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What is the Valiance Jacket?
A true Trekitt favourite, the Valiance Jacket is everything you need in a jacket, built into one garment. This waterproof down jacket, suitable for casual, everyday wear or hill-walking at the weekend, has proven extremely popular for many years, probably as it's so perfect for taking on the unpredictable UK weather.
What is it made of?
The Valiance has been given a sustainable revamp, now using more recycled materials than ever before - but don't worry! It's still super functional, offering maximum protection against the elements.
It uses a 30D Pertex® Shield 2L coated fabric with added DWR on the outer shell to give it maximum waterproof protection and a smooth 20D Recycled Ripstop Nylon for the lining. Two types of insulation have been used to fill the jacket, including a quality 700FP Recycled Hydrophobic Down and Stratus™ Synthetic sheet insulation.
Insulation: The jacket uses 205g of 700 fill power Recycled Down, meaning there's a mix of different types of down within the jacket, creating a unique, much more sustainable type of insulation.
If you're a little unsure about what down actually is, it is made up of clusters of tiny feather strands that trap heat. As the down lofts (fluffs up) it can trap more warmth than if it were to be compacted into a small space (or packed up into stuffsacks, which generally is how you store a down jacket). This is why it's so important to get a quality jacket with a construction that allows its insulation to loft effectively! Most down insulation comes from ducks and geese, and Rab's recycled down uses a mixture of both.
The down is treated with a Nikwax fluorocarbon free Hydrophobic finish, which adds light water resistance to the down itself.
Can't quite catch the lingo? Here's a quick break down.
Fill power - Fill power measures the warmth and efficiency of the down, alongside its ability to loft/fluff up. A rating of 700 fill power means that 1oz of this down fills 700 cubic inches of space when fully lofted. For a more detailed explanation, you can check out our YouTube video on fill power by clicking here.
Hydrophobic - Hydrophobic down dries out and lofts quicker, resisting moisture from sweat that may build up as you warm up inside the jacket. Fluorocarbon free Hydrophobic finishes don't use harmful chemicals that cause damage to the environment - a bonus for more eco-conscious adventurers.
Secondary Insulation: Stratus™ Synthetic Sheet Insulation in the hood and cuffs. Stratus™ insulation is a high-performance synthetic insulation developed by Rab, powered by Thermore®. It uses 100% recycled fibres from post-consumer PET bottles - another win for the environment! Stratus™ has a fantastic warmth to weight ratio, and is finished using a fibre migration treatment for extra durability.
Main fabric: The outer shell is fully taped and uses 30D Pertex® Shield - a waterproof fabric with a Hydrostatic Head rating of 10,000mm, which is a good level for a waterproof jacket. Pertex® Shield delivers lightweight, packable, waterproof and windproof protection yet is incredibly breathable, helping you to feel comfortable all day long. Taping runs across every seam inside of the jacket and stops water from seeping through any stitching. It's finished with a fluorocarbon free DWR (Durable Water Repellent), which adds an extra layer of water resistance onto the fabric to optimise its already waterproof properties. Similar to a fluorocarbon free Hydrophobic finish, this type of DWR is also much better for the environment.
Lining: The lining is constructed with a 20D Recycled Ripstop Nylon, which offers extra durability yet feels really smooth and lightweight, reducing the overall bulk of the jacket and being much more sustainable than regular ripstop fabrics.
What are the features?
The Valiance has bonded, narrow boxwall construction for reduced weight, bulk, and maximum warmth. A boxwall structure gives the down more space to fluff up than classic stitch-through baffles. The more the insulation lofts, the more heat it can trap inside. Bonded baffles don't require stitching, meaning fewer tiny holes (usually caused by the sewing needles) run through the materials, maximising the jacket's weatherproof protection and warmth rating. Bonding helps stop water seeping in and cold spots developing while reducing weight and bulk.
The hood has a two way adjustment system, allowing the wearer to optimise the fit around the head for when the heavens start to open. The hood has a wired peak at the front, super handy if you get caught in a downpour and would rather wait 'til you get home to shower.
High wear areas, including the hood and the cuffs are insulated using synthetic Stratus™ insulation, which keeps warm when wet and is much more resilient than down, perfect for some extra reinforcement. The cuffs are slimline and have a handy hook and loop adjustment, which is super easy to use, even with gloves on or numb fingers!
The centre YKK® VISLON® zip has an internal zip baffle, preventing a cold spot at the zip, as without the baffle, there would be no insulation there at all! Clever, right?
Storage isn't a problem with the Valiance. It has two zipped hand warmer pockets to stuff your paws in if you've forgotten your gloves, and a zipped internal security pocket for stowing away any valuables like car keys or a phone.
At the hem of the jacket, you'll find a dual sided rear adjustment to cinch in around the waist and hips, stopping that cold wind from flying up your coat. The hem is dropped, so it comes much lower down, providing a little extra coverage around the lower back area and protecting the top of your trousers too!
How does it fit?
The Valiance Jacket has a regular fit, making it perfect for layering or simply chucking on over a baselayer during the autumn. It feels pretty snug once you put it on but not tight or restrictive at all, so there is plenty of room for a thick fleece underneath.
Disclaimer: Going forward, Rab has stopped providing stuff sacks for most of their insulated jackets as a responsible step toward eliminating fabric waste. This helps reduce the creation of unnecessary fabric, cord, and trim from unused stuff sacks while also saving the potential emissions used to manufacture them. Instead, they are available to purchase separately and are now made from offcut materials and end-of-roll fabrics for an even lower environmental impact.
Features:
- Pertex® Shield fully taped waterproof outer
- Bonded narrow box wall construction for reduced weight and bulk
- 2-way adjustable Stratus™ synthetic insulation fill hood with wired peak
- YKK® VISLON® front zip with internal zip baffle
- 2 YKK® AquaGuard® zipped hand warmer pockets
- 1 YKK® zipped internal security pocket
- Stratus™ synthetic insulation filled slimline cuffs with hook and loop adjustability
- Dual sided rear adjustment and dropped hem improves warmth on lower back
- Fit: Regular