Rab

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Rab

34 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 29, 2025

  £100 Go Outdoors voucher (UK). What to spend on?

  Yeh I think I'm leaning more towards some shoes when I need them rather than the two options above. It's hard not to look at stuff from Decathlon with this price range in mind. Would definitely stay away from Peter Storm. Looking at a Rab one if you have an option on it? Not sure I can warrant adding the extra cash to get a GorTex? https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/19681992/rab-mens-downpour-waterproof-jacket-19681992

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• #2Dec 26, 2025

  Any brand suggestions for a high quality packable down jacket?

  Rab Microlight Alpine Down Jacket

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• #3Dec 26, 2025

  Any brand suggestions for a high quality packable down jacket?

  High fill power is nice, but the first thing to look at is the down to feater ratio. Something around 90-10 or better keeps its loft for ages and you get far fewer quills poking out, while feater heavy mixes flatten out far too quickly and it all gets a bit pointless. Packable jackets usually wear out because the shell fabric gives up before the insulation does... the down itself is often fine long after the outer starts to tear or the seams wander. If you want something that sticks around, go for ripstop nylon in the 20 to 30D range. Those wispy 7D or 10D shells might look clever on gear sites but they catch on anything rougher than a fingertip and once they go you are done for Arc'teryx Cerium and the Rab Microlight Alpine are about as close as you will get to a buy it for life option in this space, pricey but at least the materials are chosen with durability in mind. Anything sold as ultralight with a 10D shell is basically single use if you treat it like an everyday jacket.

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• #4Dec 6, 2025

  Something to keep me warm at night In my tent.

  Rab Expedition 8000 Suit Overall

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• #5Dec 1, 2025

  Patagonia for $250 vs Arc'teryx $320

  You can always go Patagucci. - For the 'ethical branding reasons' if you want, no denying their gear is decent. TBH, from an oudorrsy person's perspective, I'd look at your subjective style prefences. Not sure if you've access to Rab? A UK brand, really good value, but bombproof. As somebody who used and abused their kit in actual mountaineering, not 'waking down some streets' (not to belittle OP's use case, just highlighting the tougher life of my kit). - Rab will most definitly hold up to 'general daily wear'. Put Rab against Patagonia and Arc’teryx in an actual mountain environment, and it's very very very close in terms of performance and durability. These days you're paying for brand instead of BIFL quality. BIFL quality can be achieved for less, if you want to. - But you don't have to, your city use case opens the floor to more subjective 'fashion' decisions. Alpkit is also really good too. Have an Alpkit down jacket from my 2011 and it's still going strong and that's been equally 'abused' in the mountains. So would have lasted even longer in the streets.

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• #6Nov 6, 2025

  Rain coat - no peeling does it exist?

  I did a lot of research about it 3 years ago and in the end settled for Rab waterproof jackets for me and my BF. We are using them almost daily between September-May, we live in the Netherlands so they got their fair share of wind and rain. They are both like new. They were around 100 eur each when I bought them but I think they had Christmas discounts then. What I really like about them is that they have zippers in the underarms area so you can open them and not get as sweaty.  They are not warm (don’t have any “warming” layers), and this is imo superior solution since you can then just rewash whatever under layer you are using. I wash the jacket itself only at the beginning and end of the season + occasionally if it gets dirty from mud.

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• #7Nov 5, 2025

  Best winter jackets that are worth the price

  For down LL Bean or Rab. Could write a short novel about the construction choices that make it super durable.

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• #8Oct 10, 2025

  Looking for the thinnest and most insulting jacket

  So there a few that come to mind. In the past Mountain Hardwear’s ghost whisperer was the jacket to buy. I still have mine and it’s great but not sure there aren’t better ones out there after Columbia bought mountain hardwear. I would check out Rab and Patagonia’s version of a light jacket.

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• #9Oct 10, 2025

  Best winter jackets?

  The brand Rab. Amazing!

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• #10Oct 9, 2025

  Best winter jackets?

  Everyone will tell you Canada Goose, and they are correct, but any high quality down filled parka will be the same.   Woolrich.  North Face.  Fjallraven.  Rab. Jack Wolfskin.  Patagonia  Many many others. Canada Goose and Woolrich will set you back big bucks...well North of 1k. The others will be slightly less, but still pricey.  

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• #11Oct 9, 2025

  What's a good winter jacket that will last me a long time?

