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The Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is our favorite jacket for maintaining mobility. The stretch fabric flexes with the body significantly better than a traditional raincoat. It is ideal for any activity (like climbing or scrambling on a hike) that requires a lot of reaching laterally or overhead. Though it wets out noticeably faster than its Gore-Tex counterparts, it also has a higher floor for breathability. Additionally, this jacket has one of the best hood adjustment systems we have ever tested. This may sound like a small thing, but it makes a huge difference if you need to retain your audio-visual awareness in the backcountry. Our article on the best rain jackets will show you how it fares versus competing products.
REASONS TO BUY
Stretchy
Very breathable
Excellent adjustable hood
REASONS TO AVOID
Less waterproof than others
Opposite-facing zipper
Kinetic 2.0 vs. Kinetic Alpine 2.0
We tested the Rab Kinetic 2.0 in our men's softshell jacket review, and there are a few key differences to note between the two models. The Kinetic 2.0 is a little stretchier and around three ounces lighter weight than the Alpine 2.0. The Kinetic Alpine 2.0 tested here has more mountain-focused features, like reinforced material on high-wear areas (shoulders, hips, arms), a 2-way zipper, and a helmet-compatible hood. The Kinetic 2.0's hood is designed to fit underneath a helmet, and the jacket lacks the 2-way zipper and reinforced fabric that the Alpine 2.0 has. Consider your personal needs when choosing between the two.
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Our Analysis and Test Results
With a hood made to work with a helmet and proprietary Proflex woven triple-layer stretch polyamide fabric, this rain jacket is meant for high-exertion outdoor activities.
Performance Comparison
We put the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 through the wringer, working up a sweat while hiking to test breathability.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Water Resistance
The Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is waterproof in all but extreme downpours. The exterior of the shell is made up of two different primary fabrics: a polyester knit face on the chest, back, and underarms and a stretch polyamide (which feels like a more traditional rain jacket material) in the arms and hood. The two seem to strike a balance, with the knit fabric providing enhanced stretch and breathability in the areas that need it most and the stretch fabric providing more robust precipitation protection where possible.
During real-world use and in shower testing, both of these fabrics were robust, but the primary knit fabric wetted out noticeably faster than other top contenders in our review — we eventually felt water come through to the inside after drenching it for several minutes. Though this is not surprising, it is worth noting if you plan to be in extreme conditions. Having said that, for most daily outdoor use, the water resistance is more than sufficient.
The hood also has a built-in brim which helps keep rain from dripping down directly on your face, and its multiple points of adjustability and internal release toggles make it super fast to batten down the hatches when necessary. The waist also cinches down with elastic cord, and though the velcro cuffs rub just a little bit, they also close off tightly to limit the dreaded stream of water that can sometimes run down your arm.
After heavy precipitation, the exterior just can't bead quite as well as traditional jackets.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Breathability
This jacket has excellent breathability. The knit panels wick away moisture especially well, which is super noticeable when working up a sweat on a cool day. Even when we felt cold, we never felt damp, which is a good sign that water vapor was escaping the inside of the jacket.
It's really important to remember to keep air-permeable fabrics, and all waterproof fabrics for that matter, as clean as possible. Because they rely on tiny pores that are loose enough for vapor to escape (but tight enough to keep water out), keeping the inside of this jacket grime-free is essential to maintaining breathability in the long run.
The super stretchy air-permeable material of the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is great for both mobility and breathability.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Comfort and Mobility
The Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is super comfortable. The stretch fabric facilitates mobility in areas where it's most needed. The interior abdominal panels are soft, and the sleeves don't ride up when stretching forward. Because the hood accommodates a helmet, it is quite large, making it easy to hide from the wind and rain if you need to cover your face completely.
The hood is also the most comfortable of any we have tested. It tightens down around the face and also cradles the back of the head in a way that no other hood we've tested does. It stays super secure and moves with you rather than against you. Because of the material, this jacket is also less swishy, and we noticed that it is, in fact, comparatively easier to hear your surroundings with the hood up than with other models. The Alpine 2.0 also comes with two hand-warmer pockets with stretchy lining and an internal chest pocket for keeping small but critical items well-protected from the elements. We appreciate the felted zipper garage, which does a nice job of protecting the lips and chin from touching a cold metal zipper.
The Kinetic Alpine 2.0 has a fit that easily accommodates a fleece mid-layer but isn't so bulky that it gets in the way at all if you are also reaching for climbing holds or managing rope. It has a technical look and a double-zipper, which we really couldn't find a practical use for other than maybe adjusting a harness or hip belt underneath it without having to take off the jacket. One oddity for American users is that the zipper is the reverse of how it is typically sewn into men's clothing. That is, rather than the slider on the right-hand side, it is on the left. This didn't make a functional difference when using the coat, but we never really got used to closing it up.
Weight
This is one of just a couple of weak spots for this jacket. At 14.4 ounces for a size Medium, it still isn't heavy but if keeping weight to a minimum is a priority for you, you'll likely want to look elsewhere. The same goes for its packability. It can be stuffed down into a pack, though there is noticeably more material than its lightweight counterparts.
Still, we didn't mind carrying this jacket around. It's a little bulkier than the very top contenders, but the weight is certainly not a dealbreaker if all of the other features look and feel right for the type of activity you are doing.
Durability
We love the durability of this jacket. Both the stretch fabric and the reinforced panels are thick and abrasion-resistant, and they held up well to bumps against rocks and ice without any signs of wear.
This triple-layer jacket is ready to take some knocks in the backcountry. We are confident that this coat can last for years of adventures in rugged terrain with proper maintenance.
The durable zipper on the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is a little stiff to zip but keeps out the rain as well as the rest of the jacket.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
Should You Buy the Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0?
The Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is a phenomenal option for hikers, climbers, and other adventurers who need to retain mobility, even (or especially) in adverse weather conditions. The air-permeable fabric in this jacket is exceptionally breathable, and its additional features are excellent. We think this technical jacket is well worth the investment for those who plan to use their shell for active adventuring and multi-day cool-weather treks that require the combination of durability and comfort that the Kinetic Alpine 2.0 provides.
Pockets that are slightly higher up and have long zippers are easier to work with.
Credit: Ben Applebaum-Bauch
What Other Rain Jackets Should You Consider?
The Kinetic Alpine 2.0 stands out for its stretchiness, durability, and comfort. If you are looking for a niche air-permeable stretchy rain jacket, the Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic Jacket is another one of our favorites in this subcategory. For another high-scoring coat at about the same price point, the Outdoor Research Microgravity is worth a look. For durability, other comparable contenders are the Outdoor Research Foray II and Patagonia Torrentshell 3L. And if backcountry performance is paramount, then the award-winning Arc'Teryx Beta is a must-try.
