When it comes to choosing an insulated jacket, down-fill vs synthetic fill is a common conundrum. The answer, as with most of the great gear debates, is: it depends. Choosing the right cold-weather jacket, be it down or synthetic, is highly dependent on the environment and conditions that the jacket will be used in. This article will help you select the right insulated jacket for your needs, including a summary of the different types of insulation available, their pros and cons, and how to decipher the technical language around insulation. HOW DO INSULATED JACKETS WORK? The overriding principle at work in insulated jackets (and sleeping bags, mittens, or any other insulated apparel) is the same regardless of whether the garment is filled with down or synthetic. Air is trapped in the small spaces between the filaments of down plumes or strands of polyester, providing warmth in cold conditions. Loftier (or puffier) materials consist of more air, and offer a greater warmth-to-weight ratio. DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSULATION We are spoiled for choice when it comes to insulation for jackets, as well as sleeping bags and other insulated items. This is great, as it allows us to pick the right jacket for our specific adventure. But, if you’re unfamiliar with the jargon, it can be difficult to understand which will be best for your needs. We’ve summarised the main options in a few sentences below. DOWN Nature’s best insulator. Down is a natural material made of feathers. It provides the most warmth for the least weight and bulk, but it HATES water (so don’t get it wet!). WATER-REPELLENT DOWN Down treated with a molecular-level polymer that can withstand mist or light moisture. This is a pretty huge bonus, however you should still avoid getting it wet for prolonged periods of time. SYNTHETIC INSULATION Water-repellent, quick-drying fibres engineered to mimic down’s loft, low weight and compressibility. Down generally edges synthetics in each of those areas, but synthetics are getting better with each new generation of products. Plus, they can handle moisture a lot more effectively. HYBRID INSULATION To harness the benefits of both insulation types, some brands have started to create jackets with either a fill-blend or a mapping system. For example, jackets might feature down in the core area for additional warmth, with synthetics in areas like the cuffs, underarms, and shoulders where moisture tends to build. PROSCONSBEST USEDOWN-Lightest– Most compressible– Best warmth-to-weight-Won’t insulate when wet– Slow to dry– ExpensiveCold and dry conditionsWATER-REPELLENT DOWN– Same warmth-to-weight and compressibility as regular down– Insulates in light rain– Dries slightly quicker than regular down– Best to keep clear of heavy rain– ExpensiveDry or damp conditionsSYNTHETIC– Water-resistant– Relatively quick to dry– Less expensive– Bulkier and heavier– Less breathable– Less durableMost conditionsHYBRID INSULATION– Harnesses the benefits of both insulation types– Value for money– Heavier than down alone– Less water-resistant and more expensive than synthetic aloneVariable conditions UNDERSTANDING DOWN INSULATION Below, we’ve detailed everything you need to know about down when choosing a jacket or any other type of insulation. WHAT IS DOWN INSULATION? Down is the natural plumage found in the undercoating of feathered animals, primarily geese and ducks. When clustered together, high-lofting down plumules (tufts) trap air with unparalleled efficiency. An exceptional insulator, down is revered for being light, highly compressible and breathable. It’s also relatively durable, and If cared for properly, down plumules can retain their near-original lofting ability for decades. Down’s luxurious feel adds to its popularity. DOWN FILL POWER EXPLAINED Down is graded by fill power (or loft), which measures how many cubic inches 1 oz. of down can fill inside a cylindrical tube after being aerated with time to resettle. For example, 1 ounce of 500-fill-power down will loft to 500 cubic inches. Fill-power ratings generally range from 450 to 900, and most quality outdoor gear will fall between 600 and 800. A higher fill power or loft means the product is lighter in weight, more warm, and easier to compress. Premium down comes from very mature geese and is graded 750 to 800+, but it also comes with a hefty price tag. CAN I GET A DOWN JACKET WET? The biggest drawback with down is its inability to handle moisture. If down gets wet, it tends to collapse, clump and can no longer insulate. It’s also very slow to dry, often