I stopped by Minneapolis's Midwestern Mountaineering yesterday and was excited to find a handful bunch of Rab eVent shells 40% off in my size, XXL. IIRC they had the Momentum, Drillium, and Latok Alpine in my size, those and others in L, including the Demand Pullover. Lots of stuff in L.

I would've gone for it if it weren't for the fit, which made it a the three shells I tried on a no go. I fit in an XXL in everything else I've tried on- Marmot, Patagonia, First Ascent, Arc'teryx, Mountain Hardwear, North Face, etc. There is a variation between makes and models, but usually it's in how much room there is in the gut. Makes perfect sense to me- the more athletic the fit, the more an XL or XXL is for a large guy rather than a fat guy.

The Rab XXL was sort of the opposite for me. Very tight in the shoulders, arms were pretty constrained all the way to the wrist cuffs, average fit over my pecs, and enough room in my gut. When I tried to visualize who this would fit, I couldn't help think of a lanky Scot who used to climb with a naturally skinny and narrow shouldered but with a burgeoning beer gut from years spent in the pub and off the trail.

I was surprised how tight the arms were past the shoulders- very little room for insulation, even in the forearm. My arms are somewhat muscular, but they're not *that* developed.

OK, there's no real point in my posting this. Quality seemed great otherwise, just felt like doing some post Turkey Day venting...

Aaron - this subject came up on my blog when I took a 'First Look' at the Rab Alpine Pull-on. One of my readers made the same observation about Rab's cut and this was my reply:

""Rab doesn't favour the stocky or broad chested" - and we are happier consumers because of this fact! Mountain Hardwear, The North Farce, Berghaus, Patagonia, Paramo, Mountain Equipment, etc, etc all produce wide cut, boxy apparel for the big and burly out there. Rab, Montane and Haglofs, to name a few, make clothes for the slimmer, multi-sport crowd. Everyone has their 'brand' and there is plenty of choice for everyone"

Personally the Rab cut fits me like a glove but then I'm a tall, lanky streak of skinny cross-country skier!

made for UK climbers ...

and according to all those gritstone climbing videos ... theyre all thin and lanky ;)

But who buys it in XXL? I guess if I exist, there probably is some guy who is tall, used to be lanky, and is a bit of a fatty. :)

Still, a bummer- there aren't all that many people doing eVent, and to my knowledge only REI and Rab make eVent shells appropriate for hiking in XXL. Not the end of the world, but it's nice to know you have options.

Speaking of gloves, I found that Rab's gloves and mitts fit me very well unlike most brands. Seems like they're usually too long in the fingers, too loose in the wrist, or too tight around the main hand. The fit was so perfect on that I ended up buying a pair of their Modular Mitts at a local outfitters even though I hadn't seen any reviews.

aaron ...

i bought a set of rab latok event gloves blind last year with no reviews ... i tried em in the store and they fit me better than anything else ive ever tried ... my test was simple, could i tie a doule fishermans knot with the gloves on ...

i bought em on the spot and used them climbing in the rockies last winter .. used down to -20F with liners ..,

most people get too hung up on reviews, sure its good to know if the gear will fall apart, etc .. but at the end of the day it has to fit you ...

if you ever want arcteryx XXL just come to the vancouver outlet store ... they have whole racks that are permanently on sale ... who need event when you can look cool and yuppie !!!

Edited by bearbreeder on 11/27/2010 14:56:39 MST.

I think Joe nailed it. I can't wear the majority of clothing the MHW, Patagonia, or Marmot because of the boxy fit. It's nice to see someone making gear for the skinny people.

I bought a Rab Photon Hoodie online a little while back in XXL and have yet to receive it. I bought a Montane Extreme Jacket in XXL a year or so back and it just barely fits. And I'm hardly a big guy, 5'11 210lbs 46" chest and it feels just like you say, tight in the shoulders and arms. Hoping the Rab arrives and is a bit better, can't imagine it being less than costly to return back to the UK.

I ordered the alpine pull on in Medium a few days ago and it has yet to show up. I am 5-10 145-150 lbs def skinny but all lean muscle. I do have broad shoulders and chest not the string bean 6ft tall tour cyclist body sunken chest for me. I will let you guys know what i think of the fit when it shows up. Should be interesting as most consider me very skinny.

I am 5-9 and 157# and have to wear a large. I have a 39" chest.

