What is the Kaon Jacket?The Kaon from Rab is an ultra-lightweight and packable down jacket designed for use in the mountains. Whether you’re hiking, fastpacking, or backpacking, the Kaon is the obvious choice where weight, pack size and warmth are paramount. Thanks to the stretchy, uninsulated underarm panels, the Kaon is also a good choice for days when you’re on the move and you need the extra mobility – they also double up as excellent ventilation points.
What is it made of?Insulation: Keeping you warm is a super lightweight and packable 800FP R.D.S. Certified European Goose Down (70g/2.5oz in size L). Down insulation is far warmer than the synthetic alternatives, and thanks to the R.D.S. certification, you can guarantee that it’s ethically sourced as well! One of the main negatives to using down is that if it gets wet, it stops insulating you. Rab have combatted this by coating each and every cluster in a Nikwax product, meaning it dries faster, absorbs less water and lofts better than an untreated alternative.
As well as their down insulation, Rab have also used Stratus synthetic insulation in areas that are prone to getting damp and compression – that’s over shoulders, cuff area and hips.
Fabric: Keeping all of that lovely down protected is a lightweight ripstop nylon fabric called Atmos. Not only does it help protect the jacket for nicks and scrapes, but thanks to the DWR coating, it also helps to protect the jacket from light rain and snow. Please note that this does not make the jacket waterproof and you’ll still need to carry a shell jacket with you in case the weather changes. Under the arms you get uninsulated Pertex Quantum Air underarm panels for mobility – they also double up as excellent ventilation points when you’re working hard.
What are the features?Starting from the top the Kaon features a fully insulated hood – Down in the main part of the hood and Stratus synthetic insulation in the side panels of the hood. Stitch-through construction is used throughout the jacket to keep the weight down to a minimum. In the front of the jacket the YKK calendared front zip adds extra wind resistance. The YKK reverse coil chest pocket is the ideal place to stash your compass or your phone and is easy to get to – even if you have a harness or rucksack on. To further seal out the cold the low profile elasticated cuffs sit snug to your wrists and easily fit under chunky mountaineering gloves whilst the 1/2 hem drawcord can be cinched up to seal out cold updrafts. The Kaon also comes with its own stuff sack so you can stash it in your pack when you don’t need it.
How does it fit?The Kaon uses Rab’s ‘Slim Fit’ – this sits snugger to your body than Rab’s Regular fit so you don’t get any extra weight, bulk or excess material flapping in the wind. It can fit a couple of thinner layers on underneath it but isn’t designed to go over bulkier layers.
- Atmos lightweight ripstop nylon outer fabric
- Uninsulated Pertex Quantum Air underarm panels for mobility
- Atmos lightweight ripstop nylon lining
- 800FP R.D.S. Certified European Goose Down (70g/2.5oz in size L)
- Rab® Fluorocarbon free Hydrophobic Down developed in conjunction with Nikwax®
- Stitch-through construction
- Down filled hood with stratus filled side panels
- Stratus synthetic insulation over shoulders, cuff area and hips
- YKK calendared front zip for wind resistance
- YKK® reverse coil chest pocket
- Low profile elasticated cuffs
- 1/2 hem drawcord
- Stuff sack
- Slim Fit