What Is A Synthetic Down Jacket

Not all insulation is created equal and deciding to kit yourself out for a specific adventure with down or synthetic insulation is a question we each ask ourselves over and over again.

What is a synthetic down jacket.

Warm light packable and resistant to moisture. Down vs synthetic jackets. Down vs synthetic sleeping bags. I have owned several synthetic down jackets and they have served me well.

Outdoor research august 26 2020. Let s take a quick look at each. Synthetic insulation tends to get worn out with time which is not the case with down and as such it slowly loses its ability to insulate. Whilst regular down jackets fold under wet conditions synthetics tend to be much higher performing in that regard.

If you re venturing into potentially cold conditions give down a strong look unless you think there s a risk of excessive rain and moisture. For multi day backpacking trips your sleeping bag can be a literal life saver. A jacket with synthetic insulation is also a better option if you are often hiking in wet weather rain granular wet snow etc as it provides better warmth than a down jacket in such conditions. Synthetic insulation is an exciting area for fabric technology right now and is seeing constant progress and innovation as manufacturers try to emulate the warmth to weight ratio that we get from down products by using featherless technology.

Goose down is used on the upper section of the jacket to provide maximum warmth while the lower region is filled with synthetic primaloft gold which is also water resistant. This hybrid construction can provide the benefits of both materials while limiting each material s imperfections. Best imitation of a down jacket 4. A synthetic down jacket can take a little bit of rain and still keep you warm.

We ve updated our guide of the best synthetic down jackets with the 13 best picks for winter 2020. Synthetic down has traditionally been regarded as a cheaper less effective alternative to the real thing but thanks to advances in technology synthetics have come into their own rivaling goose down in many areas and even. Few synthetic jackets if any have received the hoopla of the micro puff from patagonia. For all other conditions a down jacket is a better choice as it is lighter for the same warmth and packs smaller.

Prices and links have also been updated. Plumafill 65g what we like. Some manufacturers make sleeping bags and jackets with a combination of water resistant down and synthetic insulation. Last updated december 2019.

The answer largely depends on what environment you re venturing into and what activities you ll be undertaking. Expensive for a synthetic jacket and has a thin shell. The back is extra stretchy and filled with polartec alpha another synthetic insulation that s highly breathable this helps with that sweaty back issue you might. Patagonia micro puff hoody 299 weight.

With proper care quality down jackets will outlast synthetic jackets by a long shot.