Let's get straight down to it. In this article we cover everything you need to know in order to choose the best insulated jacket.
You could be bivvying out on an icy North face in full winter conditions or bouldering on a crisp autumn evening. You could be striking camp on a frosty morning or downing an espresso as you take a break from the saddle.
The one thing common to all is that insulated jackets are designed to trap air and keep you warm. This is what makes an insulated jacket an essential part of your outdoor wardrobe.
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Built to last, our insulated jackets will have your back (and front... and head) for years to come. We design our Women’s and Men’s jackets independently from the ground up and work with the best mills in the world to develop products that are not just comparable with the best but are the best for the jackets intended purpose. We are redefining innovation around performance, social justice and environmental responsibility.
- What are insulated jackets and why do you need one?
- Down jackets guide
- Synthetic jackets guide
- Which is better, down or synthetic?
- How to choose an insulated jacket
What are insulated jackets and why do you need one?
Insulated jackets are jackets filled with either natural down or man-made synthetic insulation. They work by creating ‘loft’, a deep fluffy structure that creates tiny pockets of air between the feathers or fibres. Still air is a fantastic insulator, which is why insulated jackets are so much warmer than other outdoor layers.
The main purpose of insulated jackets is to trap the heat generated by your body and keep you warm.
Down jackets
Down jackets are filled with the light fluffy feathers found under the breast and underbelly of ducks and geese. Because they’re so fluffy, these down ‘filaments’ create loads of insulating loft for very little weight.
Despite innovations in synthetic insulation, down is still the best insulator we have. It provides an high degree of insulation for its weight, (warmth-to-weight ratio). It is highly compressible, squashing down small and rebounding back into shape again without getting damaged. These properties are essential when you’re trying to pack light or you are short of pack space.
The down we use in our down jackets is ethically sourced and certified by the Responsible Down Standard. It meets the highest standards of animal welfare.
What do fill power and fill weight mean?
Fill power (FP) measures the volume of air that 20g of down occupies under strict scientific conditions*. It is a measurement of how much loft the down creates (how fluffy it is). It is a great indicator of down quality.
(*In case you were wondering, the number represents how many cubic centimetres a gram of down lofts to. 750FP means that 1g of down lofts to 750cm³). Higher fill power down has a better warmth-to-weight ratio. For example 100g of 800FP down will be warmer than 100g of 650FP down.
Just to confuse things slightly, there are 2 lab tests to measure fill power. The 'US' method will give a slightly higher figure than the same down tested by the 'EU' method. For example 800 (US) would be roughly 750 (EU).
Fill weight is a measure of how many grams of down is inside your jacket. The warmth of your insulated jacket depends on both the fill power and the fill weight. A jacket with a lower fill power can be warmer simply because it has more down stuffed into it. The downside is that it will feel bulkier and less compressible.
As useful as these figures are, there are other factors that will affect how well the jacket insulates you. Construction and fit are two we shall cover shortly.
Which is warmer, duck or goose down?
Down comes in two varieties: duck and goose. As geese have larger feathers, they generally produce higher fill power down which is more expensive. The best quality duck down is around 650FP whereas the highest quality goose down can sometimes reach 900FP.
Because duck down has a lower fill power you would need more of it to match a goose down filled jacket. The resulting jacket would be heavier, less compressible and bulkier to wear.
What do box wall and stitch-through construction mean?
Box wall and stitch-through are different types of baffle construction. Down jackets are made with lots of baffles, separate compartments that hold the down in place and stop it migrating.
Stitch-through means exactly what it sounds like: each baffle has been stitched all the way through the jacket fabric (like in the picture above). Stitch-through construction is the lightest and the most compressible, but it can create cold spots along the lines of the stitching.
Box wall construction uses a divider of fabric between each baffle which means each baffle is shaped like a. well, box. Box wall construction allows the down to loft better, but the extra fabric does add weight and makes your jacket slightly less compressible.
What is hydrophobic down?
Down is naturally hydrophobic, however when down gets wet, the filaments absorb water, clump together, and lose their warmth-trapping structure. Down also takes a long time to dry out and usually needs to be tumble dried to de-clump it.
To boost downs natural performance it can be treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating. The benefits are that hydrophobic down repels water and body moisture for longer and dries quicker.
The DownTek™ PFC-Free Water Repellent Down we use stays dry 13.5x longer than untreated down.
Synthetic insulation
Synthetic jackets are filled with polyester fibres that are designed to replicate the properties of down. Like down, synthetic insulation is warm, lightweight and compressible.
Unlike down, the polyester fibres don’t absorb water so synthetic insulation keeps its warmth-trapping properties even when wet. This makes synthetic jackets ideal for wet climates, or for active use when you’re likely to get extremely sweaty!
Synthetic insulation can be manufactured in many forms; from carpets of fibres to individual ‘filaments’ designed to mimic down. Each type has its pros and cons.
