—from Himalayan peaks to cold, crisp evenings around a campfire.
1973: Learning the Trade
The foundations of the brand can be traced back to 1973, when Rab Carrington was left stranded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while en route to an expedition in Patagonia. In need of money, Rab turned to his friend Hector Vieytes, who taught him the skills that would come to redefine the future of technical sleeping bags.
1981: Beginning the Brand
A year after moving to Sheffield with his family, Rab began to put into practice the skills he learned in Argentina by crafting down sleeping bags from his own home. As part of a close-knit climbing community, demand quickly grew, and he soon outgrew his attic, moving production to a local factory in Sheffield.
1990s: Expanding the Range
In this factory, Rab built a reputation for making no-nonsense, honest, hard-wearing gear. Standing the test of time, products like the Andes Jacket and Kinder Smock are still part of the range today. The 1990s also saw the launch of the expedition range of sleeping bags, starting with the Premier Sleeping Bag.
2000s: Pioneering Products
Moving into the 21st century, the brand continued to pioneer new and cutting-edge products using some of the lightest weight materials available, combining them with revolutionary new insulation technologies. In 2003, Rab retired and handed over ownership of the company to Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd.
2010s: Spreading the Word
During the 2010s, the brand continued to move from strength to strength, with increased popularity both in the UK and beyond, and the introduction of iconic pieces such as the Microlight Alpine and Kinetic Plus. From far away frozen summits to the hills of the Peak District, Rab products could be found all over the world.
2020s: Moving Onward
The current decade has brought fresh challenges to navigate, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the developing climate crisis. Recognising that working together with the community is crucial to overcoming these challenges, they have begun a journey to reduce the impact of the business and make it fairer for everyone, reaching Fair Wear Leader status and pursuing a target of Net Zero by 2030.
“Nothing fancy or over-engineered – just honest, hard-working pieces that you’d rather repair than replace. By climbers for climbers.”
Over 40 Years of making kit that lasts
Today, the brand remains ceaseless in its commitment to Rab’s exacting standards, ingenuity, and pioneering spirit. They create rugged, high-performance mountain clothing and equipment that provide absolute protection, comfort, and freedom on the trail or peak. Utilising cutting-edge materials as well as time-tested ones, such as premium quality European down, their products focus on honesty and durability—pieces that customers would rather repair than replace.
We are the Mountain People
More than forty years since the founding, Rab continues to find inspiration in the untamed spirit of the mountains, the friendships forged on the peak, and their enduring mission: to grow a community of Mountain People and equip them for adventure.
Rab is committed to putting people at the heart of what they do. From partners and athletes to staff and everyone who has used and loved their gear, they form a global community that goes beyond mountains and crags, striving to ensure it remains inclusive, diverse, and growing.
Rab's Commitment to the Future
Rab's on a journey to reduce the impact of their business and drive meaningful change in the way they make, ship, and use their clothing and equipment. Striving for sustainability, they are reducing reliance on fluorocarbons, repairing and reusing worn gear, using more recycled fabrics, and improving the lives of workers who make their products. Working with the entirety of their community, committed to finding a better way. Together, their journey continues, inviting others to join them and share the experience.
More than forty years since the founding, Rab continues to find inspiration in the untamed spirit of the mountains, the friendships forged on the peak, and their enduring mission: to grow a community of Mountain People and equip them for adventure. Rab is committed to putting people at the heart of what they do. From partners and athletes to staff and everyone who has used and loved their gear, they form a global community that goes beyond mountains and crags, striving to ensure it remains inclusive, diverse, and growing.