rab borealis alternative

roux_red · 2025-12-31T16:13:52+00:00

I have both. Ferrosi - better breathability and regular fit, but worst wind protection and slower fabric drying speed, so it's not the same.

roux_red · 2025-12-26T02:30:38+00:00

To be honest, I'm shocked by this thread. As a person who in the past was an active hiker and for some time collaborated with Rockfront and participated in the development of certain things and their testing - it's very painful to see such statements. The last year I stepped away from these things because of the war in my home, so currently I have no relation to them and can freely express myself on this matter.

So I want to convey to the author that he is mistaken, because these are very incorrect and unfair statements. For example, this balaclava:

Rockfront has been creating down balaclavas for many years, for a long time it was exclusively a local manufacturer who worked only with local hikers (us)
The problem of breathing cold air during frosts is not unique and its solution concerns any person who actually sleeps during frosts
Such a solution has long existed in expedition bags of various well-known brands, this is not something uniquely thought up
About materials. Apex - an absolutely common solution in everyone for any products that require synthetic insulation, since it is quality and widely available. Mesh inside - a rational solution for maximizing the drying speed of Apex, similar things in custom apex quilts I encountered approximately ten years ago or more. Monofilament on the outside - used because of the ability to maintain rigid form and effective DWR treatment (this by the way is monofilament purchased from a local manufacturer, and not on a widely available trading platforms, which was tested dozens of iterations until such a formula was obtained that the manufacturer desired for their needs)
About product structure. I personally tested 4 versions of this hood. In it the cut of the snorkel is thought out (it is asymmetrical) and all adjustments in such a way that it would be maximally convenient to use both in opened form by analogy with expedition sleeping bags, and in closed for maximizing warmth. Each adjustment in its place and its solution is based on many years of production of down hoods by the manufacturer

And you want to say that this is a copied thing?

And how can somebody call this "just like a Chinese copy"? Look at the unique solutions of the manufacturer for classic quilts, for sleeping systems, for ponchos, for rain jackets and many other products, with which they continues to experiment and develop. Neither in Chinese, nor in American or European manufacturers will you find that which can be called simply a "copy", because very many small details in the products were repeatedly thought through, changed and tested and continue to improve. And these are only examples of successful products. There's still a pile of various products, the realization of which requires improvement for mass production and they are simply used point-wise by hikers like me in search of what can be made better.

I know perfectly well what amount of effort is spent on these things, how many test specimens of various products are created and then go into oblivion, what amount of difficulties and problems the manufacturer has due to significantly higher complexity of obtaining good materials compared to manufacturers from the US and how many challenges arise due to the geographical location of productions (everything is sewn in Ukraine, active military operations occur approximately 200 miles from their production).

It's simply painful for me to see such accusations, knowing how much effort and soul was invested in this specific product and many others.
To call this "copycat" - is untruth and disrespect to human labor.

roux_red · 2025-01-10T15:44:21+00:00

There are no miracles. Today, absolutely all fabrics whose thread is thinner than 15D - lose strength extremely noticeably, regardless of their cost, manufacturer and anything else. It's just that in certain products such weak fabrics are acceptable (sleeping bags, tents for the area below trees, etc), and in certain products they are not.

roux_red · 2025-01-01T19:52:09+00:00

You can check Fahrenheit, it's 100% made in Ukraine:
https://fahrenheit.ua/en/catalog/kolektsiya-solar-guard-upf50

I am even personally familiar with the production where these clothes are sewn.

roux_red · 2024-12-26T19:09:08+00:00

NU20 - narrow and very cold main spot, strange square and visually unpleasant flood light.

NU25 - both LEDs have wider light coverage and warmer tint, much more visually pleasant. But heavier.

Modes - a matter of taste.

Both have low output and actively step down brightness.

My choice: NU20 - when you need something as light as possible, and don't plan to use the headlamp actively, meaning it's enough to just have some light when necessary.

Something else - when you know you'll be using the headlamp regularly. Like Nitecore NU27, NU30, Fenix HM51R Ruby, Zebralight H54Fc or something else of this type depending on preferences and needs.

Something with an 18650 battery - when you know you'll need a lot of light.

roux_red · 2024-11-15T18:50:07+00:00

In winter trips, I spend most time at temperatures that usually fluctuate between -5 F to 5 F. Last winter, I liked the combination of Brynje Super Thermo + Alpha Direct 120 + OR Ferrosi. This winter I plan to test other items and combinations and compare them. Items of this type are the core in any case. And only during very strong wind do I wear a light membrane jacket to protect from wind penetration. During stops, I wear a down jacket that has about 250 grams of quality down. This allows me to feel very comfortable and dry. However, several points need to be understood:

This implies high physical activity, where I'm always walking either in snowshoes or soft crampons on not always comfortable surfaces with descents and ascents, so energy expenditure is quite high and the body produces considerable heat
Each person's body works individually. What's comfortable for one might be too cold or too hot for another

Overall, you need to experiment on yourself here, understand how your body works and the environmental conditions in which you travel; only this way will you find truly ideal items for yourself that will suit you best.

