eVent Jacket: Rab Bergen

[leithel]

http://www.campsaver.com/itemmatrix.asp ... trixType=1

Just bought one of these online from campsaver.com.
$165 USD for a 3 layer eVent jacket seems like a *&%$#! good deal to me!
Anyone familiar with this jacket or owned any RAB products before?

[photohiker]

Anyone familiar with this jacket or owned any RAB products before?

I've got a couple of their microfleeces. Well made and good (slim) fit.

[ninjapuppet]

candy eyed with all that stuff on 40% off sale.

I think postage rates dont increase much more if you buy a few other items to add to your order.
Heard a few people at stores say that Rab quality has gone downhill abit in recent years especially their sleeping bags.
I havnt known about Rab for that long but had a look at some of their stuff in the shops and I would have to say that quality seems top notch to me.

[leithel]

I bought about 6-7 things to make the postage worthwhile. Postage ended up being $65. Minimum cost for postage is usually about $40.
A local outdoor shop in Melbourne is selling the same Rab jacket for $500.

[loric]

I have one - and was a mug it seems to have paid the full price (two years ago tho).

The jacket is light (both in weight and durability).
I've holed it on the arm sleeves in vic scrub. I am hesitant to take in heavy scrub b/c of this. Compared to my old Mont 3layer goretex, the Rab has the puncture strength of a garbage bag...

On the plus side, it is lightweight, packs smaller and breathes like an ace. Really fast sweaty snowshoeing was v.good compared to the old goretex. Just make sure you wash it regularly. I can def notice a reduction in comfort over a two week hike. The hood design is nice, but not big enough if you want to wear a helmet underneath it.

Summary - ace alpine jacket, but not so good in the scrub (but at your super low price i would take in the scrub!) Event and a heavier face fabric will be my next jacket when the Bergen dies.

[blacksheep]

Event and a heavier face fabric will be my next jacket when the Bergen dies.

I know a place you should visit around x-mas

[leithel]

Cheers for the info Loric. Most of the walking I do is on track so hopefully the jacket will survive!

Blacksheep, I was definitely weighing up getting a Macpac jacket and gathered I would prob be able to pick one up with 30% off by xmas........ But the lure of a bargain.... I did really want a longer bushwalking jacket though. Doing the Milford Track in mid December and I'm anticipating rain!

[blacksheep]

there will be a longer jacket (the Hollyford) in eVent by x-mas...perfect for the Milford (and the Hollyford too, coincidentally )

[loric]

Yeah, the jacket is ace. You'll be happy with it (esp at that price!).

Horses for courses.

But if you had some spare coin i'd suggest keeping the Rab for alpine pursuits and trail running etc, and getting a 'durable' bushwhacking jacket for the scrub.
Milford will be fine, but tassy scop and pokey twigs etc will rip the Bergen to pieces.
(i actually don my old not so flash Mont jacket when i head into known impaling territory. I like to push thru the scrub and get stabbed with gay abandon - rather than spoil the experience worrying about whether i'm destroying the rab. crazy huh!?)

[Nuts]

Just a heads up for the Bergen Jacket at a good price from Cotswold Outdoors... Not the same bargain as the Montane from the mega ebay sale (which, for those involved shipped today) but hey.....

[Nuts]

mm, sold out.. apparently they'll be back, 120 pounds..

[redd1971]

I managed to pick one up from Costwold Outdoors at the special price. Arrived very quickly, and the jacket is fantastic, - light, folds up nice and compact, and it makes a big difference after wearing the old goretex jacket. Sizing is quite generous. Very happy. Will see how it handles the high country trips over the next couple of months...

[rsser]

I've been using mine for a nearly a full winter season now.

Grumbles:

1. Working hard skiing in cloud, it gets damp inside.
2. It needed the DWR redone after only 12 days use.
3. The chest pockets are deep, so anything in the bottom of them is at about pack waist-belt height .... that's a pain.

Otherwise it's light and fits well. But I buy local; have wasted too much money on internet buys that turn out to be a less than optimal fit.