Practical, warm, lightweight down jacket is the perfect winter wear. The first to appreciate this were tourists and climbers, who, back in the middle of the last century, wore down jackets on hikes, sewn with their own hands from the strangest, at first glance, materials. Clothing manufacturers quickly got their bearings, and now they offer buyers the very different ages and social status a great variety of models. What is the best insulation for a winter jacket? This will be discussed in our article.
Natural or artificial?
Choosing a down jacket should start with a filler. To the question, which insulation for a jacket is better, quite often the answer follows - of course, natural. Is it always like this? Natural down has, of course, a lot of positive qualities:
Yes, but artificial materials for filling down jackets differ in the same qualities! Moreover, sometimes they are even lighter than natural ones, and they retain heat better - at least some of them.
Cons of natural down
The main disadvantage of natural fillers is the price. Down jackets on eiderdown or swan down are sometimes very expensive. In addition, there are other disadvantages:
Let's talk about laundry
A down jacket with natural filling is very difficult to wash in washing machine:
Important! Before turning on the machine, you need to put a jacket or coat in a special bag - then there will be much less harm from fluff.
After the jacket is washed, you will have to lay it out on a horizontal surface. If you try to dry on a rope or even a hanger, all the filler will be at the bottom or in the corners. This, of course, is not a problem that will ruin your life forever. But after the product dries, you will have to evenly distribute what is inside it and pat your favorite thing with the most ordinary carpet beater. Sometimes it is necessary to do this between washings. Therefore, down jackets with natural filler are most often made quilted. But with artificial material, you don’t have to do anything like that.
Important! For expensive models, natural fluff is in special bags, it does not stray so intensively, but you still have to dry it on the floor and slam the products.
Which fluff is better?
You were not afraid of the upcoming difficulties with washing and still decided to buy a jacket with natural down? Well. Here are the fillers of down jackets in front of you - which is better: duck, goose or some other?
Important! As a rule, clothing manufacturers use waterfowl down, because it does not rot from moisture. But in some cheap Chinese models, there may also be chicken, and this must be abandoned right away - such a down jacket will last exactly until the moment you fall under the cold winter rain. Especially if the top is made of not very high-quality fabric - the manufacturer, who allows himself to use such a filler, obviously does not care about quality, or he offers you not street clothes, but home clothes.
Drying the jacket completely will not be easy. Much better fluff:
Important! If you live in an area that gets very cold in winter, it's best to choose one of these two options.
Goose and ducks. Duck and goose down jackets are slightly cheaper. They are heavier and slightly stiffer, but quite warm and well suited for not particularly cold winters (for example, in regions with a mild maritime climate). Northerners who cannot afford a jacket with eider down and are forced to make do with duck down usually sew two-layer down jackets.
Important! For those who prefer natural materials, it is better to opt for a down and feather filler - it will last longer.
Synthetic fillers
Modern synthetic materials make it possible even for people with a modest budget to dress beautifully, comfortably and modernly. This also applies to down jackets.
Artificial fillers are sometimes superior in their qualities to natural ones:
So, if you are looking for an answer to the question, which insulation for a winter coat is better, be sure to pay attention to synthetic materials. It could be:
New materials appear every year, so don't be surprised if you see a different name on the label. But so far these remain the most popular.
Sintepon
The cheapest and still very fashionable filler. Of course, in recent years it has been pretty much squeezed out by other materials, but it has a lot of advantages:
Important! Jackets on a synthetic winterizer weigh almost nothing. This material is absolutely inert, that is, it does not react with the environment, which means it does not emit harmful substances and does not cause allergies. Washing such a little thing is a pleasure: no delicate washing is needed, any detergents can be used, and you can even dry it on a battery - the shape will not change.
There are, however, a couple of very significant drawbacks, due to which this material is gradually falling out of use:
Important! quilted product with a synthetic winterizer filler is much more reliable: the material does not stray into lumps and does not lose volume.
Isosoft
It - membrane insulation, invented in Europe. It was proposed by Libeltex, and is usually found in the clothes of this brand. The undoubted advantages include:
Important! Isosoft is lighter than synthetic winterizer, and even more so than natural fluff. It perfectly repels moisture, so that the jacket will not get wet even in very heavy rain. For the first time putting on a thin down jacket with this filler, you will be very pleasantly surprised - even in severe frost it will not be cold in it. You can wash the product as you like - manually, in an automatic machine and even in an activator unit without any additional protection. The jacket will dry very quickly and in any position.
