Rab Argon Down Trousers - A Look at Mine

[@tillytaylor425]

Mrs. Camping Astronomer wasn’t telling porkies is the most wholesome thing I’ve heard all day! Great video, liked the alternatives section

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

🤣. My wife has been wearing hers around the house for the last week or so. Mine come out for the first time this winter tomorrow night when I will be in the garden doing some astronomy stuff. Glad you enjoyed the video, and hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend 👍

[@Globetrotter-1]

I wear the Mountain Equipment Expedition Down Pants which have 279g of 800 fill goose down. They have zips all the way down each side leg for getting on & off wearing boots, plus velcro tabs to close the wind flap over the zips. They also have a small zip pocket on the front for small items such as keys etc. (Normal price is £400 but I see that Trekitt have them at half price at the moment). I live out in the wilds for weeks or months at a time throughout winter ❄️ without heating or fires. During treks or heavy physical exercise I tend to wear just a thin base layer and carry waterproofs in my camera bag or rucksack, because the inner body core stokes up a constant heat. But then there are the continual static periods in a ⛺ tent on the side of a mountain, or sitting inside my car for hours, or through long, dark evenings reading a book or watching videos to keep me occupied before sleep. To cope with extreme low temperatures 🌡️ or prolonged icy winds (UK & Worldwide), I choose to wear Expedition down clothing to maintain body heat when I'm inactive. From head to toe, I wear: a thick wool hat (or Russian fur hat); Rab Summit Batura jacket with 450gm of 800 goose down (has a waterproof Pertex Shield); Mountain Equipment Expedition Down Pants; Mountain Equipment Couloir winter mountain gloves with Goretex; Rab Expedition Boots with 800 fill goose down, inside Outdoor Research Brooks Rangers insulated goretex overboots. Yes... that lot may seem 'overkill' but it keeps me toasty warm day & night for prolonged periods in freezing temperatures 🌡️ of zero to minus -30C. Even relatively milder UK temperatures of minus -5C or minus -15C at high altitude can feel extreme combined with 30mph-60mph winds...but my down clothing always keeps me cozy.

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Wow, you have some fantastic gear there, and the ME trousers are an amazing deal at half price. The lag zippers would be very useful. You spend a lot of time in the cold by the sound of it, so I'm all for having the best gear you can to make it as pleasant as possible. No point in being cold and miserable 😕

[@debsmostexcellentadventure5353]

Loved this ,got those for my husband and when camping in france for a month in october he loved them debs xx

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

They are really great Debs. PS I watched the Everest video you gave me the link for, brought back many memories for me 🙂👍

[@Garywxm1]

Great vid John as usual 👍👍👍👍

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Thank you Gary, much appreciated 🙂

[@chrisgibson2328]

The belt is a good feature too...I like the look of them.

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

They are great trousers, like having a hot water bottle around your legs. Thanks very much for watching and commenting Chris, it's much appreciated 😊

[@thewanderingforester]

Been thinking about down trousers for a while. These look to be just the job. Good review John. ATB, Roger

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Thank you Roger. They are great trousers and incredibly warm, you can actually feel the heat around your legs.

[@ArcticNatureExperiences]

Good review you have made Jon! When it comes to size it is helpful to go big so they can be worn on the outside of the trousers without too much bother. They really make a difference on cold days and down trousers are in my backpack when I go hiking in the Norwegian winter (I use Mountain Gear). For warmth and safety there is nothing that is better; even though they can be a bit expensive! And it sounds like Mrs Camping Astronomer has some good opinions about gear:) All the best, Ant

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Thank you Ant. I will be wearing them tonight in the garden when out with my telescope. Mind you, I think our outside temperature of -6 deg C or so is probably quite warm for you 🤣

[@ArcticNatureExperiences]

@@thecampingastronomer8554 But cold weather means a clear sky (hopefully:) So happy hunting while warm tonight:)

[@Fluffbunny77]

@@ArcticNatureExperiences Thanks (Mrs C.A. here) I LOVE my Rab Down pants/trousers! I wear mine at home after spending all day in a cold shop with chillers & freezers. They are so toasty & not bulky. Love them.

[@ArcticNatureExperiences]

@Flo Meddle Rab makes good gear. What I like with good quality down clothes is how you instantly feels warmer! I.imagine that is how it feels wearing them:)

[@Fluffbunny77]

It is! I think because it’s so close to u, unlike even a down sleeping bag it is an instant heat hug like a radiator set at 25+ oC. Work think I’m Bananas! But I’ve even used them spending 15 mins in our walk in freezer getting a cage/stock ready. They are way better than my windproof north face pants that only have it on the front. Wearing thin thermals (I heard) with them does make them feel more like normal trousers. I’m not wearing them today but that toasty feeling makes anything else feel draughty 😂

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Thanks Jon… I know Tom Outdoors is a big fan of these types of thermal trousers. If they pass muster for Mrs Camping Astronomer they must be good 😁👌. Demand will be high this year with heating costs… not just for star gazing and camping 🤔, but maybe as an essential item at home.

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Funny you should say that, as Mrs CA wears hers every day around the house. Although they are quite expensive initially, her cost per wear is quite low. I would expect the Rab ones to last many years so she will easily get her money back on them. Quite a lot of KZbinrs seem to be using down trousers now - Tony Noble calls his "comedy trousers".

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

@@thecampingastronomer8554 😁👍

[@MonkeySocs]

This is the only video I could find for the Argon Trousers and the review is an excellent one - thanks! If you're thinking about going for cheaper trousers, such as the Nature Hike - bear in mind the sourcing of the goose down, I didn't see the RDS markings and lets say that region of the world does not concern itself with animal welfare...

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Thank you, I am glad you found the review useful. I find my trousers invaluable for nights in the tent, and also when I am out in the garden at night with my telescope. My wife even wears hers indoors. Like you say, I couldn't find much about RDS on the Naturehike version. Thanks very much for watching and commenting, its much appreciated 😊

[@roygertel]

Waterproof ?

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

No, most down kit is not waterproof. They have a water repellent coating though which helps out when kicking about camp.

[@richlondonrich]

We don't say puffy any more. The preferred word is homosexual.

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. Puffy refers to the puffiness of the trousers when the down inside them has lofted up, used in the same way that people sometimes describe insulated jackets as Puffa Jackets. This is not the same word as that which was used as an alternative to homosexual in the 1970's.

[@Garywxm1]

It doesn’t mean homosexual at all .stop looking for fault .

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

@Garywxm1 thanks Gary 👍

[@richlondonrich]

@@thecampingastronomer8554 my dad was gay, and I guess I'm a little defensive. I accept your apology.

[@jonahlevi3178]

​@@richlondonrichhe didn't apologize to you. He didn't do anything wrong. You misunderstood and you are extremely entitled.

[@WBJAdventures]

hello we are from the #wbjadventures and we are subscribing to help your channel, keep up the good work ❤❤❤

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

Thank you very much 😊. I have returned the favour and look forward to watching your videos 😊.

[@plapbandit]

Could do with a pair of these myself, beats freezing your knackers off when you've got the scope out

[@thecampingastronomer8554]

They have been superb in the garden this winter. Thanks very much for taking the time to watch and comment, its much appreciated 👍