UKC

Does anyone have any experience of comparing a Rab vapor rise jacket/smock to a primaloft type insulated jacket?

I have a Primaloft jacket with pertex quantum outer, and find it very warm for it's weight and nicely breathable, but it's not very robust.

I'm wondering if a vapor rise would be a tougher option for mountaineering/winter climbing? It sees to be a similar weight to a light/medium insulated jacket, so presumably it's not as warm?

In reply to Glen:

For example something like this:

http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php?productid=157&rid=10

compared to this:

http://www.rab.uk.com/products_vr_vrjacket.html

In reply to Glen:

I have a vapour rise and a Mountain Equipment primaloft belay jacket. Vapour Rise is not as warm, but it does give some warmth, from the windproof-ness and the brushed fleecy lining. I run hot and find it good for keeping the chill out but not making me boil. Its not meant to go over more than a baselayer though. I find it great, very rock-proof. Managed to rip it on a street-lamp (long story...), but have jammed my vapour rise-coated wrists in gritstone cracks before climbing and there wasn't a mark on the jacket (or the wrist).

In reply to Glen:


I have both a Rab Photon and a Rab Vapour Rise Climb jacket. I suspect that they are fairly comparable in warmth but the VR Climb jacket is a fair bit heavier and bulkier. Nice jacket though, and definitely pretty tough.

Note that I am talking about a VR Climb jacket which is much heavier duty than the VR Trail jacket though. I have just checked the website and they appear to have discontinued the Climb jacket. The trail jacket is nowhere near as warm.

In reply to Glen:

I've got both a Rab VT and a RAB Photon and I'd Struggle to compare them to be honest there both such Differnt Garments

The Proton is as you say
>Primaloft jacket with pertex quantum outer, and find it very

Where as the VT is obvoiusly Pertex and micro pile and is no where near as warm.

I use my VT as a base layer in winter and it is execelent as that, with a second softshell over the top when it is no longer warm enough on its own. if you want to use it like that can't recomend it enough but I doubt if would be warm enough or the hood good enough as a stand alone piece. A buffalo or Montane would be a closer to the warmth of a primoloft jacket I'd guess

How are you wanting to use it?

In reply to Monk: Snap

In reply to Glen: I don't know if I got a bad one, but the outer shell on my VR Trail jacket is showing noticeable signs of wear around the rucksack contact points. If it can deteriorate to that extent after a few tens of hours rubbing against nylon and cordura, I'm not sure how long it'd expect it to hold up in a fight with a lump of rock?

Apart from that observation - which I would hasten to add has yet to turn in to a full-blown problem - I love my VR Trail. I also have a Rab Photon hoody but I only use that for extra insulation when not on the move, so it doesn't get the same amount of (ab)use as the VR. I suspect - though I don't know for sure - that it wouldn't stand up to it as well as the VR.

The other thing I like about the VR is that you can get it for less than £100. In that respect it's much better value for me than more expensive gear which doesn't do the functional job I want, so I don't mind so much if I end up having to replace it a bit more frequently (which I haven't actually had to yet anyway).

In reply to Glen:
I prefer vapour rise stuff for 'moving' and the primaloft for hanging about in the cold, as its amazingly warm for its lack of weight!