Rab (company)
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mountaineering clothing, Climbing clothing, Retail |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Rab Carrington, Rhys Kelly |
| Headquarters | Somercotes, Derbyshire , UK |
| Products | insulated jackets, waterproof jackets, baselayers, sleeping bags, tents |
| Parent | Equip Outdoor Technologies |
| Website | rab |
Rab is a British manufacturer of clothing and equipment for climbing and mountaineering. The firm was founded in 1981 by Scottish climber Rab Carrington.
History
[edit]Rab Carrington and founding
[edit]
Rab Carrington (born 1947 in Glasgow) devoted himself to rock climbing and mountaineering in the late 1960s and 1970s, taking on expeditions in the Alps and Himalayas.[1][2] In 1973, he took part in an expedition to Patagonia, Argentina, but when his group arrived in Buenos Aires, they found that their climbing equipment had not been shipped from Liverpool due to a dock strike.[1] Unable to start the expedition without his equipment, Carrington instead stayed in Argentina for six months, and learned how to make sleeping bags himself.[1] On his return, Carrington moved to Sheffield due to its proximity to the Peak District, and in 1980, Carrington began hand-stitching and selling his own sleeping bags from the attic of his house.[3]
Demand for his sleeping bags grew, and the following year Carrington founded Rab and moved production to a factory in Sheffield.[3] Drawing on his climbing experience, Carrington's clothes focused on lightweight, durable and high-quality products.[4]
Recent history
[edit]Rab Carrington retired in 2007. The firm, along with competitor Lowe Alpine, were later both purchased by Equip Outdoor Technologies.[5]
Clothing and Gear
[edit]Rab's down jackets, sleeping bags and expedition wear are designed with cold weather in mind, and employ European goose and duck down that is certified to the Responsible Down Standard.[6][7] A fluorocarbon-free water repellence treatment is also applied to the down used in clothing and sleeping bags in order to reduce water saturation.[8][9] Like nearly all outerwear manufacturers, Rab also uses synthetic insulation, both alone and in conjunction with down.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d That's Me: Rab Carrington The British Mountaineering Council. 4 March 2006. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- ^ Rab Carrington Bio Mountain Heritage Trust. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ a b The History of Rab Rab. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ Rab Clothing - Background Climbers-Shop. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ McHale, John (30 May 2014). "Lowe Alpine clothing production to end again as Rab range extended". grough.co.uk.
- ^ Ethical Down in the Outdoor Industry Ultralight Outdoor Gear. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ Find Responsible Down Standard Outdoor Companies Responsible Down Standard. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
- ^ Rab and Nikwax: in Partnership Nikwax.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ Guide to Water Resistant Down WebTogs. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
