Down Jackets
The use of down filling, primarily from goose or duck feathers, is crucial as regular feathers lack the ability to retain loft. The inclusion of a certain percentage of down feathers ensures the maintenance of insulation. This design makes down jackets ideal for harsh, chilly weather. The goose or duck filling creates high loft clusters that trap warm air, effectively repelling cold air and providing excellent insulation. This unique construction renders down jackets perfect for staying warm and comfortable in cold conditions.
These jackets are very lightweight because it consists of the plumage of duck or goose. This is a performer jacket for intense weather as the down filling is synthetic based on excellence and performance. It has different power ranges from 300 to 900 that provides warmth for intense climatic conditions, rating from medium warmth to excellent respectively.
Synthetic insulation
These types of jacket are from man-made synthetic polyester. If you are one of those people who do not like animal-derived products then it’s a good option for you. These are good in warmth and are breathable too. Mostly they are less expensive than down jacket which leads to less life length and quick loss of heat as compared to down jacket. The good thing about synthetic insulated jacket is, that they are waterproof and handle rain much better, also they get dry earlier than down jacket if they face exposure to rain.
Types of down jackets
A down jacket is one of the best insulators with highly breathable qualities. It helps to prevent body heat from escaping. We find some types of down jackets.
- Puffer jacket
Manufacturers commonly fill puffer jackets with synthetic polyester, a robust and lightweight material that withstands washing without tearing easily.
Puffer jackets may differ in puffiness according to their loft, quality, and polyester density. A Puffer jacket with more density can get bulkier and may stop you from moving freely.
- Parka jacket
Parka jackets are more likely to be worn as fashion jackets. They are layered with a fur-lined hood along with down. They are less insulated and effective for air blocking as compared to puffer jackets
- Wind breaker jacket
This jacket is extremely lightweight and is primarily crafted from nylon or polyester. Its main purpose is to shield you from the wind, and it can also serve as a substitute for a rain jacket in case of light rain.
It also contains down filling along with synthetic polyester. Mostly it contains a hood with a jacket as well.
Key features
Let’s have the quick look at some of the key features of down jackets
- Provides good insulation
As mentioned earlier, down jackets, filled with down material, are generally warmer than synthetic insulation jackets. The fill level, ranging from 75 to 400, determines the warmth of a down jacket. A higher fill level indicates increased warmth. However, it’s worth noting that a synthetic insulated jacket with more ounces of insulation can sometimes be warmer than a down jacket with fewer ounces of fill.
- Less water resistance
If you are a lover of hiking and camping then down jackets are not for you. Down jackets do not perform well in humid places. As they are not waterproof and filling gets glued together in case of water exposure. However, a new invention in the down jacket is in a market that is hydrophobic down and it repels water to the most extent but still, it cannot tolerate heavy rain.
- Takes time to get dry
Traditional down jackets take longer to dry if they get wet in the rain. In comparison, other synthetic jackets dry faster. However, hydrophobic down jackets require less time to dry once they become wet.
- Length of life
Down jacket are generally deemed durable, with a lifespan of 7 to 8 years. However, frequent exposure to damp conditions can lead to a decrease in their durability over time.
Drawbacks of down jacket
Down jacket cannot handle moisture. These jacket do not possess waterproof quality. They are best to wear during light rain or during windy weather. Because they are not waterproof so these jacket get clumpy and take a long time to get dry.
Make right choice
The question arises there that which if the above-mentioned jacket is better for you. The answer is if you live in an area where you mostly have to face humid and damp weather conditions puffer jacket with synthetic insulation is a good choice as it is warmer, puffier, and washable. But if you are not very fond of hiking or do not go to humid places then a windbreaker or parka down jacket is a good option.
