Blog

Rab PrimaLoft Technology Explained

Nov 06, 2024

From active sheet insulation that responds to your output to loose fill insulation that mimics the structure of down, we use a variety of types of PrimaLoft® synthetic insulation in our gear. Each one has its unique benefits, tailored to particular conditions and activities. So how do we select which one to use in each product? Discover how these PrimaLoft® insulations work to provide you wi …
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Montane Alpine 850 Nano Down Hoodie Review - “A highly technical, lightweight down hoodie, for active people with high demands for packable, performance”

Posted by Lois Fife on Oct 29, 2024

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, throughout s …
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Montane Sirocco Lite Review - “A super comfortable jacket that truly does offer a great balance between warmth and breathability.”

Posted by Sam Naylor on Oct 23, 2024

Montane have designed this jacket to be a technical piece, versatile enough to wear for most activities throughout the year. The idea being to offer a warm yet breathable layer that also offers high wind resistance. This sounded perfect for me, so I decided to put one to the test on a three-day backpacking trip in Cumbria. As my trip was only for 3 days, I planned to pack as light as po …
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Montane Alpine 850 Nano Down Hoodie Review - “I’ve loved this jacket since the moment I first tried it on. Super lightweight, really comfortable on and offering a lot of warmth for its weight.”

Posted by Rob Farquhar on Oct 22, 2024

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 li …
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RAB Xenair Range - Intelligent Insulation

Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 22, 2024

Impressively breathable, adaptable and versatile, Xenair is our synthetic insulation collection for mountain ascents. Intelligently body mapping different densities of insulation and air-permeable fabrics, they respond and regulate your temperature. All the garments in the Xenair range have body mapped Primaloft Gold Active+ Insulation in two weights, from the 40g per square metre mapped with …
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Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag and Quilt Ranges Explained

Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 21, 2024

We stock the key ranges of Sea to Summit sleeping bags, find out which they are, our opinion and what they do on this page. — The Spark sleeping bag is the perfect option for lightweight adventures that puts comfort at the forefront. The optimal warmth to weight ratio and 850+ FILL Power makes this bag as comfortable as it is compact and easily packable. The Spark Women's sleeping bag is …
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Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Synthetic Jacket

Posted by Mark Richardson on Dec 06, 2023

There are basically three types of synthetic insulation used in outdoor jackets: 1. Sheet Insulation – Fibres are woven into a ‘mat’ structure and this is used to fill the jacket, this is the ‘traditional’ way of doing this and provides excellent warmth to weight and is pretty durable. 2. Loose Fill Insulation – This is where synthetic fibres are ‘loose’, like dow …
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Montane's New Season: Autumn Collection

Aug 24, 2023

We know plans can change in the mountains, just as the weather can. Our new season gear has adaptability built in, so you’ll be prepared, no matter whatever you encounter. Discover lightweight, breathable clothing and equipment that doesn’t compromise on protection. From protective waterproof jackets to warm, down jackets, technical fleeces and durable legwear – our technical layers are designed t …
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The Ultimate Guide to Lightweight Sleeping Bags

Posted by Andy Neil on Jul 24, 2023

Choosing a sleeping bag can be a daunting task. Getting started with so many different options and variations can be difficult. This will be one of the biggest investments, along with your tent, for backpacking, so it's important that you make the right choice for what you need. We want you to pick the best sleeping bag for your adventures, so we've compiled this guide to help you narrow your …
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Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket Review - ''It has become one of our Top Picks because frankly it is so unbelievably good.''

Posted by Danny Pearson on Jul 17, 2023

Every so often a product arrives at the Ultralight office that we all get excited about. That was definitely the case with the  Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex jacket. When our first Torrid Apex jacket arrived, we took one look and immediately knew that this jacket was something a bit special. Using a ridiculously light 7D fabric this jacket weighs about the same as a …
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OMM Core Technology Explained

Apr 25, 2023

The OMM CORE Range is a new concept in active insulation made entirely from PRIMALOFT ACTIVE ultra-light insulating fabric. Built from a synthetic plume woven through a knitted mesh CORE offers the warmth of a fleece but with less than half the weight. Paired with a shell, the CORE is an incredibly effective insulator, but the lightest breeze can take away that heat thanks to near-total air perm …
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Outdoor Research SuperStrand LT Insulated Hoodie Review - “This synthetic is the closest thing to down I have come across”

Posted by Andy Neil on Feb 13, 2023

Winter arrived early and was cold here in the UK, so I was incredibly grateful to be offered a chance to test out the SuperStrand LT Insulated Hoodie at the beginning of December. I've been using this jacket as my primary insulation for over three months now, not just in the hills but in my day-to-day life as well, and I'm a big fan of this lightweight synthetic jacket from American bra …
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