How to Find the Right Insulated Jacket

Jacket insulation becomes a relevant issue when you’re considering buying a new winter coat, especially if you plan to spend long periods of time outdoors. The issue usually involves looking at the differences between all-natural down insulation and man-made synthetic insulation. 

While both types of insulated jackets will keep you warm when it’s cold outside, how they do it and how long they last is very different. In this article, we’ll reveal how a jacket keeps you warm, and the benefits and drawbacks to both down insulation and synthetic insulation. 

How Does a Jacket Keep You Warm

Down Insulation

Down insulation is natural. It comes from the lofty plumage underneath goose and duck wings. The benefit here is that down has traveled through Darwin’s survival of the fittest and developed into a very efficient insulator. A down insulated jacket works by trapping body heat and reflecting it back to the source (you!). Premium goose down is the most expensive because it comes from mature geese, while the cheaper, but still effective, is duck down.

Down compresses very small and retains almost all of its loft, making it extremely packable. But don’t let its ridiculously light weight fool you, a down insulated jacket’s weight-to-warmth ratio is as good as it gets. You’ll be sure to stay nice and toasty inside the bag despite the blizzard outside your tent. No man made insulation (synthetic) can match down’s superior and natural weight-to-warmth ratio.

Most people won’t buy down-insulated jackets because of their steeper price. However, if treated with care, down insulated gear will last substantially much longer than synthetic. The natural plumage can be preserved when washed carefully. So even though you are paying more, you’ll more than likely get much more usage out of it.

“Fill Power” is a measurement that determines down’s insulating effectiveness. The fill power number refers to how many cubic inches 1 ounce of down will occupy. If you have a bag with a 900-fill power, it probably doesn’t weigh more than 1 ½ pounds because it takes less down to fill the entire area.

Synthetic Insulation

Synthetic insulation is man’s attempt to imitate down’s natural abilities. A synthetic insulated jacket is not as efficient as down in its weight-to-warmth ratio, but it answers down’s major pitfall: wet and humid conditions. Synthetic is able to keep you warm even when wet. 

This insulation is made from polyester threading that intertwines to work like down. When a synthetic insulated jacket gets wet, the moisture is trapped between the fibers, rather than in them, making it much easier to dry.

One major reason people choose synthetic over down is for the lower price. Synthetic does a good job of having down qualities and leaving you with more money buried in the backyard. However, the lower price point does come with sacrifices. 

Synthetic will never be able to match down’s weight-to-warmth ratio, meaning you’ll need a heavier jacket to stay warmer. Down is able to pack extremely small, while synthetic remains bulkier, making it more difficult for minimalist backpackers. 

The last downfall of synthetic is it won’t last as long as down. The synthetic fibers will break down despite the loving care you put into preserving them.

Water-Resistant Down Insulation

By now it probably seems easier to make your decision between down or synthetic, but there is a third option. Experts in the outdoor industry have developed water-resistant down insulated jackets. What used to be down’s major pitfall is now considered to be almost on an equal level compared to synthetic. 

Down plumage is light and almost completely defenseless against the power of moisture. Now the technology has been developed to allow each piece of down plumage to be coated with a water-resistant (known as hydrophobic) coating before it is stuffed into the jacket or sleeping bag. 

This type of attention in the manufacturing process does make hydrophobic down insulation come at a higher price. But it is able to retain its lightweight and ability to loft even after being treated.

Stay Warm, Explore

Whether you prefer down or synthetic, finding the right insulated jacket is key. They are usually designed for specific body types -- like women's insulated jackets and men’s insulated jackets -- and they’re available in a variety of sizes, weights, and with various features. Check out the options on CampsSaver today!