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This guide breaks down the warmth levels and technical details of Rab’s current down range, helping you compare models at a glance. From ultralight options built for fast-moving alpine missions to fully waterproof expedition-grade insulation, we’ve listed key specs, including fill weight, fill power, and notable features, for each jacket. We’ll also explain the key factors that d …

You might have noticed a few subtle changes in the latest down range, not just the new additions to their winter range, but also the switch from Nikwax to Grangers for Rab’s hydrophobic down treatment. It’s part of a new partnership that brings Grangers’ Down Defend® Technology into the 2025 line-up, giving the down a more durable, water-repellent finish that helps …

Washing a down jacket or sleeping bag can feel nerve-wracking, and with good reason. Many people are afraid that washing will cause down to clump and ruin their expensive gear. It’s a common fear, and one that’s kept plenty of jackets unwashed for far too long. But here’s the truth: regular cleaning is not only safe, it’s essential if you want your down to perform at its be …

Four-Season Review: Montane Alpine 850 Nano Down Hoodie From the chill of dawn on a springtime Scottish coast to the biting frost of winter in the Lakes, the Montane Alpine 850 Nano Down Hoodie has been with me every step of the way. Over the past year, it has become my go-to insulation layer, tackling everything from multi-day treks to daily hikes with unwavering reliability. Montane kindly p …

ExpeDRY™ is a new chemical free alternative to WR treated hydrophobic down that performs better in real world situations, assists in consumer care and uses 70% fewer resources to produce.The Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie is filled with 60g (Medium) of goose down, which has non-toxic gold particles bonded to it for fast-drying performance and industry-leading warmth. The inert, chemical-free t …

Montane Women’s Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie – with added GOLD!! Jacket tested in a UK12, (Eclipse Blue) weight: 196g The Montane Women’s Alpine 850 Nano Hoodie is a highly thermally efficient, technical down jacket. My first impression of this jacket is the weight - it is extremely light - weighing less than 200g. I have tested this jacket for six months, from late spring, throu …

Sometimes you get an item of clothing that as soon as you put it on it feels right. Montane’s Alpine 850 Nano Down Hoodie for me is one of these. A very lightweight down jacket that for dry days provides plenty of warmth as my outer layer and then gives me a lot of comfort as a middle layer when the rain is falling. As of October 2024, the  Alpine 850 Nano Down Hoodie is the second …

Love for nature and extreme sports is inscribed in the heritage of the Pająk family. It gave rise to the global PAJAK brand, which since 1983 has been constantly developing knowledge and competences to provide all outdoor enthusiasts with professional equipment tested in extreme conditions. PAJAK are from Beskids, where the company and manufacturing factory remains today. From here we se …

With the highest warmth-to-weight ratio in the Rab range, the Mythic sleeping bags are optimised for moving fast and light. Combining advanced fabric technologies with our highest lofting down and slashing unnecessary grams with pioneering design. The Mythic range is all about slashing weight wherever possible. At home in high mountains, it’s ideal for venturing out long Alpine routes, multi- …

May means one thing in the Ultralight office: The Great Outdoors Challenge, or the TGO, for short. We are incredibly proud to sponsor this communal coast-to-coast crossing of Scotland. This year, Lois, Danny, and I are taking part in this years crossing. Lois is embarking on her first, and Danny and I are attempting our third TGO challenge.The TGO Challenge is a unique coast-to-coast trek across S …

Sweater Weight Warmth: Light in weight and highly compressible these garments travel well, but when needed deploy easily yielding lofty down sweaters of surprising warmth. Versatile thermal components, these pieces’ shine as a middle layers in shoulder seasons, while proving essential on their own in cool backcountry conditions. Mid-Weight Warmth: Compact and portable these pieces p …

2023 was an excellent year for new ultralight equipment and clothing, and we wanted to highlight some of our favourite gear that hit the market this year. Some pieces, like the Montbell Plasma 1000, pushed the limits of what it means to be ultralight even further. Others, like the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping pad, showed real innovation by raising their R-value to an industry-leading 8. …