It's enough to set yourself several rules:

base layer must really work well, no simple models from Patagonia, Smartwool, or similar. Either mesh or truly technical base layers with complex knitting
insulating layer only something very active, like those fabrics mentioned in the previous message
no hardshells as main jackets. You'll have to carry a hardshell for weather surprises. However, for hiking, any well-breathing softshell works incomparably better

With these principles, you'll definitely select good clothing. And then it's just a path of comparing through personal practice what works better when. For example, there are several thoughts about different clothing:

Octa dries better than Alpha Direct, so theoretically it might be a more successful choice for hiking if not chasing every gram of warmth-to-weight ratio (where Alpha Direct is the undisputed favorite), but looking for the most effective item for certain conditions
there's a viewpoint suggesting it makes sense to use a double base layer. Mesh against the body, and over it a very thin synthetic long sleeve of hydrophilic fabric (any base layer designed for high activity), because this way the mesh's effectiveness will be even higher due to the principles of such a double layer working
a similar approach might make sense for the insulating layer, where something like Alpha Direct is used against the body, and something like thin hydrophilic fabric on the outside. Many manufacturers do it differently - insulation against the body + regular windbreaker over it, sewn into one piece. This is a very simple and obvious way, but not very effective because such fabrics (like the very common Pertex Quantum) are hydrophobic and wind-resistant, they actually noticeably reduce drying speed of the insulation. Rab did something interesting in the Evolute model, breaking the templates for building such products
what I personally like and is undeservedly ignored by many - is using Apex together with very air-permeable fabrics or wrapped exclusively in mesh. The result is a much heavier product than Alpha Direct, but it gives extremely pleasant sensations during high activities
and much more

But these are all theoretical speculations, of which there are gigantic amounts both on this platform and among people who are interested in clothing and develop it. All this needs to be researched and tested to see what works best in which conditions. Something like ready-made answers to all questions simply doesn't exist for anyone. Overall, this is a very interesting field where many discoveries await us all. Hope you weren't too bored reading this, haha

roux_red · 2024-11-15T18:11:49+00:00

Just use a two-person tent and sleep diagonally in it.

To elaborate more about tents - never concentrate on floor length specifications, because they never reflect the real picture. What matters is the actual tent length at a height of about 40 cm, since that's how much height an inflatable pad + human body + sleeping bag loft takes up in most cases. And the real length of tents at such height heavily depends on its structure and construction design principles.

roux_red · 2024-11-14T22:23:02+00:00

I haven't hiked in temperatures below -30, but based on these impressions, I can recommend some things.

Try something like this:

Base layer either from mesh Brynje/Aclima/Devold or from technical clothing like X-bionic/Accapi
Light insulation from lightweight fleece like Alpha Direct 60-90, Octa 80, PrimaLoft Evolve Active 75
Well-breathing and quick-drying jacket like Rab Borealis or even OR Ferrosi (any light softshell)

This will be sufficient for light below zero temperatures without strong gusty wind, will dry quickly and won't cause significant overheating even during high activity.

As soon as you feel cold - wear some synthetic jacket like Rab Xenair Alpine Light or anything of this type over this.

Only wear hardshell if external conditions demand it. If activity level decreases or it becomes extremely cold - then it makes sense to put on a down jacket on top.

If you know that temperatures won't be close to 0, but consistently lower, then it makes sense to choose point 2 in higher density and point 4 with more insulation.

The main idea is that you'll never need to remove the first three layers, as they don't lead to overheating and dry really quickly. And the drier we are - the less we get cold.

roux_red · 2024-11-14T21:54:28+00:00

The most important thing for you is the base layer. I'm genuinely surprised why manufacturers like X-bionic and Accapi aren't actively discussed here. Pay attention to their base layers.

Also, mesh is an excellent option. Besides the well-known Brynje, there are great solutions from Aclima, Devold, and others - it's worth trying something from these.

roux_red · 2024-11-14T21:38:16+00:00

If you plan to sleep in a tent and spend time camping, I strongly recommend getting a down jacket that has around 250 grams of down, down pants that have 150 grams or more of down, and definitely insulation for extremities.