GTFO!!! I will be one agro consumer if that is the case. I ordered a medium figuring size up to fit a lightweight base and a mid weight fleece. From what you are saying 5-10 157 lbs i am gonna be returning it. I have never ever worn a LARGE in my life!!!!

Pat, I think you'll be fine. I prefer an athletic cut in my clothes. I always wear a size small in Rab. I probably have a similar build to you. Im 5'9" around 140-144 depending on exercise, 37-38" chest depending on if I've been in the gym or not. Broad shoulders for my size, and long arms for my height (34" sleeve in dress shirts) Rab fits me wonderfully in a size Small. I think you'll be fine in a Med. Rab runs narrow in the shoulders, but I still feel it fits great compared to the American Box Cut we see in everything from suits to shells. If all your layers are trim and athletic fitting, than you shouldn't have a problem layering them underneath the shell. In other words, if everything else you own is size medium, and is athletic fitting (like kinda tight...but thats the way you like it) than size medium should work IMO

Edited by Konrad1013 on 11/28/2010 13:13:45 MST.

I bet you'll be fine if you don't plan on layering much under it.

I'm 6'1" 140 and a medium is a little baggy. I can layer mideweight capilene and a 100wt fleece without it feeling too tight.

One of my jackets delaminated and they sent me a large on accident. I ended up using it because it was a few days before a 2 week long trip. Needless to say it is very very roomy.

I think whether it'll work is up to how wide your shoulders and chest are.

In my case, it wasn't that the XXL was too fitted per se. Rather, it was fitted differently than the North American brands' athletic fits. Rab is a tip up triangle and NA brands are tip down. The XXLs I tried on were pinched at the shoulder, puckering up around the joint if I raised my arms into the air, not too tight around the torso.

At least in my case, sizing up to 3XL or 4XL wouldn't have helped- there might have been enough room in the shoulders, but it'd be way too huge in the gut and waist.

If the shoulder width was a bit wider, they would've worked fine as summer-only shells, and if the arms had another 1-2" in diameter I could have layered more than a thin fleece. In the end, the shoulder width was the deal killer for me.

The body shape Rab works for seems to be little represented, so it's great that those folks have an option. Those of us with the frames of German farmers- triangles, tip down- certainly other options. My personal lament is just it's a shame that a company with such appealing gear won't work for me. :)

but it just wasn't gonna work. was in nyc and went by paragon, which carries a lot of the line. i'm 6'2", 190#'s and a 43" chest and no luck with a large or xl. just didn't fit in the shoulders and upper arms. great stuff, but now really glad i didn't try and snag one off of ebay. glad to hear that there's some audience for domestic consumption.

same here. I am 5'10, 180 lbs and 41 chest, and no luck with a large. It was too tight under arm. I eventually sold it in gear swap. It was a sad sad day.

Edited by wwyjedi on 11/28/2010 19:07:30 MST.

I'm glad I'm not the only one- sad sad day about sums it up!

For now i am just gonna trust it will all work out. I sure as hell hope so i really have held out on every purchase i have made in building a winter climbing kit till i found what seemed to be the best piece of gear for the purpose. I ordered the Alpine pull on to serve the purpose of a wind shell. For the $88.99 it seemed to me to be the best choice taking into account technology, weight, design, and yes a bit of style. I am just gonna go with it will fit like a glove till it doesn't?

Also i have it down to a FF down or Rab and i was thinking of going with the Rab as it is much less expensive.. but if it does not fit i will have to go with the big $$$ FF jacket.

Eb fa down ... Made for yanks on a mcdonals diet ... Fit guaranteed ;)

lol

actually eb aint to fatty ... But its cheaper usually so yoi can afford all those happay mealz

Edited by bearbreeder on 11/28/2010 20:14:38 MST.

EB is ? I have guess but am not sure... whatever the case the tone of you post is funny as hell!!

Patrick, I'm 5'9" and weigh 154 lbs. I wear size 29 waist pants and have 39 inch shoulders from 12 years of competative swimming. I bought a medium jacket also and I find it to barely work for me. It would be nice if it was a bit bigger in the shoulders, but it'll do as my 3 season jacket. I've been wearing a Montbell UL down inner jacket under it and I seem to have no real problem with movement, but I can tell it's a bit tight. My Pull-on weighs 9.15 ounce.