Rab Takes on the Deep Stuff: A New AW26 Ski Collection Built for Powder, Storms and Long Descents

Mountain weather can turn in minutes, and a day on snow can quickly change from bluebird to whiteout. British brand Rab says its AW26 ski collection is built for that unpredictability. It offers protection against spindrift, slush and snow spray, and each piece is designed for off-piste terrain. The range runs from freeride shells and insulated layers to a touring pack and gloves. Together the pieces make up a head-to-toe system for skiers who work for their turns.

From a Sheffield attic to the world’s snowfields

Rab’s roots are in climbing rather than skiing. Scottish climber Rab Carrington founded the company in Sheffield in 1981. The story began with an expedition. Carrington was unable to start one without his equipment, so he stayed in Argentina for six months, where he learned to make sleeping bags. Back home, he began hand-stitching sleeping bags in the attic of his house in 1980. Demand soon forced a move to bigger premises.  The brand has since changed hands. Carrington retired and sold Rab to Equip Outdoor Technologies, Equip runs Rab from its headquarters in Somercotes, Derbyshire. The company has launched a five-year plan for international growth under CEO Richard Leedham in 2024.

The freeride shells: Bigline

The Bigline range is the freeride core of the collection. The £330 waterproof ski jacket and £300 ski bib are available in men’s and women’s cuts. Both use 3-layer Pertex Shield and are cut long, giving extra protection against spindrift, slush and snow spray. The fit is relaxed and freeride-specific, with room for extra layers or insulation in midwinter.

Specifications show how serious the jacket is. The 40D Pertex Shield 3-layer fabric has a fluorocarbon-free DWR finish, a hydrostatic head of 20,000mm and a breathability rating of 20,000 g/m²/24hrs. Rab’s product pages for the existing Bigline list features such as a ski-helmet-compatible hood, full-venting pit zips and a stretch powder skirt that zips off. A RECCO reflector provides searchability in avalanche terrain. Check the AW26 specification before assuming these carry over.

Providing the ultimate freedom in powder, this is the shell for skiers who seek long, epic descents. It’s equipped with 3-layer Pertex Shield and a longer length, giving you extra waterproof protection against spindrift, slush, and snow spray. The relaxed, freeride-specific fit offers unhindered mobility for negotiating any terrain, and accommodates additional layers or even insulation in midwinter conditions. With high levels of articulation and all the features you need, this ski jacket is geared up for getting off-piste and out of bounds.

The bib gives full-height coverage with 3-layer Pertex Shield, extra knee articulation for a dynamic style and a stretchy back panel for added breathability. Rab’s retail partners have already described the existing Bigline jacket and bib pairing as a favourite among testers.

A fresh snow dump and limitless backcountry terrain call for gear that offers superb waterproof performance and a wide range of movement. This full-height ski bib gives you that extra coverage and protection, using 3-layer Pertex® Shield to shed powder and spindrift as you descend through an untracked snowfield. We’ve ramped up the knee articulation to accommodate a dynamic ski style, and given the bib a relaxed, freeride-focused fit for mobility. With a stretchy back panel for extra breathability, it brings you total freedom to pick out your next line on demanding terrain.

The insulated option: Novaline

For colder days, the Novaline jacket (£400) and pants (£320) add insulation. Both use a quiet 2-layer Pertex Shield fabric that deflects snow showers and “champagne powder”. They are built for deep winter descents, with two weights of PrimaLoft Silver insulation. A heavier weight protects the torso, and a lighter one gives the sleeves more mobility. The jacket comes with a RECCO reflector and a ski-helmet-compatible hood. A quilted inner keeps the insulation in place in high-wear areas. The pants add a tricot lining across the thighs, so they are comfortable with or without thermals.

When temperatures drop and the landscape transforms under fresh snowfall, you need high levels of warmth and protection to claim the next untouched line. With a protective longer length and roomy regular fit that layers easily, this waterproof, insulated ski jacket is ideal for freeride skiing and deep winter descents. It’s built with a quiet and comfortable 2-layer Pertex Shield fabric that deflects snow showers and champagne powder. Two weights of PrimaLoft Silver insulation are strategically positioned to give you warmth around your torso and greater mobility in the sleeves, with a quilted inner keeping the insulation in place in high-wear areas. Highly featured and packed with pockets, the Novaline has everything you need to tackle big lines in deep snow and cold temperatures.

Touring kit: Descendor pack and Operator gloves

For the climb up as well as the descent, the collection adds the Descendor ski pack. It comes in 30L (£140) and 40L (£160) sizes. It has a close-fitting TRI-FLEX back system for stability on steep inclines. It also has organised storage for fast transitions at the top in bitter wind. The fabric is 210D ripstop nylon, and there are multiple options for carrying skis, a splitboard or other gear.

Every detail of the Descendor has been designed to make your time on the skin track more straightforward. We’ve shaved weight wherever we can to keep you moving smoothly on the ascent, with a close-fitting TRI-FLEX™ back system giving you the agility, support, and stability you need on hardworking inclines. Once you reach the summit, the pack is equipped with organised storage to enable slick transitions, ideal when you’re facing bitter winds and need to drop elevation quickly. The fabric is a 210D ripstop nylon, offering enough durability to withstand alpine terrain without compromising on low weight. Featuring multiple options for carrying your skis, splitboard, or other gear, this versatile pack thrives on ski tours yet easily adapts to any snowsports discipline, however you like to explore, whichever line you choose.

The Operator GORE-TEX gloves (£130, XS–XL) are the touring-focused piece. They use a stretchy woven outer, and external seams that reduce bulk and improve touch sensitivity, which helps when handling skins or adjusting bindings. Warmth comes from PrimaLoft Gold insulation and a high-pile lining on the backs of the hands. They are designed for backcountry skiing, winter hikes and scrambles.

Backcountry skiing, midwinter hikes, weather-beaten scrambles: wherever you’re headed, these midweight waterproof gloves allow you to grip securely and operate in all conditions. They’re built with a stretchy woven outer and GORE-TEX Product Technology to bring you breathable windproof and waterproof protection, keeping your hands dry and warm on exposed trails and frozen summit transitions. The gloves’ seams are stitched externally, which minimises bulk and allows the lining and outer shell to sit closer together. This improves tactile sensitivity by reducing dead space between the layers, ideal for handling skins and adjusting bindings. Warmth is provided by PrimaLoft® Gold insulation and a cosy high pile lining on the backs of your hands. With a grippy low-bulk palm offering superb dexterity and a comfortable pre-curved fit, these gloves offer the utility you need to take on big mountain lines in unforgiving conditions.

Sustainability and repair

Rab places its sustainability credentials alongside its technical claims. Equip Outdoor Technologies announced its certification as a B Corporation on 30 April 2026. The company reports that in 2024, 68% of its purchased fabric and 62% of its down was recycled. It says it completed its PFAS phase-out across all products in 2025. The AW26 listing describes a fluorocarbon-free DWR on the Bigline.

Repair is a long-standing part of the brand’s pitch. Its ethos is to craft gear you would rather repair than replace.  Rab’s “Material Facts” labelling, which launched in AW23, breaks down each product’s recycled content, PFAS status and manufacturing country.

Closing thoughts

The AW26 ski collection shows Rab applying its mountaineering know-how to a more specialised audience. The pieces are premium-priced, with the Novaline jacket at £400. They target skiers who spend most of their time off-piste and want shells, insulation and carry systems designed to work together. For a brand that began with sleeping bags stitched in an attic, the new range is a sign of how far its technical ambitions have grown. Whether it earns a place in skiers’ kit bags will be decided by the season’s first storms.