Rab Vapour Rise Summit Jacket Review - ''The lighter fabric still offers a high level of wind resistance and the breathability was excellent''
Posted by Jamie Mantle on Sep 27, 2023
The new Vapour Rise Summit Jacket is an update on the classic series that has been a constant fixture in the multisport jacket category for years.
The reason for this is the high level of versatility it offers not just in the activities that you can use it for but also the conditions that you can use it in. Making it one of the first things you will want to pop into your bag whatever adventure you are going on.
I have previously reviewed the last version of this jacket which is now a jacket that is my go-to jacket for any active day out. So, I was interested to see what updates had been made in order to improve upon a jacket that I already highly rate.
The main change to the jacket is a move to an updated lighter Pertex Quantum Air shell face fabric to firstly reduce some weight and to also introduce more sustainable fabrics that is Flurocarbon free and also treated with a Flurocarbon free DWR treatment. I was interested to see if this had changed the performance of the jacket compared with the previous version.
With the previous version of the jacket, I tended to use it more as a winter midlayer while at the crag bouldering either, for the walk-ins, while warming up or on the really cold days to actually climb in, but most of the time it became something that I used as a layer to pop on when I was getting a bit chilly. Therefore, it was always getting dragged to the crag with me during the colder months as a preferred midlayer.
On a recent trip to Spain, I was interested to see how well the Vapour Rise lining would perform the rest of the year round and if was it a jacket that I could use in warmer conditions and make use of the windproof and breathability to use as an outer layer. Having had a week walking and climbing in the Albarracin mountain region of Aragon, I found that despite the warmer conditions I still needed this jacket quite a lot due to the high winds on the tops of the mountains. The lighter fabric still offers a high level of wind resistance and the breathability was excellent keeping my t-shirt dry while putting some effort in on the way up, but still protected me from the wind by the outer fabric.
In terms of the fit, the lighter face fabric definitely made a difference to the way that the jacket felt compared to the previous version, although the face fabric is only a bit lighter, it improves the way that the jacket moves when you do. I seemed to feel the jacket less when I was active and the fabric creates less resistance when climbing, and walking, which makes it so easy to move around in and you end up forgetting you have it on. This level of freedom of moment therefore makes it perfect to be used for even the most active sports and adventures.
However, it was similar to the previous version as I found it to be a very good fit for me with a cut, that allowed for room to get other layers underneath, but not feel too baggy with just a t-shirt or base-layer underneath. The adjustment on the bottom of the jacket with the elastic cord, allows a good fit that prevents any excess air from getting in, but can be loosened when needed if things get a bit hot.
There are adjustments to the sleeves with more stretch at the cuff meaning that while you can adjust the Velcro tabs to get a closer fit, there is still a bit of stretch in order to get gloves on and off without having to readjust the tabs. The Velcro adjustment at the hood remains the same as its predecessor as it is simple and easy to adjust with elastic cords inside the hood, which help to get a much better fit when not wearing a helmet.
In conclusion, the updated version of the Vapour Rise Summit offers all the great features of its predecessors, but with a change in the face fabric that has helped to improve the performance of an already excellent jacket making it a true multisport jacket that has functions both as a midlayer and an outer layer that can be used in a range of different conditions, and helps reduce my usual indecision on which jacket to take with me, as now this is the obvious choice.