In addition, isosoft:
Important! This perfection has only one drawback - it costs almost as much as a eiderdown down jacket from a good manufacturer.
holofiber
Soft and lightweight material used to stuff toys, mattresses and clothes. Perhaps, for the northern countries - an ideal option, a very reasonable combination of price and quality. If we talk about the pros, they are as follows:
Important! However, some users believe that this material does not breathe well enough. But this is only claimed by those who wore jackets and coats, in which the fabrics of the top and lining also do not allow air to pass through. Those who wear models made of “breathable” materials do not have such a problem.
Thinsulate
Siliconized polyester, the fibers of which are twisted in a spiral and surrounded by air. They are very thin, about 60 times thinner than a human hair. This material was intended for astronauts, but is also widely used in ordinary clothing. Its advantages:
There is no perfection in the world, so thinsulate also has disadvantages:
Important! Ideal for regions with very severe winters. It costs, however, not cheap, but it will serve for many years, despite the fact that you can wash it at least every day - it will not lose its shape and volume.
Sintepukh
As the name implies, this filler is similar in structure to fluff, and in properties - to synthetic fillers. This is really fluff, that is, bulk, but consists of artificial fibers. The fibers are springy, intertwined, and as a result, a rather dense structure is formed, which provides good thermal insulation.
Important! So that the fibers do not cling to each other and do not bunch up, they are treated with silicone.
The advantages of this material are no less than others:
Choosing a down jacket
What to look for in the store, besides the filler? There are a few other parameters that must be taken into account:
Weight and Technology
In order for the down jacket to be warm, it must weigh no more than 600 g. This allows you to save volume, which means to provide good thermal insulation:
Standard
When choosing natural down, be sure to inquire about the standard by which it was processed. The label must be DIN EN 12934. This means that the fluff has passed all the stages:
Important! Only in this case the jacket with natural down will be worn for a long time. Do not forget to smell the product - it should smell like any new thing, without impurities of mustiness and rot.
seams
Cheap models are made quilted, that is, stitched in squares or horizontal stripes. Sometimes expensive down jackets look the same. The difference is determined by touch - yes, we are talking about the very bags that are in high-quality products and are absent in low-quality ones.
Important! In any case, pay attention to the seams. They should be smooth, beautiful, without breaks and protruding threads. In a cheap quilted down jacket, the filler is located directly under the material of the top.
Manufacturing technology is simple:
Unfortunately, with this technology, the fluff gets knocked off very quickly - first, “cold places” form, then all the filler ends up in the corners. Bags made of special fabric, which are used in more expensive models, allow the natural filler to keep its shape longer. At the same time, the product itself looks like a regular coat or jacket, without additional seams.
Important! Don't forget to check if the fluff is coming out through the holes in the seams. To do this, it is enough to bend the product at the seam and see - if there is such a defect, it will certainly appear.
Textile
This is a very important point. Natural fabrics for the manufacture of this type of clothing, as a rule, are not used. You may meet:
There is no clear answer to the question of which option is better. The presence of natural fibers in mixed fabrics slightly increase the heat-shielding properties. But among synthetic materials, there are those that do not let moisture through, but at the same time “breathe”, and this is the best option for winter clothes.
As you can see, choosing a really high-quality down jacket that will not lose its properties and beauty after one or another season is not so easy. To do this, you need to not only understand which insulation is best for a winter jacket, but also pay attention to other nuances of making things. And now you know which ones, so you can easily cope with the task of buying a new warm thing. Good luck!4
Very soon, the vast expanses of our Motherland will be covered with snow and a bitter frost will come, but we still have a little time left to choose and purchase the best option for protection from the cold. What is the warmest, lightest, most beautiful and practical piece of winter wardrobe that is the most popular today? Everyone knows the answer, well, or almost everyone, is it a down jacket or just down jacket.
Down jackets today are littered with all the counters: from clothing markets to showcases of expensive boutiques. Customers can choose from a huge range of down jackets for every taste, color and wallet, of any manufacturer and design. But there is a huge difference between a real down jacket that will keep you warm and comfortable all winter, and that “feather bag” that is often brazenly sold to us under the guise of a down jacket. So, so that you don’t become a “miracle in feathers” and waste your hard-earned money, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with our guide, where we will try to briefly but concisely analyze all aspects of choosing and acquiring a truly high-quality and practical down jacket.
So, a down jacket is an item of outerwear, a jacket or coat designed to be worn in the cold season. To protect the body from the effects of low temperatures, only natural down and feathers of waterfowl are used as a heat-insulating filler (eider down and down of geese grown at low temperatures in the northern countries and the Siberian part of the Russian Federation are especially valued). The surface of the down jacket is made of light, durable and breathable fabric (membrane), the seams must be taped for better tightness and thermal insulation. For uniform distribution of down over the volume of the jacket, it is placed in special down bags, separated from each other by sealed seams. The design of down jackets should provide maximum protection against heat loss. human body. Some down jackets can provide warmth even in frosts down to -85 ° C. The first down jackets appeared in the 16th century in Norway and were stuffed with eider down, but it is officially believed that the patent for the modern classic down jacket (parka) was received in 1940 by Eddie Bauer, an American designer and founder of the Eddie Bauer casual clothing brand of the same name.
