Rab outdoor equipment

Founded in 1981 by Scottish mountaineer Rab Carrington, the Rab brand has its roots in the climbing community of Sheffield, England. Carrington's journey into gear manufacturing began unexpectedly in 1973 when he was stranded in Argentina and learned the craft of stitching down sleeping bags from a local artisan. Upon returning to the UK, he started hand-stitching sleeping bags in his attic, eventually growing the operation into one of the world's most respected technical outdoor brands.

Today, Rab is owned by Equip Outdoor Technologies UK Ltd, which acquired the brand in 2003 following Carrington's retirement. While the original spirit of 'by climbers, for climbers' remains central to the brand's identity, its manufacturing has scaled globally. High-performance down filling, expedition-grade suits, and specialized repair services are still handled at their UK facility in Derbyshire. However, the vast majority of their technical apparel and equipment is produced through long-term partnerships with certified factories across Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam. The brand is well-regarded for its transparency, frequently sharing data on material sourcing and factory labor standards through its Material Facts initiative.