Rab Xenon Jacket Review by Trailblazer Outdoors
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- Опубликовано: 15 фев 2021
- An in-depth review of the Rab Xenon jacket. Trailblazer Outdoor's Andy got a Rab Xenon as a winter mid-layer and as an over-layering jacket for winter belays and other infrequent stops in colder conditions. The baggy, oversize fit, makes it excellent for this purpose, easily fitting over jackets giving an instant hit of warmth.
Sadly, due to the global pandemic, he has yet to use it for climbing, but the winter conditions found on the North York Moors National park gave an excellent opportunity to put hot through its paces. It proved a great jacket to quickly pout on during stops on walks and fitted well as a more serious mid layer in the colder conditions seen this winter.
The lightweight construction and synthetic fill make it an excellent option for carrying in the bag for infrequent use or as a lighter mid layer for walking in the colder areas.
Rab are the insulation experts and this jacket is another great example of this. It is squarely aimed at winter outdoor sports fans and is a very practical jacket. 
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It's a testament to the quality of the jacket that you were able to give such a solid and thorough review of it in those conditions! It's piqued my interest as an evening layer when UK backpacking to throw on in the tent instead of bringing my microlite down jacket so that I'm less susceptible to the damp.
It was in interesting day 🥶 ❄️ I rate the jacket, it’s often in the climbing bag as an easy on active insulation piece 👍🏻 It’s warmth to weight will be less than the microlight, but as you say, it’s moisture management will be better 😊 they have changed the design in 2022, with a slimmer fit- which I think is a retrograde step given it’s niche 🤔 Enjoy your outdoors time, Andy 🏔❄️🌧🌀
I have an older (8 years, I think) version and it's still my overlayer of choice with my Paramo Velez/Enduro combo for stops or if activity levels fall. A little heavier than the new one reviewed here, but way lighter and more packable than something like a Paramo Torres. Glad to see Rab have upgraded to a double zip. After eight years I think some loft has gone from mine (inevitable over time) so this new, lighter version looks like a no- brainer to replace it.
Edit:- the latest version ( I'm looking at Rab's website at the start or 2023) seems to have lost the two-way zip and has an awful lot of stitching on the outer shell, presumably to stabilise the now recycled insulation, but which surely makes for a lot of ways for water to enter the jacket. Neither modification seems like an improvement, considering the likely use for this jacket. In gilding the lily, Rab have made the Xenon no longer a contender for me. Shame, that.
Yes, unfortunately, the next years design was different- I fear style over substance crept in and they dropped much functionality 🤔 the recycled insulation should make no difference, (as it’s basically the same as new but they re-melt the old- it’s the same with the down and is often sighted as a poorer grade when this is not the case in my understanding- and I have asked these questions of the Rab technical rep)- style over functionality often creeps in, but it often makes the stuff more commercially acceptable 😉 that’s why I love Paramo so much- functionality is first 😊 thanks for the input and enjoy your outdoors time 🏔️🌞🌀
I purchased one of these,and find it spot on for a chilly brew stop throw on jacket. As you say it is a basic insulated jacket and does the job. A good all year jacket to have in your pack.
Thanks for the input 👍🏻 it is well rated for most of the year in the U.K. 🏔 an emergency layer is an essential in remote or mountainous areas and can also make a cold stop comfortable 🥶 Enjoy your outdoors time Andy 🏕🌀
Really excellent video...very clear and practical content.
Thanks Andrew ☺️👍🏻 That’s good and useful feedback- I try to cover the design 🏕 Enjoy your outdoors time, Andy 🏔🌀
Great review. Thinking of getting one but not sure of size. I hear this new size is quite boxy and oversized. Normal size or size down ?
This was a really good review, bugger the sound though but really good review thank you.
Thanks Martin ☺️ glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻 sadly, although I had a mic wind protector on and the camera was behind a wall section, the strong wind still impacted the sound 😏 that’s the price of filming in the more extreme conditions, but I do like the backdrop and it clearly shows the conditions the glove was intended for 😄🥶 Enjoy your outdoors time, Andy 🏕🏔🌀
Does the mens version have the zipper on the left or right?
Great review. Is this the gen 2.0 version?
Thanks Damien, glad you enjoyed it ☺️👍🏻 not sure of the generation tbh, but it’s the version before the present one 🤔 they have made it a slimmer fit now, but I’ve not tried one, but I suspect they have dropped functionality for aesthetics 😉 Enjoy your outdoors time, Andy 🏔❄️🌀