First test
Does new Primaloft Gold Insulation Active make the Rab Xenon X a must-have jacket for hillwalkers?
A Rab jacket with new PrimaLoft insulation
Down has a long tradition of being the go-to insulation to use in a jacket when thermal performance matters most. But Primaloft is challenging this view with its ever-expanding range of synthetic insulating alternatives.
Primaloft’s latest innovation is Gold Insulation Active, which is used in Rab’s Xenon X jacket. The insulation has four-way stretch plus higher breathability and greater insulation than the Silver Insulation Active that it was developed from. The insulation is also constructed into a ‘mat’ layer that does not require quilting lines of stitching to hold it in place, so you don’t get cold spots.
All synthetic insulation maintains its thermal performance better than down when it's damp. It is also lower in price and of course does not require the involvement of birds, which can lead to animal welfare concerns. So the result should be a jacket that is warm and practical for the hill, relatively low-priced and animal-welfare-friendly. Furthermore, Primaloft Gold Insulation Active is also Bluesign-certified as a mark of approval for its eco-friendliness. What’s not to like?
Rab’s Xenon X featuring Primaloft Gold Insulation Active is designed as a versatile layer that would be suitable for hillwalkers and backpackers, and on chilly belays while mountaineering. The jacket features an inner of ripstop nylon and an outer of well-proven Pertex Quantum, but there is no stretch in these materials (unlike the stretchy insulation they accommodate), so the full benefit of stretch cannot be realised in this design. There is a full-length front zip, a pair of zipped pockets and a hood. It weighs in at just 351g (size L), which is very light compared to other equivalent jackets.
This is not the warmest option out there; instead it is very much a mild-weather item that you could carry in your pack and slip on for chilly periods of the day in autumn and spring, rather than relying on it in the depths of winter. But its extra breathability does mean that you can keep it on while moving without developing a build-up of condensation inside.
The body fits well, but you don’t get any cuff adjustment apart from elastication. The hood has no adjustment either, other than face elastication, and it does not turn with the head as well as other jackets I have used. So this is very much a lightweight and relatively stripped-down design.