The Rab Pulse Pull-on is the second hard shell we found to incorporate Pertex Shield+. As with the Montane, the Pulse has a half-length water resistant zipper. Instead of the "kangaroo-style" pocket of the Montane, it features a zippered chest pocket. The hood can be rolled down and fastened with a small clip and the waist can be cinched via a half-hem drawcord. The Pulse weighs 6 oz (180g), and is currently only available in mens sizes. Interestingly, Rab claims the waterproofness to be 15,000mm and does not specify the numbers for breathability.

As with the Montane, the photo was taken in a mens size L, which is again too large for me.

I wonder how this compares to the Rab Demand, other than being a bit lighter? My Demand is darned robust and a good piece of kit, as the Brits say, I think.

Any chance of a quick comparison to the new Montane smock? The features I am most interested in is the length of the garments (is the Rab longer? did they shorten the length compared to the Pulse/Minumus jackets?) and their hoods. From the photos Montane did simplify the hood, I'm just hoping Rab didn't (since Dave really liked the hood on the Pulse jacket in his state of the market report).

I tried on the Montane Minimus and Rab Pulse recently at some local shops. The two shells were remarkably similar - enough so that I was left wondering if Montane and Rab worked together on them (ie. like Chevy and GM versions of the same truck). Aside from different pocket layouts, they are very similar. The fabric feels the same, the details are really similar and the cut seemed identical. I measured a few things (ie. sleeve length, jacket length) and they were exactly the same.

So I haven't compared the Minimus Smock to the Pulse Pull-On, but I expect the similarities continue and the primary different is in the pocket layout. Both shells seemed adequate, but I would have liked a bit more torso length in both. I've got high hopes for the Westcomb Focus LT and Haglofs new replacement for the Ozo.

My arms will attest that there is quite a difference in the cut somewhere ;) (The Pulse seems to have rather longer arms on me, but it might be some quirk of the cut.).

iirc The Minimus came out 6(12?) months earlier than the Pulse so one presumes that RAB were 'inspired' by it's (imagined) success :) It's probably less obvious from the USA but these two are very far from strangers to such things!

From the pictures on outdoors magic the Minimus smock is substantially different - the same pocket structure as their GL smock and a hood like the Spektr. The Pulse just seems to lop a tiny bit off the zipper length.
(Their Kinetic is identical to the pulse except for 2 pockets and not one, so hood very likely the same.).

Edited by MartinCarpenter on 08/13/2012 07:23:08 MDT.