Types Of Insulation

Down

Down is a natural feather obtained from geese and ducks, they are the feathers they use to keep warm and are found next to the skin. Generally speaking, geese have larger feathers which can trap more warm air for their weight, we call this the warmth to weight ratio. It means then that since you don’t have to have as many goose feathers in the jacket to be as warm as duck, it’ll pack down smaller and be lighter. The warmth of a down jacket, or the ‘loft’, is measured in FILL POWER (FP). The higher the FP rating and the loft, the better your jacket can hold the warm air, and the warmer and more packable the jacket.

Down has a drawback, it loses essentially all of its ability to retain heat when wet, water makes the down feathers stick together and there is nowhere for the warmth to go. Down jackets only perform well in dry conditions or when protected with a waterproof shell over the top of it.

Some down jackets within our range come with a hydrophobic (water resistant) Nik-wax treatment to the feathers meaning they can repel water for longer meaning you have more time before having to run for cover from the rain.

Synthetic

Synthetic fill jackets use a man-made polyester insulation which is used to imitate the air trapping down filaments to create pockets of warm air. Polyester being a plastic is of course, water resistant. Synthetic insulation when wet will still provide up to 90% of the insulation it has when dry. This makes its far more suited to wet environments and heavy aerobic activity which causes you to sweat heavily.

Due to its structure, synthetic jackets most often do not pack down as well as down. It is also considered a sweatier heat; liquid vapour doesn’t quite as easily pass through synthetic insulation. Down is certainly more breathable.

Baffles

Baffles are the compartments sewn or laminated together which form the main body of the jacket and contain the insulation. The two which are mainly used across our range are Stitch-through and Box wall.

Stitch-Through

On a lightweight, packable insulated jacket, the superior baffle option is stitch-through. It is an efficient way of evenly distributing the insulation and holding it close to you. There is stitching holding each baffle closed and separating it from other baffles. Great for surface area, however the stitching can cause a thinner place where heat can be lost and also allows a spot where water can more easy seep through.

Box Wall

Box wall baffles allow the insulation to expand to its full loft making warmer jackets as well as minimizing cold spots, many jackets of this type are laminated meaning water wont seep through as easily and the special box wall construction means that the space between baffles is insulated.

Baffle Size

Wide Baffles

Wider baffles hold the most warmth as they contain larger amounts of down and are constructed so that there are fewer seems where heat could escape. They do not pack down as well as a narrower baffle down jacket and do not make good mid-layers. They are best when thrown over the top of all layers when stopped between activities.

Narrow Baffles

Also known as micro baffle jackets, these make perfect mid-layers under waterproofs in wet conditions or outer-layers in dry cool weather. They pack easily into your bag for when you need to pull them out at a moments notice.

Hoods

Hoods are optional, there are some jackets with and some without, in our range the majority of insulated hoods are made to be able to fit over a climbing helmet as insulated jackets are a favourite with belayers. Hoods are great for low-activity in cold environments but if your looking for something lightweight to keep your core warm then a hood will only add unnecessary bulk and weight.