Does my Rab Vapour Rise fit?

So my post above shows my question..

No one could help before and I wrote Mark Verber (who, according to his website, uses this piece, but no reply as of yet. Hopefully he's hiking!)

Does anyone have an general advice? Experience with other Rab products?

General "this is how a softshell should fit" advice…

I have to exchange this for a medium soon if I'm to have the choice which is why I'm anxious to know..

Try the UK site outdoorsmagic.com – there may be a few more owners there.

I ran into the same problem between a small & Med. The small fit perfectly as a base layer, but the shoulders were tight. If I only kept my arms at my sides & never moved them, then the small would have been my choice. The Med was a bit baggy in the body but the shoulders were perfect. Rab said that you have to decide if you are going to use it as a base layer or 2nd layer and fit it accordingly. I tried each size about 50 times and finally decided on the Med because I find it really annoying when my shoulders are restricted at all.

The long sleeves and length in the butt are good in my book but if the neck is too open then that's not good. If you can do it without it being a huge financial burden I'd try the medium. This is based on my extensive use of a driclime jacket but I haven't used the RAB piece.

Is this the full zip piece with a hood? I'm guessing the medium would fit me (5'11" 155lbs) and I have been looking at them (if I have the item correct). As long as the sleeves aren't drastically shorter on the medium, I'd guess you should downsize it too. I'm usually between a men's small and medium in most gear. I have a small R1 hoody although it was almost a wash between a small and medium for me. I tried on both. A men's small driclime jacket though is good in the torso but is much too short in the sleeves.

EDIT: For me something like this is a cold weather piece so I will have a smartwool or the R1 hoody underneath as a base layer. I can accept a little bigger in the body but not a too big neck or too short sleeves.

Hi Richard,
I own a Rab Vapour Rise Smock, which I have been using for the past two years. I am the same build as you are, and wear the medium. It fits me like a glove, literally. There is no room for layering, except for a thin baselayer. Is supposed to be used that way though, with the fabric next to your skin (you wear it almost like a shirt.) If you can layer your hoody underneath, then yours is probably too big. I would size down, provided you accept that it may feel a bit tight in your chest.
Now, the VR should replace your R1 and a windshirt. I would not combine both. My VR replaces my Ibex Shack hoody and a windshirt. I don't see a problem with the neck opening with mine. It closes well, yet is still very comfortable.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone. I've been wondering about this for some time. As long as the store will cooperate with me I'll try the medium and see if it is uncomfortable. Assuming that it isn't, I'll stick with the more "fit" size.

Andrew (sorry, I don't know why I called you Richard before),
Since this is a garment that you wear all the time in cold weather, I suggest you also consider the Smock. The zipper in the smock goes all the way down (almost 20 inches long), so it allows for very good ventilation.
Just a thought, so you have more options.

Carlos,

I wanted the smock, but there were non stateside according to the North America rep at Rab. Thus, I just went with the jacket. It suits me fine and I'm not too concerned about the extra weight :)

Wish I was hiking… that would have been a LOT more fun.

I would have recommended checking out the medium. I think it works best as a close fitting… though not so close fitting that it restricts movement. I think Rab tends to make the arms a bit longer than some which is useful for climbers who are use to extended reaches. I would recommend trying it will no base, or a light base.

–mark

I am 5'9" and weigh 150 and own a few rab jackets I wear a medium in all of them and the fit is great.