The main advantages of down jackets include - excellent heat-insulating properties with low weight, ensuring air exchange without heat loss, thanks to the properties of membrane fabrics, versatility and practicality, durability with proper care, all kinds of design.
Perhaps the only drawback of down products is their rather high price. But we must not forget that optimal time The “life” of down is designed for a period of 7 to 10 years, and with proper care for it, all twenty. Synthetics will last you only 3-5 years. It follows that down is more than twice as durable as synthetics, which is why it costs more.
Some of our sellers and buyers mistakenly believe that a down jacket is a generalized name and that any jacket with a heater that is similar in design can be called that. It's a delusion. Which, by the way, is used by not quite clean-handed businessmen. Down jackets use only natural down, any synthetic analogue turns a down jacket in an ordinary jacket with insulation.
A real down jacket will become an indispensable winter thing for you and will delight you for many years, but in order to choose the “right” down jacket, you need to know the fundamental points. We tried to collect the main practical tips and we really hope that they will help you choose and purchase the perfect down jacket.
1. Down(down), the most important thing in a down jacket. The principle of thermal protection of down is simple - it creates an air gap between the body and the external environment. Air is a poor conductor of heat and the actual air layer created by down is the main heat insulator. And how well the material holds this very layer is an indicator of the quality of this insulation. It is well known that the down of waterfowl (primarily goose down) as a thermal insulation is an unsurpassed material: it is light, airy and perfectly retains a large amount of air inside. But fluff fluff is different. It can be large, small, caked, airy, rotten, etc. etc. and the properties of a particular batch of fluff depend on these parameters. There are many parameters, but when it comes to thermal insulation properties, to evaluate them all over the world, such an indicator of elasticity as Fill Power is used, which reflects the ability of the fluff to recover after compression - this is the main indicator of the quality of the fluff. Elasticity is determined as follows: take 1 ounce of fluff, compress it, remove the load and determine to what size the fluff has recovered. In a good down jacket, the Fill Power value should be at least 550, its best performance reaches 950 units.
The point of using goose down with a high Fill Power is as follows: the heat insulator in clothing is essentially an insulating air gap of the same thickness, called loft. Down with different Fill Power can produce the same loft at different weights. So, for example, using 550 insulation requires 40%-50% more weight than using 800 down to create the same degree of insulation. The Fill Power indicator is a generally accepted indicator of the quality of down stuffing and for any quality down jacket this indicator is indicated on the tag or label, so when choosing a down jacket, pay first attention to this indicator.
Down jackets use down mixed with feathers, the "golden ratio" is considered 80% down (down) and 20% feather (feather), in down jackets for extreme conditions, this ratio can be 90% down and 10% feather. The description indicates through a fraction, for example - 80/20. A larger percentage of the feather indicates the low quality of the down jacket and such a down jacket will not warm you in cold weather, and the hard feather rods will come out, piercing the fabric.
2. Down jacket weight, speaks about the quality of the filler and the product as a whole. After all, another clear advantage of down as a winter clothing insulation is its lightness. For example, a regular men's 550 Fill Power down jacket weighs less than 1 kg, while The North Face extreme jacket, a model called Supernatural, with a Fill Power 950 rating, weighs only 370 g (!) and is designed for high-altitude climbing. In addition, natural down is so soft that it allows you to move freely without restricting your movements. The use of membrane fabrics and various elements can significantly increase the weight of the down jacket.
3. Material the outside and the lining must be waterproof, because the down is highly hygroscopic and it easily accumulates moisture and requires quick drying. If this is not done, it may simply deteriorate. Also, the material must be durable and waterproof. With all this, it must have breathable properties, i.e. provide air exchange without heat loss. All these properties are possessed by modern membrane materials, this is a type of fabric that, due to its special structure, has water-repellent or windproof properties and at the same time passes water vapor through itself. Manufacturers of such fabrics call them differently, but they have the same principle, the most famous membrane is gore-tex.
Synthetic materials with special impregnations are also used, which provide all the qualities necessary for down jackets. In the description, fabrics with water-repellent impregnations are indicated as DWR (Durable Water Repellent).
Fabrics are very popular with manufacturers Ripstop with a special reinforcing structure due to the weaving of nylon threads into the thickness of the main fabric. While maintaining lightness, the strength of such a fabric is comparable to the strength of a parachute fabric.