requiring a day or more to dry out completely. Most down garments will use water resistant fabrics to help counteract this problem, and water-repellent down treatments have been introduced more recently. This involves a durable water repellent (DWR) application to down plumules at a molecular level. Treated down can retain its loft if exposed light moisture, and will dry a little quicker than untreated down. However, it will still clump if hit by heavy rain or if you fall into a creek – so it’s best not to take any type of down jacket on wet weather adventures. Shop our full range of down clothing online or in-store. UNDERSTANDING SYNTHETIC INSULATION Synthetic insulation is commonly used by most outdoor brands and is generally a cheaper alternative to down. WHAT IS SYNTHETIC INSULATION? Synthetic insulation is made up of ultrafine fibres of polyester, formed either in short staples that resemble down, or long continuous sheets. In both designs, the fibres intertwine and create dense, warmth-trapping air pockets. The major name in synthetic insulation is PrimaLoft®, which works primarily with both short-staple and sheet construction. Many outdoor brands will apply their own proprietary tweaks to an insulation. One example is ThermoBall from The North Face, which shapes PrimaLoft insulation into tiny puffballs and packs them densely into baffles. The goal is to replicate down’s loft, weight and compressibility. IS SYNTHETIC INSULATION GRADED? There is no recognised outdoor industry standard on grading synthetic fills, which can cause some confusion when comparing different styles. PrimaLoft estimates that its insulation products offer the equivalent warmth of 500 to 550 fill-power down, whilst The North Face calculates that ThermoBall offers the thermal efficiency of 600 fill-power down. CAN I GET SYNTHETIC INSULATION WET? One of the main benefits of a synthetic jacket is that synthetic fibres are far more resistant to moisture than down. Even when soaked, wet synthetics can provide (marginally) more insulation than wet down. Synthetic fibres also dry faster than down. Sun, moving air, and even body heat can help them dry out within a day, and possibly within hours. It’s worth nothing that insulation has a better chance of staying dry if the DWR on the shell of your jacket is in good shape. Shop our full range of synthetic insulation for men and women in-store and online. SO WHAT’S BETTER, DOWN OR SYNTHETIC INSULATION? Can we declare a winner in the down vs. synthetic debate? Like most things in life, and in outdoor gear, one is not strictly better than the other. 25 years ago, down was undoubtedly the better option. As technology has improved, however, synthetic has made significant headway. In order to find the right insulated jacket for you, keep the following points in mind: Down is the best choice if low weight and compressibility are your priorities. For down to work effectively, you should be using it in primarily cold, dry conditions, or can protect your jacket from moisture using a waterproof shell. You’ll need to be willing to pay a bit more up front in the knowledge that the insulation will last longer. If you want a warm jacket and don’t mind just a little extra bulk and weight, synthetic fill is a great option. Synthetics are also a better choice if you’re exploring wetter climates and you’d prefer not to stress about water’s impact on its insulation, and want to save a few dollars. FAQS ABOUT INSULATED JACKETS HOW DO YOU CLEAN A DOWN JACKET? Cleaning a down jacket can be a little tricky, as the filling tends to be sensitive. You should wash your jacket in a washing machine on a gentle cycle, using a detergent that is made specifically for down. Only use cold or warm water. Once washed, hang to dry in an airy place or tumble dry it on your lowest setting, using dryer balls. Read more about how to care for a down jackets. IS A DOWN JACKET THE WARMEST TYPE? Down jackets typically have the best warmth-to-weight ratio, but synthetic insulations are catching up with recent technological advancements. DOES DOWN COMPRESS BETTER THAN SYNTHETIC? Down compresses better than synthetic, which makes saving space in your bag easier. However, some synthetic insulations are now even more compact, rivalling the space-saving benefits of down. WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF A DOWN JACKET? A quality down jacket can last 10-15 years, but it’s essential to take proper care of the jacket. Doing so will ensure that it lasts as long as possible. 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