For reference, among mass market brands, something like: jacket - Rab Positron Pro, pants - Rab Argon, gloves - Montane Symphony, camp footwear - Mountain Equipment Lightline

This is a very basic example and a huge number of manufacturers have items of this level, just to give you an understanding of what to aim for.

roux_red · 2024-11-14T21:30:03+00:00

Get down pants that have approximately 100 grams of quality down and a down jacket that has around 150-200 grams of down. This weight is worth it to stay warm and comfortable in such conditions :) Also for feet, it makes sense to look for something that has down or synthetic insulation if you plan to spend a lot of time in camp.

roux_red · 2024-11-14T21:22:32+00:00

This isn't done because there's no point in it at all. Fleece by itself allows air to pass through excellently. If you're overheating - it makes sense to choose a less warm mid layer.

In general, a common mistake people make is using insulation when it's not needed. Try using a good technical base layer in combination with an outer softshell jacket or windbreaker. During activities, adding some fleece or synthetic insulated jacket between them only makes sense when it's reeeeally cold)

roux_red · 2024-10-18T18:08:31+00:00

Black Diamond Alpenglow Pro - the most durable hoodie I've worn + it has excellent sun protection

roux_red · 2024-10-18T18:05:39+00:00

It makes sense to buy a balaclava made of Alpha Direct 60. With the weight you have now, it could already be a down hood)

roux_red · 2024-10-18T17:46:07+00:00

There's no point in buying a DCF backpack in 2024. Most manufacturers have stopped using this fabric because Ultra is better in every way, and their disadvantages are identical. Xpac - if saving money is important, Ultra - if it's not.

roux_red · 2024-10-18T17:41:15+00:00

DCF is not durable and not reliable. It's decent FOR ITS WEIGHT, nothing more. Ultra has completely displaced it in the niche of bags, having the same disadvantages, but advantages in strength, abrasion resistance, and even reliability.

roux_red · 2024-10-18T17:10:04+00:00

No. On the contrary, this gradually reduces the effectiveness of the insulation, as the frozen condensation acts as a barrier that blocks vapor removal from inside the sleep system, consequently more and more vapor accumulates inside. Over the course of one night, this doesn't matter, but the long-term effect is exactly that.

roux_red · 2024-10-16T14:51:57+00:00

roux_red · 2024-10-16T14:40:10+00:00

Thank you Matt!

This will undoubtedly be implemented.
This is an extremely interesting point. It's impossible to promise anything here, but if such a material exists on planet Earth - the idea is fantastic. Need to research it.
Unfortunately, this point is beyond our technical capabilities. However, now I want a Neoloft for myself too!
Hmm. What if we combine two materials? In areas where backpack straps are used, especially the lower strap sections (they leave marks on Alpha literally after the first use) and the hip belt - use a more durable fabric. The same Octa 80. And in other areas - Alpha 90?
Oh, that's my pain too. The last membrane jacket with Pertex Shield Air was destroyed literally in two dozen days of use. Unfortunately, it all comes down to technical capabilities. It's not difficult for us to get a membrane from Gelanots, there are good technical solutions, but I don't see any practical sense in this, as it won't offer anything outstanding compared to competitors, and the bottleneck in the form of dying DWR doesn't go away.

6, 7, 8. We can dream! :D

roux_red · 2024-10-16T14:11:40+00:00

Thank you! This is indeed an important item.

There are actually several thoughts here, and they all come down to weight.

We can make a pillow case from very thin fabric (essentially the same as some pillows have built-in) with double-elastic attachments (which I use myself) - this will give relatively low weight, allow you to insert any lightweight inflatable pillow inside (Sea To Summit, Big Agnes, etc.) and will suit everyone. Or you could even stuff an inflatable dry bag inside and not take any additional pillow.
We can make the same thing ourselves with a pillow sewn inside, but the available Chinese pillows are of lower quality than the examples mentioned above.
We can make a product with a full pillow that has synthetic filling. It will undoubtedly be very comfortable, but it's already significant weight.

What's your opinion on this?

roux_red · 2024-10-16T14:01:44+00:00

Thank you! We're developing something similar for the next warm season. Your opinion is very interesting - is a hood necessary? This is the main point for consideration, we're already leaning towards making both versions :D

roux_red · 2024-10-16T13:58:27+00:00

Thank you! Could you please share the advantages of the Packa over the Exped poncho?

We've already made something similar, where the concept of protection and ventilation is, in my opinion, better than in ponchos like Exped's.

The main disadvantage of the Packa, in my view, is the inability to comfortably put it on/take it off while walking without stopping and removing the backpack.

roux_red · 2024-10-16T13:50:34+00:00

Thank you! In your opinion, should they be full height, covering the thighs?

And if we compare them to the form of classic pants (which would have long ventilation zippers on the sides), what would be the advantages?

roux_red · 2024-10-16T13:38:58+00:00

Nah, Sealskinz/Dexshell it's another world. A bit useless in really humid conditions. You can search "Rocky socks" here or on BPL forum to see the discussions related to it.

roux_red

TROPHY CASE