I was fortunate to test the very first version prototype in 1997, and was blown away. This and Marmot DriClime IMHO are the best concepts ever designed. Nuff said....
This one is a snug medium, check the photos carefully. There are a few tiny pulls, and some remnants of pilling which I've defuzzed.
An amazing review from Tested to Destruction Blogspot below: (I've edited the guff out).
Rab Vapour-Rise has been around for quite a while in various guises. The basic thought of it is much the same as other "proper" softshells, not actually "waterproof", but rather water resistant, and focusing a lot more on the breathability of the garment. Like Marmot DriClime, there's no membrane acting as a barrier to water coming in, but also, that means there is no barrier to water attempting to escape. There's a Pertex Equilibrium outer layer, and a wicking microfiber layer on the inside.
I've wanted one of these for ages now, and never got around to buying one as I couldn't justify the price for something that might not be as good as I hoped it would be.
Rab Stretch Vapour-Rise..... It's a smock! With a single pocket, no hood, power-stretch fleece across the back and down the sides and no adjustable cuffs- just thumb loops. Brilliant. The medium is snug, but the powerstretch panels across the shoulders and back made it fit perfectly.
The long and short of it is that I eventually got around to buying one. The idea being that it is a winter running top which would breathe well, so I didn't need to wear anything else unless it got really nasty out- and then a small windproof or waterproof top would do fine. An all day top that once on, wouldn't need to be taken off, even if it got warmer, but could be used as a mid layer should it become necessary.
I've now owned a Vapour-Rise stretch top for about 3 months, and have used it quite a bit. I can happily say that it is an almost unqualified success. The first major outing was in Wales, where we ran for about 6 hours in snow, sleet, rain, driving wind and general clag. The other guys had to stop and put on/take off various layers throughout the day. I stayed in the same top, until it got REALLY nasty, and then put on a GoreTex shell. No faffing around, excellent.
+ Chest pocket opening
The chest pocket is very useful for keeping a small camera in- close to hand so I can take shots as I am running, the vent zip opens from the top and the bottom, giving a number of venting options, you can wear it with a wicking baselayer, or on its own and it breathes fantastically.
+ Waterproofness
There is also an elastic neck closure (in lieu of a hood, I suppose), which I have never actually got around to using in anger. If the weather got bad enough to start needing to use it, I think that I'd already have another layer on top. That being said, I have used it in rain and clag, and for the first 30-40 mins the DWR layer on the pertex has been excellent, keeping the worst of the wet out. I found that as long as I was doing enough work in order to keep pushing sweat out from inside the jacket, I stayed relatively dry. Once the weather really came in though, it was time to put on a proper waterproof layer.
+ Neck closure
I have only twice been too hot in the top, once when the air was so still it just wasn't taking any heat away from me, and I felt like a heat sink. My answer was to wear it on its own, stuffing the baselayer I had into the bumbag. The other was yesterday, in the snow. I had a merino base layer on as well, and was running a bit faster than normal as I was keeping up with a couple of other people (and it was the day after a race), however, despite being warm, and sweating quite a lot, I was never actually uncomfortable.
+ Breathablility
All the black bits are powerstretch Yes. This jacket really does breathe. After being out yesterday and running quite hard, I noticed that the outer pertex was pretty wet- not from any kind of precipitation, but rather from my sweat. However, the inner fleece was dry. Completely dry. The fleece to pertex wicking action was working brilliantly. I must have been steaming quite a bit by the end of the run.
+ Criticism
There is only one thing that I would change about this jacket. The thumb loops. The seem to be made with small fairies in mind. Getting my thumb through the loop is minorly problematic in the first place, and keeping them there means a numb thumb in about 5-10 mins. A small issue, but an issue nevertheless. If you are going to wear this outside, I'd suggest having it as an all day top rather than a "put in the bag and see if you need it" kind of top. Be aware of possibly bobbling the pertex.
+ Overall
I love this jacket. It has become the staple item that I wear on runs this winter. I know others will find it too hot, some may find it too cold, but I love the warmth, coupled with the insane breathability.
Packaged securely. Posted with Royal Mail Tracked 48