  All their stuff is expensive as F. But built so well and more comfortable. RAB would be another alternative

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• #12Sep 3, 2025

  Waterproof dog walking coat (UK)

  How long are you waking for and it much exertion? If it’s just a leisurely stroll then yeah, you can get a proper waterproof raincoat/mac that is a rubber type material. No water gets through them, they don’t need to be reproofed and the better ones are vented to let out heat/sweat. I don’t have personal experience other than seeing them in shops but [Rains look pretty good](https://www.rains.com/collections/raincoats). As it’s a simple PU coat, it’s going to last because the construction is so simple. Anything more than a leisurely stroll though you should look at options from the likes of Rab who make good products and offer a repair service in the UK.

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• #13Sep 2, 2025

  Arc’teryx Alpha SV – BIFL or planned obsolescence? Need advice before pulling the trigger

  I have a similar age Alpha SV and a \~2020 Beta AR. The Alpha SV has had 10x as much abuse as the Beta but has held up better, I've heard their quality went downhill a little when most manufacturing moved from Canada but the Alpha SV is still made there? The seam tape came loose in the hood of my Beta after 2 years, I used some tent seam glue to stick it back down and touched up a few spots that were just starting to lift on the \~12 year old Alpha. Put some self adhesive goretex repair patches around the zipper closure at the collar where it had started to wear and have given it a few nikwax treatments, otherwise still a solid jacket that will handle a rough day. I also have a LEAF Atom Gen2 hoody which I've worn almost daily from autumn to spring for the last 4 years, also holding up well despite being climbed in, bashed through brush, salt water and UV exposure etc. Perfect amount of breathable insulation and wind resistance for being active in 0-10c/30-50f without being too hot. Have had good experiences with RAB and KUIU gear too, customer support from RAB was great.

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• #14Aug 8, 2025

  Men's rain jacket that's actually waterproof

  Look for one with a 3-layer membrane (like Gore-Tex or eVent), not just a DWR coating that wears off in two washes. Bonus if it has taped seams and a storm flap over the zipper. Patagonia and Rab have solid options, but even some Columbia and Marmot shells hold up decently in storms without breaking the bank.

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• #15May 10, 2025

  Who makes the best Gortex shells still available in the states?

  I would also very much recommend Icelandic company 66 North. They make shells in Gore Tex and Polartec NeoShell and Powershield Pro. I have the Snaefell (current model) and it is fantastic. I actually own an Alpha SV, but that is a shell that is only applicable for very specific conditions and occasions. When I was a backpacker, I was a total gear nerd so… Really did use to love Arc’teryx and they still have some quality shells. Rab is pretty decent, Westcomb was utterly fantastic, and Patagucc’s Goretex shells are always quality.

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• #16May 10, 2025

  How are the mighty fallen

  Go with a good company like Patagonia, Rab, Mountain Equipment, etc. depending on how you plan to use it. Plenty of companies that make great gear and stand behind the product if/when it fails. Arcteryx used to be great about warranty/repair but that’s gone. They wouldn’t repair a taped seam on my jacket because allegedly the fabric was delaminating elsewhere — I still haven’t found where this ‘delamination’ is happening.

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• #17May 6, 2025

  Who makes the best Gortex shells still available in the states?

  I’ve never purchased any of Rab’s waterproof layers, but have one of their UL down sweaters, and it is absolutely fantastic. 

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• #18May 6, 2025

  Who makes the best Gortex shells still available in the states?

  Arc’teryx, without a doubt. Beta AR arguably the best non-climbing shell on the market, but will run you $600 Rab also makes excellent gear - check them out!

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• #19May 2, 2025

  Winter coats rain proof

  I've owned this RAB brand, "downpour" coat (https://rab.equipment/uk/mens-downpour-waterproof-jacket) for a few years here in rainy/windy Scotland and it's been great - fits me well too - i'm a fat bloke (44 inch waist) Wind/waterproof is far more important than warm, in a coat - As we get all 4 seasons in a day and its the wind/horizontal rain that makes you feel cold. Put a jumper on underneath if its actually cold-cold then you can take it off if it gets too hot.

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• #20Apr 9, 2025

  Which is the best outdoor brand - Marmot, The North Face, Patagonia, L.L. Bean, Kuhl, Eddie Bauer, or arc'teryx?

  Interesting that I pick my gear almost totally on style. And it’s all Patagonia and Fjallraven, as well as Mountain Hardware, Marmot, RAB, Kuhl, and Arc’teryx.

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• #21Apr 8, 2025

  Quality waterproof jackets

  I’m sorry but I own both and the Patagonia makes more sense for most people. I think RAB shines in a lot of areas especially pants and mid layers. I love the Vapor Rise alpine light Pertex hoody, wearing it as I type this in fact. RAB and Pertex are trying to get in front of environmental regulations which is admirable but this jacket has some design issues-the collar in particular is too broad. And the price point doesn’t offer enough value. Also the factory DWR is lacking. I’m still using up my stocks of original C8 PFC spray and it made a huge improvement on the firewall.

