Rab Lab
mountaingroupWelcome to Rab Lab
Do you know your MVTR from your hydrostatic head? Is boxwall baffle fine-stitch or wide-stitch? In the Rab Lab is where you can really get into the detail.
Find out the science behind the designs and discover how waterproofs work, what makes down so good, or how a sleeping bag is constructed. Get informed so you can select the right kit for your next adventure. Picture yourself as a gear expert? Well, now you can be.
Sleeping Bags: Then to Now.
Sleeping bag technology has come a long way. Thousands of years ago, we were wrapping ourselves in animal skins and hides just to keep warm. Today, we use cutting edge insulation technology and fabrics to make the lightest, warmest sleeping bags created for adventures. Even since the first Rab sleeping bag was cut and hand-stitched in the early 80s, their warmth, weight and efficiency has dramatically improved.
A sleeping bag allows us to explore and experience the world in an extraordinary way. Keeping us warm and comfortable when we need to rest and packing down small when on the move.
How do waterproofs work?
How does it keep you dry? How does it breathe? Find out what qualities are most helpful for your next mountain adventure.
How does insulation keep you warm?
Discover the differences and similarities between down and synthetic insulation and learn how it works to keep you warm.
How is a sleeping bag constructed?
When it comes to sleeping bag design, there’s a lot to unpack. Discover the detail of our designs to help you select your next sleeping bag.
Baffled by baffles?
All down bags need baffles. These fabric chambers keep the down in place and prevent it from migrating to one end of the bag, like a duvet on your bed. Baffles can either be stitched-through or boxwall. Almost all our bags utilise boxwall chambers as this is the best construction method for minimising heat loss.
In down sleeping bags we talk about baffle height and baffle offset.
Baffle height is the height of the internal mesh separating the inner and outer fabrics of the sleeping bag and baffle offset is how much the mesh deviates in a horizontal direction producing a trapezoidal chamber shape.
