The ancient battle amongst insulation; synthetic versus down, which is better? It’s not necessarily a case of which is better but which one works for you.
The first thing to consider is warmth to weight ratio:
Typically the first consideration when you’re shopping for an insulated jacket is “how warm is it?” This depends somewhat on personal preferences; whether you are a “cold” or “hot” person, but there’s no doubt that down is a warmer insulating material. Although manufacturers have made significant advances with synthetic fabrics, premium goose down has a distinct ounce-for-ounce advantage that synthetics still can’t complete with. Down is a much lighter fill material. Premium synthetic fabrics like CoreLoft and PrimaLoft provide excellent warmth-to-weight ratios, but nothing matches the lightweight, super-warmth that you can get from a premium goose down product.
Advantage: Down
The second thing to consider is moisture resistance.
There is almost no contest between down or synthetic when you’re in wet conditions or when your activity will be highly aerobic. Synthetic all the way. When down gets extremely wet, it absorbs water and loses it’s insulating properties, compressing into clumps and causing more harm than good. Man-made synthetic insulation on the other hand, performs admirably in wet weather. Many synthetics actually shed water and retain their insulating properties even when a garment is soaked. Synthetic fibers also dry very quickly, but down is quite the opposite. Because down absorbs water it can take a tremendously long time to dry and be near impossible in cold weather conditions.
Advantage: Synthetic
The third thing to consider is durability.
Down or synthetic insulated garments can both have exceptional durability, but down fill gets the nod for having extreme longevity. Because synthetic fabrics are woven together they are more likely to breakdown on wear points and shorten the life of a garment. Synthetic fibers can also breakdown or begin to fuse together when they are exposed to heat, so over the course of years and regular packing reduced loft and cold spots can start to become evident. When properly cared for, it’s not uncommon for a down jacket to last 20 years of more. However, as synthetics continue to improve we can expect that the advantage of down will get less noticeable over time.
Advantage: Down
The next aspect is care maintenance.
Synthetic jackets are easier to maintain than down. Most detergents will damage the natural loft of down, so mild detergents and careful cleaning are advisable. Synthetic are very easy to care for and can typically be washed and dried in your home machine. Another benefit of synthetic materials is that they are generally hypoallergenic, so they’re safe for anyone with allergies, whereas lower quality down products can be problematic for some people.
Advantage: Synthetic
And lastly think of cost.
Down, especially high quality goose down, is expensive. Because synthetics are man-made and materials for production are readily available, they are always less expensive than down products. Although cost savings is an obviously advantage to synthetic, it’s important to consider the longevity you will get in a down jacket before you make a choice based on price alone.
Advantage: Synthetic
Overall today’s synthetics have vastly improved to the point that down really has some competition. The most important thing is to narrow down what your activities will consist of and how your new jacket will come in handy and in what weather.
Come see us today at Alberni Outpost and we’ll find the best fit possible for you and your lifestyle!
Now go play outside!
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