Rab was founded in Sheffield by Rab Carrington after gaining an apprenticeship in sleeping bag manufacture in South America while on climbing expeditions during the 1970s.

Like other British companies, Rab products have a reputation for simple, no-nonsense stuff that is tried and tested – you won’t find any unnecessary clutter and the style is generally minimalist – everything you need and nothing you don’t.  This strategy has been highly successful; Rab products continue to be stocked by all the best specialist mountaineering shops in the UK, and the brand has a well deserved following among UK climbers.

The Rab Atlas Explorer is a mid range sleeping bag designed for a multitude of outdoor activities.  Given the heritage of the company and Rab’s reputation for quality it is no surprise that the AE 700 is beautifully made.  The outer fabric is the tried and tested Pertex® Microlight, which gives a nice blend of low weight and high durability.  In the mid 1980’s Rab was the first manufacturer in the world to use Pertex for sleeping bags and clothing and it has since become the industry standard for insulative kit.  The polyester lining is also chosen for its lightweight and highly packable properties, although as with all sleeping bags I would recommend using a liner for various reasons.  These generally increase comfort (silk or fleece is nicer next to the skin than polyester) and also increase the lifespan of the product (it won’t smell as much!).

Being a Down sleeping bag it boasts an excellent warmth to weight ratio and has all the benefits (and drawbacks) of the standard fill material for mid to top end sleeping bags.  For more information on sleeping bags in general, and an in-depth look at the two major fill options (Down vs Synthetic), then I would recommend taking a look at this excellent article by Cass Briggs.

I have been using the Atlas Explorer 700 for a short while now and perhaps what I have been impressed with has been its versatility.  With such a range of bags on offer, from super small lightweight ones to mega warm expedition bags, choosing the right one can be a daunting prospect.  Unless you are a specialist – like a mountain marathon athlete looking for something very light, or a Himalayan explorer wanting maximum warmth, the chances are you will want a bag that fits a variety of scenarios.  This is where the AE 700 come into its own, being in my view an excellent choice for UK based outdoor enthusiasts as it fits the mould of the ‘all rounder’ very well.  It is easily warm enough for UK use and packs down small enough (21 x 34cm) for backpacking.  Given the recent “Big Freeze” weather conditions the AE 700 is an item you may even be considering adding to your emergency car boot pack!

In addition to the excellent construction and fine quality materials, there are a few design points that make the AE 700 stand out.  The first thing I noticed was the square cut shape of the bottom of the bag.  The bag is tapered but the end is slightly wider than normal and the zip goes right round the bottom of the bag.  This means that there is more room for your feet to move around, increasing comfort, with the added advantage of increased ventilation on warm nights.  It also means that on cold nights you can wear additional clothes without being restricted.  The obvious downside of having a full zip is that insulation will suffer (This is why the higher spec mountaineering bags have narrow, enclosed bottoms).  However, Rab have added a thick baffle of across the zippered area which will minimise this on the AE 700.  Besides, the benefit of the full zip will far outweigh any heat loss for the all round user in the majority of camping situations.  The only other disadvantage of a full zip I can think of is the added ease with which others can access the bottom of the bag.   This may not seem like a problem to those who have not heard Nick Colton’s tale of sleeping bag woe (why would anyone want to get to your feet?).  However, the BMC President and top mountaineer once had his wallet stolen from the bottom of his sleeping bag while he was asleep in it!

Innovative thievery aside, the simple design that is a hallmark of Rab gear works well on the AE 700 and keeps the weight down.  Having said this, the lack of a small zippered pocket to store a watch/ phone is something of a disappointment but, admittedly, I’m probably in a minority on this one!.  Like all quality bags these days the AE 700 comes with both a compression stuff sack and a cotton storage bag so you can maximise the lifespan of the product.  The top end of the bag is also very comfortable, with some beefy baffles (tubes) around the neck area to keep the heat in and ensure maximum comfort.  The whole head area is serviced by drawcords so it is easy to seal the bag up around the face in cold conditions.

Finally, there is the all important issue of price.  Thinking of Nick Colton while I wrote the last couple of paragraphs, I am reminded that many people tend to get the cheapest gear no matter what (when we met in France a few years ago his tent was from a well known supermarket and cost around £9.99).  While I’m pretty frugal myself I generally try to get the highest quality for the lowest price!  The current deal on the AE700 is a good example of such a buying strategy: while there are other excellent sleeping bags that fit the same ‘all-round use’ category as the AE700, the current price makes it the stand out choice for anyone considering a new bag.  For an all round sleeping bag for a wide range of camping needs you won’t be disappointed.

View our range of sleeping bags here.