Rab: From a small attic to the Himalayas

Once upon a time, not so long ago, history was made in the attic of a small terraced house in Sheffield, England—the story of the expedition outfitter Rab. In 1981, the founder and namesake Rab Carrington designed the first product for the brand: a sleeping bag.

But not just any old sleeping bag: this first hand-sewn product incorporated the expertise gained from years of mountaineering experience on 8,000-metre ascents such as those of Nuptse and Makalu. Carrington knew exactly what was needed for outdoor activities in the mountains, and he was able to test his own creations thoroughly on his expeditions in the Himalayas, Patagonia, and the Dolomites.

The inconspicuous workshop in the small British town quickly developed into a production facility for the Rab sleeping bags and Rab Jackets that are still popular today for customers from near and far. True to the motto ‘'nothing extravagant, just honest, high-performance products that are better repaired than replaced,’' Rab has always made mountain clothing and equipment that offers reliability as well as comfort and freedom in the mountains – whether you are interested in a rain jacket from Rab, a fleece or a backpack.

Rab: by mountaineers for mountaineers

Today, the down sleeping bags are filled by hand, the expedition suits are made, and broken products are repaired and washed in the service center at the production facility in Great Britain. In addition, the items are produced in South East Asia and China. These days, the range includes much more than just sleeping bags. From hiking outfits for relaxed 2000-meter summits to mountaineering clothing for demanding 4000-meter ascents – there is something for every level of performance. With the statement, ‘'You can climb hard if you climb all year around,’' the founder described his attitude to alpine mountaineering and the sporting activities for which the versatile Rab product range is suitable.

Carrington himself no longer tests the products, but experienced mountaineers do, and they take Rab products with them on their daily outdoor adventures. The brand can demonstrate its versatile expertise with signature collections like the Alpine Mythic line. These can already be found in the wardrobes and backpacks of many ambitious mountaineers.

Rab: Certified down for jackets, sleeping bags, and more

Quality and reliability are top priorities for all Rab products, yet you don't have to dig too deep into your wallet for your outdoor equipment. Rab has used down certified according to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) in its down jackets and sleeping bags since 2010. Nevertheless, down is still an animal product that should be avoided as much as possible. Since 2019, Rab has been using P.U.R.E. recycled down in the entire Microlight collection. But where does the recycled down come from, and how does it work? The down is reprocessed from post-consumer products such as pillows or duvets. The down can be reused for RRab's technical clothing and equipment without new down and feathers.

Pioneer in transparency: the Rab brand is excellent

Since 2023, Rab has been making it much easier to navigate the confusing sustainability jargon. The brand does not want to hide behind "reen" logos and provides a table with the origin and facts about the material for all Rab garments and sleeping bags. You can find the table directly on the product on the Rab website, and it is also accessible via a QR code on the product hangtag.

In addition to ambitious ‘'et ZZero'targets, the brand impresses with concrete action: the manufacturer has been operating climate-neutrally since 2020, starting with its operations: packaging materials have been reduced, and a large part of the UK fleet has been converted to electric vehicles. The headquarters will be in England, and by 2024, all leased facilities will be powered by 100% renewable energy.

However, the focus here is not only on the environment but also on people. After only two years of membership, the manufacturer achieved Leader Status in the Fair Wear Foundation, thus emphasizing its commitment to continuously improving the rights of employees along its global supply chain. With its ‘'Responsible Business Conduct Policy,’' the company has been setting out basic principles since October 2022 to positively influence topics such as human rights, environmental protection, sustainable product design, and promoting diversity in the outdoor industry.