Sleeping Bags

Rab Alpine Pro 600 Sleeping Bag | Review

Rab create a lightweight, yet weatherproof sleeping bag that is suitable for all year mountain use

Why We Chose The Rab Alpine Pro 600: Pertex Quantum Pro all-weather protection, all-year use, good water repellency.

When Glasgow-born Rab Carrington set up his company his initial goal was to create rugged climbing kit that would be able to keep performing in some of the most miserable conditions and inhospitable terrain in the world. Being a climber himself, Rab ensured that he and his mates tested every bit of kit in proper conditions to make sure it was all up to his self-set criteria.

It was technical sleeping bags that he first started making, created in the attic of his house in Sheffield. Fast forward 49 years and whilst the production line has long moved out of Rab Carrington’s attic, hand craftsmanship remains at the core of his company’s sleeping bags, which are hand-filled in Derbyshire.

“The use of Pertex Quantum Pro was a real winner for Rab and the Alpine Pro range.”

First brought to the market in 2010, the Rab Alpine series aimed at meeting the needs of alpine climbers who required lightweight, weatherproof protection for cold bivouacs high in alpine terrain. Whilst that may seem like a niche activity to focus on, the actual result was a versatile and lightweight year-round sleeping bag that was able to handle a range of conditions far beyond that of alpine terrain.

Now for 2019 we have the Rab Alpine Pro series, and it offers all of those benefits of the 2010 predecessor with a few nice tweaks.

The use of Pertex Quantum Pro is one of the key features in this new range. What this is, is a tightly woven ultralight fabric that has a thin PU coating over it to provide a good degree of water resistance.

This is paired, rather excellently, with a 650 fill power responsibly sourced European duck down which has been given the Nikwax experience. In other words, it’s been treated with Nikwax’s eco-friendly hydrophobic solution to offer a tag team of water repellent technology.

It has a comfort level of -3°C and a limit of -10°C by EN1357:2016 standards. Photo: Chris Johnson

The Pertex fabric and hydrophobic down give that little bit of extra confidence when exposed to the elements. Photo: Chris Johnson

An anti-snag zip with a full-length internal baffle Photo: Chris Johnson

Being so weather resistant, the Alpine 600 could make for a great choice for those who are inclined to sleep outside with the rudimentary protection of a bivvy or tarp. Alpine climbers, trail hikers and fast-packers would all benefit from the confidence in knowing that their sleeping bag can fight off a bit of moisture if the weather throws a surprise their way – not that we’d recommend going out of your way to put this thing under anything more than light rain.

The down is all housed in trapezoidal baffles, one of the most effective construction methods for minimising heat loss through the stitching, and also for keeping the fill in place. It’s a snug-fitting mummy shape overall and there’s a drawcord to cinch in around the face as well as a handy extra one on the collar which allows you to draw in around your neck as well. What’s more, the 3/4-length zip has a thick baffle behind it that does what you need it to do, and it’s anti-snag so you’ll get a smooth glide when you need to get in or out.

Temperature rating-wise, it has a comfort level of -3°C and a limit of -10°C. That’s a solid rating for all-year use.

The Rab Alpine Pro is also available in a women’s 600 version. For those who are after a little more or less warmth, then the Alpine Pro range features 200, 400 and 800 versions, depending on your desired warmth-to-weight ratio. All of these come with an excellent waterproof stuck sack with rolltop compression.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, Outdoors Magic Editor

“I took this with me on a six-day backpack along the Beacons Way last February and was mightily impressed. It has an extremely lofty and warm fill that was ideal for the sub zero temperatures I was camping in, and it was lightweight and packable to boot.

“I’ve had a Rab Neutrino for a number of years now and I’ve loved the warmth it provides. It has, however, been a little too big and heavy for the majority of the backpacking I’ve done, which has mostly been in the UK. The Rab Alpine Pro is what I’ve needed need – something that can be used in all but the very coldest of conditions and that will still help me to keep my pack weight down.

“I’ve used this in a tent that gets a lot of condensation build up, and have never had to worry about the down getting wet. That’s because the hydrophobic treatment works very, very well. You do, of course, have to maintain and reproof that though, as is always the case with Nikwax.”