Sam from our marketing department recently battled the snowy Cairngorms to test out the Montane Kamen!
During my time at Taunton Leisure, I have owned my fair share of down jackets, each one claiming to be lighter, warmer, or somehow the next big thing. So when I was given the chance to test the Montane Kamen, with its gold-infused down and lightweight PERTEX® QUANTUM Diamond Fuse outer, I was sceptical.
How different could it really be? Could it earn a place in the refined, stripped-back gear wardrobe I have been working towards?
The Kamen’s first real test came a day into our trip when we decided to tick off two Munros we had planned to climb during our stay: Cairngorm and Ben Macdui. The hike was around 17km, and with the freezing conditions and deep snow, it promised to be a long day.
Packing efficiently was important to make sure we had everything we needed for a safe outing. This brings me to the first thing I liked about the Kamen—its packability. Thanks to the included packing cube and ExpeDRY® 800FP goose down, the Kamen packs neatly, making it easy to stash in your rucksack without second thoughts. Weighing just 495g, weight is not much of a concern either.
The Kamen lived in my pack for most of the hike. When moving through more sheltered sections and working hard, a fleece and light synthetic jacket were enough to keep warm. But the moment we stopped for a quick bite, the Kamen went on over all my layers and kept me warm until we were ready to move again. That is how I have used the Kamen 80% of the time I have had it: a durable, lightweight duvet jacket you can throw on whenever needed.
That was until we hit the exposed edge between Cairngorm and Ben Macdui. This section was brutal – the winds had full access to us, instantly stripping away the warmth we had built by breaking trail. Eventually, we decided to stop, layer up, and thoroughly test the Kamen in more severe conditions.
The Kamen uses a 20D outer made with Pertex® Quantum fabric incorporating Diamond Fuse yarn technology. At first the “20D” part worried me; I assumed that with a heavily pack for long stretches, such a light denier might lead to wear on the shoulders and back. That changed when a trainer from Montane came into the store and used the hook-side of some Velcro to demonstrate how abrasion-resistant the Diamond Fuse fabric really is. Even after ten minutes of hard, consistent rubbing with a rough section of Velcro, the fabric showed no visible wear.
The key lies in the yarn structure. Instead of standard cylindrical filaments, Diamond Fuse uses a diamond-shaped yarn that locks together to form a tighter, tougher weave. Massively improving abrasion resistance, fabric stability and weather protection. We really noticed this while hiking with heavy packs – it shrugged off the daily grind with zero fuss. It’s just as relevant for anyone planning to use the Kamen for climbing too. Knowing the fabric can handle rope drag and rock scuffs with confidence is a big deal. Even after day after day of use, I’m yet to find a single sign of wear.
While the outer fabric handles durability, insulation is what really matters on this exposed section. The Kamen takes a hybrid approach, placing Primaloft Gold Active+ synthetic insulation in the areas most likely to dump heat or get compressed, like under the arms and across the shoulders. Using synthetic here makes total sense: it handles moisture better, breathes well, stretches for movement, and crucially, it still insulates when compressed under a ruck sack strap, something down just cannot do once its loft is crushed.
Across the rest of the jacket is where things get interesting. Montane uses 800FP goose down with ExpeDRY technology, which bonds microscopic gold particles to each down cluster. The gold comes from the recycled electronics industry, and only about three grains of salt worth are needed per kilogram of down. These particles create a permanent electrostatic shield that prevents moisture from forming, meaning the down stays drier and lofted for longer without the need for traditional hydrophobic treatments that need to be topped up over time.
I will admit I was sceptical, but after testing, I was properly sold. Snow melt eventually found its way into the jacket most days yet I stayed warm and inevitably by the evening it needed drying. We were living in a van with no tumble dryer, but it didn’t matter-the down never wetted out or collapsed, a common issue with standard down jackets. Seeing it retain loft day after day was seriously impressive and it performed far better than I expected.
The Kamen also boasts several other features that proved highly valuable in these challenging conditions. Two external zip pockets were perfect for items I needed on the move.
While an internal pocket held my storage bag and an extra pair of gloves, I wanted to keep warm and dry. All pockets are harness- and hip-belt compatible, so I still had full access while wearing my pack.
Well-fitted, elasticated cuffs meant I didn’t need to remove my gloves to put the jacket on, I could simply pull the cuffs over them, making it both more convenient and safer. Finally, the fully helmet-compatible hood with PIVOT3 offers unrestricted head movement even with the hood up, ideal for climbing or exposed winter mountain walks where a helmet is required.
Fit is also an especially important factor. The Kamen needed to fit comfortably over all my other layers when stopped. At the same time, it had to be wearable over a light fleece in milder conditions. Montane uses their Mountain Cut, designed to accommodate additional layers for added functionality. I’m 5’8” and 83 kg and chose a size small. This allowed the jacket to fit comfortably over other layers, while still not feeling too big when I wasn’t wearing many layers. Making it perfect for hikes where it’s used both for quick stops and as a prolonged walking layer.
Before we knew it, we were back at the base and our campsite. For the rest of the week, the Kamen followed me up more Munros, on chilly morning dog walks, and on longer day hikes at lower levels where I just wanted a single layer.
By the end of the week, Montane’s claims had been thoroughly tested. Could this jacket really exceed the others I’ve owned? or was using gold in the down just a marketing exercise? The simple answer is that it exceeded my expectations. The ExpeDRY down is not just an incredible design and a cool feature that performs when you need it, in my experience, far surpassing conventional hydrophobic down.
The fabrics are light and soft, making it a comfortable jacket to wear while providing exceptional abrasion resistance and weather protection-ideal for difficult trails and “vertical winter missions.” Not only has the Kamen earned a spot in my outdoor wardrobe, but I also feel proud to wear something whose technology I believe will have a lasting impact on down products, helping push outdoor equipment toward a chemical-free era.
I am looking forward to taking the Kamen back to the Cairngorms in February for a five-day advanced winter skills course, where it will once again be used, abused, and loved.
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