Insulating jacket - down or synthetic?

Down

Down is mixed with feathers when used as insulation in clothing, often from goose or duck. It is not possible to use 100% down, but it must always be mixed with a certain amount of feathers to ensure that the down fills the entire garment and does not collapse. The amount of feathers and down is expressed as a percentage. The more down, the warmer the jacket will be. The down also has a naturally breathable effect, which makes for a comfortable experience and top comfort. We're also seeing more and more classic down being replaced by more animal-friendly and sustainable alternatives, something we at SkiStarshop.com welcome with open arms!

To measure the efficiency of down, we often talk about fill power. Fill power measures the actual ‘fluffiness’ of the down and a high fill power will provide better quality, higher loft and retain its structure longer. This is because high fill power allows the down to trap more air; which in turn allows for better insulation.

Synthetic

Today, there are many different types of synthetic insulation from different brands, such as Primaloft and QuadFusion. The synthetic jacket is a moisture-resistant reinforcement garment that works best during high-intensity exercise. When you work up a sweat in the synthetic jacket, the material manages to retain heat in a smart way without becoming damp when the temperature drops.
The synthetic insulation is lightweight and warming and although it is not a natural material, like down, it is not necessarily bad for the environment. Today, many brands produce their synthetic materials by recycling, for example, PET bottles. PET bottles.

Advantages and disadvantages

Down is a natural product that has kept us warm during many cold winters, in insulating jackets down is very practical as it has a good weight and warmth ratio, takes up very little space and is therefore easy to carry. But down has disadvantages. If down gets damp, it stops warming and can take a long time to dry. If you don't make sure that the down is completely dry, it can make your garment start to smell very bad and the down will never regain its good qualities. Today, many brands are working to develop different impregnated down varieties that should withstand more moisture than before, and down has become much more efficient and independent in recent years.

Synthetic materials can withstand a much greater amount of moisture than down, thanks to the large amount of air in the material, which is a clear advantage in cold but humid weather. Moisture can also come from within, as you move around and get warm, synthetic insulation has better wicking properties and releases condensation rather than trapping it. However, jackets with synthetic insulation take up a little more space in your pack and often weigh a little more than down in relation to how well they warm.

Hybrid

A hybrid jacket is the perfect combination of warming jacket and flexible functional garment. It simply combines two different needs in one product, where the torso often has insulating properties while the sleeves, back and sides are made of a stretchy, moisture-wicking material.

It is optimal for outdoor activities where you fluctuate in temperature as the lined parts warm in the right places and the stretch material releases excess heat and provides maintained freedom of movement. A hybrid jacket works both on its own and under a shell jacket in colder temperatures. It is often easy to compress and is lightweight, making it easy to pack as a back-up garment.