How is synthetic insulation measured?
Most brands measure synthetic insulation by grams per square metre – you will see this listed as either gsm or g/m². This measurement can only be used to compare jackets that use the same type of insulation.
What is PrimaLoft®?
PrimaLoft® is a brand of synthetic insulation. It was first developed in the 1980s to provide a water-resistant alternative to down for military jackets and sleeping bags. Their fibres are specially treated to make them water repellent for even better wet weather performance. PrimaLoft® Gold provides the same amount of warmth-to-weight as 550FP down.
PrimaLoft® became the market leader for synthetic insulation in the 1990s. Even today people often refer to all synthetic insulation as ‘primaloft’ (in much the same way we call vacuum cleaners 'hoovers'). We exclusively use PrimaLoft® fill for our jackets as they provide the highest quality of synthetic insulation available.
A Guide To PrimaLoft® Insulation
PrimaLoft® group their insulation into three broad categories based on how insulating it is:
• PrimaLoft® Black – A standard of fill for everyday wear, only really used in fashion clothing
• PrimaLoft® Silver – Excellent quality but good value insulation used in outdoor clothing
• PrimaLoft® Gold – The highest quality of synthetic insulation available, used in performance outdoor clothing
We use the following types of PrimaLoft® insulation in our jackets:
• Silver Eco – Insulation using 100% recycled content (Heiko)
• Silver ThermoPlume® – Synthetic plumes designed to mimic the loft and compressibility of down feathers. Treated with space-age Cross Core Technology™, an ‘aerogel’ that increses its insulation. (Talini)
• Silver Hi-Loft Ultra – Incredibly lofty and hardwearing insulation that retains its loft well, even after repeated compressions. 70% recycled. (0Hiro)
• Gold P.U.R.E.™ – 100% recycled insulation using a brand new manufacturing method that reduces carbon emissions by 70%. (Sierra)
• Gold Active – A mat insulation that can be combined with more open, air permeable fabrics for better breathability. 45% recycled. (Katabatic)
What is ‘active insulation’?
Active insulation is a type of synthetic insulation that can be combined with more breathable or stretchy fabrics. It is manufactured as a sheet which means it can be used to make breathable insulated jackets like our Katabatic . Well suited to aerobic activity, it allows sweat and excess heat to escape.
Which is better, down or synthetic insulation?
Generally speaking, down jackets are better for dry, cold environments and synthetic jackets are better for damp, cold environments.
| Down Jackets | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| The best warmth-to-weight ratio | Loses all its warmth when wet |
| More compressible than synthetics | Harder to look after in the damp |
| Lasts for years with good care | Takes a long time to dry out |
| Natural, renewable and biodegradable | More expensive |
| Synthetic Jackets | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| Keeps its insulation when wet | Not as warm as down at the top end |
| Water repellent and fast-drying | Heavier for the same warmth as down |
| Very easy to wash and care for | Less compressible than down |
| Cheaper than down | Can lose loft after repeated heavy use |
How to choose an insulated jacket
Warmth-to-Weight Ratio
Ask yourself what your priority is: weight or durability? If you're planning on backpacking or doing anything where weight is a concern, you'll want a jacket that provides the most warmth for the least weight. Hardwearing fabrics like the 0Hiro’s nylon 6,6 are useful if your jacket is going to take a beating. Otherwise, you can probably get away with a lightweight nylon ripstop. Water resistance is always useful which is why all our insulated jackets are treated with a PFC-free durable water repellent.
Waterproof
If you plan to use the jacket in wet weather, consider a model with a water-resistant or waterproof shell. Jackets with down insulation may have a water-resistant treatment to help protect the down.
Fit
Are you going to wear your insulated jacket over other layers, or do you need it to fit under your shell as a midlayer? Jackets designed for moving in tend to have zoned insulation (more insulation in the body and less in the arms) and narrower baffles.
Baffles
Narrower, smaller baffles like those on the Filoment and Talini are easier to move in but they don’t provide as much loft and warmth as larger baffles (like those found on the Fantom). Micro baffles usually use a stitch-through construction which creates more cold spots.
Hood
An insulated hood provides vital extra warmth in the very coldest conditions. However, they do add extra weight and faff to your jacket which may be unnecessary if you’re intending to use it as a midlayer under your shell. Helmet-compatible hoods are useful if you’re going to be using your insulated jacket for climbing or mountaineering.
Zips
Two-way zips are useful for climbing and mountaineering as they make it easier to get to your belay device without your jacket getting in the way.
Insulated jackets for specific activities
Need a bit more focus on your insulation? Check out these guides:
Sustainability
When buying natural down make sure that it is ethically sourced and certified by the Responsible Down Standard as meeting the highest standards of animal welfare.
If going down the synthetic route look for recycled materials, we have much more on this in our Sustainability Report.
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