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• #22Apr 7, 2025

  A list of BIFL not made in the USA

  My experience has been the same. Their winter jacket has kept me warm for years in -30C. Plus fantastic repair experience as a Canadian customer. With my items I’ve been super rough with (e.g. hiking pants I wore holes in while working as a gardener), I drop it off and within a few days they’ve patched and freshly waxed.

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• #23Apr 1, 2025

  Best down jacket BIFL?

  I have a Rab Valiance bought second hand from eBay. It’s probably the most useful jacket I’ve ever owned because it’s down but also has waterproof (don’t wash it or it loses the waterproof) and pockets in the right place. There’s a few companies that do the same down plus waterproof and I expect they are all pretty good. 

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• #24Apr 1, 2025

  Best down jacket BIFL?

  +1 for Rab! Ignore everything else they might sell - it's a company built on down products and have built their name on it

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• #25Apr 1, 2025

  Best down jacket BIFL?

  any ultralight just seems to be asking for failure. I love my RAB but i almost never wear it anyplace beyond around town, becuase i am afraid of ripping the fabric. Also is the nano Puff even down? As overkill as they are for almost everyone i would say a Canadian Goose would last lifetimes. How heavy of a jacket are we talking.

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• #26Mar 10, 2025

  A list of BIFL not made in the USA

  Seconding these guys. They seem pretty up and up and decent prices

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• #27Feb 3, 2025

  A list of BIFL not made in the USA

  Are you sure about the warranty? I just sent them my 14 year old parka and they replaced the main zipper for free.

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• #28Feb 3, 2025

  Buyitforlife from Canada, what’s your favourite things made in Canada?

  Raber gloves 

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• #29Feb 2, 2025

  Mountain Hardwear is NOT BIFL, their quality is terrible.

  I used to be an Arc'teryx whore until I discovered RAB. I purchased the RAB Electron Pro about 6 months ago and it is by far the nicest and best jacket I have ever owned in my life and I am 55.

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• #30Feb 1, 2025

  Warmest, most durable parka?

  The warmest coats are always made with goose down. The warmness levels are a combination of fill power (550, 650, 800, 1000,etc), fill weight (80g of down) and baffle type (the type of pockets the fill goes in. The fill power refers to the warmth to weight ratio. For example (I know my actual math is wrong), but 100g of 550 = 70g of 650 = 50g of 800 = 30g of 1000. The best baffle type for warmth is box baffle which separates the fill into even boxes vs sewn through baffling which doesn’t allow the down to properly fill the space necessary. The Patagonia grade vii has 299-331g of 800 fill down (depending on size. A large will have more down), which is an incredible amount of down and will absolutely be one of the warmest options out there. The Rab Positron has 300g of 800 fill down and is another great option for a little less. Any brand the doesn’t list or willing to answer the fill power or fill weight via email is typically not a brand worth considering for warmth (looking at you Canada goose). I did all my research while looking into doing overnights for backpacking a couple years ago and the thoughts apply still now. I’m not sure which coats are still available but feel free to dm me.

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• #31Feb 1, 2025

  Sierra trading post.

  Outdoor Research, Marmot, Rab, Mountain Hardware. Insane selection of great gear brands there. I picked up a Rab Cirrus jacket for $43 and a Rumpl original blanket for $39. Crazy.

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• #32Jan 8, 2025

  In need of warm winter coat with a budget of $350-400

  Fjallraven, Rab, Patagonia are three brands that seem to have retained their quality over the years.

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• #33Jan 8, 2025

  In need of warm winter coat with a budget of $350-400

  Rab Neutrino pro

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• #34Jan 5, 2025

  Has everything we buy reduced in quality over time? Has anything increased in quality or stayed high quality and durable?

  I don't, I feel the current nano puff has very odd stitching, loose threads everywhere, one seam outside the sleeve holding it together which failed on mine (similar to [https://www.reddit.com/r/BIFLfails/comments/1g1zuc7/patagonia\_jacket\_sleeve\_ripped\_open\_after\_less/](https://www.reddit.com/r/BIFLfails/comments/1g1zuc7/patagonia_jacket_sleeve_ripped_open_after_less/) ). At least their warranty was good, full credit, maybe it was a fluke - but I bought an R1 with that credit and it had issues with the zipper threading. Full refund that time, repair would take a few months. In comparison, my uniqlo ultralight down is in perfect shape, significantly cheaper, warmer, and just as packable (yes its down - but they have a synthetic "pufftech" line, haven't field tested it, feels just as good though). I also like alpha direct fleeces in lieu of the R1 - lots of companies make them for around the same price, pick whatever fits best. I much prefer the construction on RAB down jackets, norrona and OR for shell jackets, and for basics just uniqlo.

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