Rab outdoor gear

Rab is a renowned British technical outdoor brand founded in 1981 by Scottish climber Rab Carrington in Sheffield, England. The company's origin story is famously rooted in Carrington's experience being stranded in Argentina in 1973, where he learned the art of making down sleeping bags from a local friend. Initially operating out of his attic, Carrington built a reputation for crafting 'honest, hard-working' equipment 'by climbers, for climbers.'

Today, the brand is headquartered in Somercotes, Derbyshire, UK. While Rab maintains a specialized production facility in the UK for hand-filling sleeping bags and specialized repairs, the majority of its technical apparel and equipment is manufactured through approximately 26 global manufacturing partners, primarily located across Asia. Ownership transitioned in 2003 when Rab Carrington retired and sold the company to Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd, led by Matt Gowar. As of 2026, the brand remain an independent subsidiary of Equip Outdoor Technologies, following the rejection of various sale rumors in late 2023, and continues to focus on high-performance technical gear and sustainability initiatives like the 'Material Facts' transparency program.