4. Construction down jacket, a very important condition when choosing a real, high-quality product. It is the design that allows you to distribute the fluff as efficiently as possible and ensure the optimal heat / weight ratio. In most down jackets, the inner and outer fabric of the down jacket is simply sewn together, forming sections, and each section is filled with down. A huge disadvantage of such down jackets are the cold seams between the sections, through which a huge amount of heat is lost. Such down jackets are called single-layer and they will warm you only in frosts down to -10 -15 C °. The size of the down sections (packages) plays an important role, their size should not exceed 20 cm, otherwise the down will simply fall off at the bottom of the package and all the qualities of the down jacket will be reduced to zero. If you want to buy a down jacket for severe frosts, then you should consider some features of their tailoring. Such down jackets are called two-layer, due to the fact that the upper part of the down jacket is practically separated from the down lining, and at the joints it is stitched through an intermediate tape - a “warm” seam. A design is also used when the down bags themselves have two layers - outer and inner, and they are offset relative to each other and overlap the outer seams. Such down jackets are able to retain heat in extreme frosts down to -30 to -70 ° C.
The main zipper on a down jacket should have two-way fabric protection to prevent heat loss. At chin level, the zipper should be protected by a fleece insert. Zippers on pockets should also have external protection. To keep the neck warm and the wrists not cold, a real down jacket should have warm collars and cuffs made of materials such as Polartec or knitted fabric.
5. Temperature rating. When choosing a down jacket for yourself, ask yourself the question - at what lowest temperature will I wear it, how much time will I spend on the street, how to get to work or place of study? Indeed, for the inhabitants of central Russia and the inhabitants of Siberia, mother nature has prepared completely different conditions winter period of the year. To facilitate the selection of down jackets based on the outside temperature, some manufacturers of down jackets (and other winter clothing and footwear) use a so-called temperature rating. This value is usually indicated in the description of the down jacket on the labels, and shows that the manufacturer guarantees comfortable conditions at a given temperature below zero.
But not all manufacturers provide such data. For an approximate definition of this indicator, you can use the binding to the Fill Power value. Clothing that uses down Fill Down 550 or Fill Down 600 Designed primarily for daily use at temperatures down to -25 C°, this down is already an excellent quality down and creates a good degree of insulation. down jackets Fill Down 700 have a lower weight of the product and are comfortable in them up to -25 -30 ° C. Exclusive Down Fill Down 800- allows you to achieve a very high ratio of heat / weight and is used to lighten clothing and achieve the highest degree of comfort in frosts down to -35 ° C and below.
6. Style downy products do not differ in variety. For men, it is preferable to choose classic parkas (parka) and voluminous bomber jackets (puffer, bulk), for women, along with unisex parkas and women's jackets, elongated down coats (coat) are very popular. For people living and working in conditions of extremely low temperatures, as well as for travelers and hunters-fishermen, down suits are sewn, consisting of a jacket and trousers sewn together. The choice of the style of a down jacket must be approached with all responsibility, since, first of all, a down jacket is designed to protect against the cold, and not to walk on the catwalk. Remember that a down jacket for frosts from -15 ° C and below must necessarily cover your lower back and have a hood, therefore the best option is a classic down parka with a hood. Otherwise, diseases of the genitourinary system and kidneys are guaranteed. When choosing a down jacket for children, also consider the degree of protection of the child's body, only you are responsible for the health of the child.
If in winter you prefer to travel by car, then you should take into account that down jackets are quite bulky, and it is problematic to drive in long women's down coats.
A distinctive feature of the "parka" jacket is the fur trim on the hood. Some manufacturers use only natural fur - coyote, red and black-brown fox, raccoon, while others are content with artificial analogues because of the rhetoric of animal welfare societies. The fur trim has not only a decorative function, but a purely applied one - protecting the face from the frosty wind. Pay attention to the parkas of the Eskimos and their fur hoods - these tough guys know a lot about winter clothes.
Before buying, carefully measure your dimensions and compare with the size chart ( size chart) of a specific brand. Also pay attention in the description to the product to fit things fit - regular(go size to size) slim(skin-tight), relaxed(loose fit, oversized for a size or more).
7. Choosing a manufacturing company quality clothing with the use of down is of paramount importance. We advise you to give preference only to well-known and proven clothing manufacturers with a rich history in the production of down jackets, focusing on the development and production of down jackets for low temperatures, with good reviews about product quality. Companies - committed to the use of natural and safe materials, but not lagging behind the development and application of innovative approaches in production, with a wide range and adequate prices.
Of course, today almost every more or less well-known brand has down products in its collection, but these clothes are not very suitable for use in our conditions and have a more decorative, designer role. From hundreds of manufacturers, we offer you to choose from time-tested and severe winter conditions: Canada Goose, Pajar, Bask, Bogner, Joutsen, Hallie Hansen, Peak Performance, Fjallraven, The North Face, Marmot, mountain hardwear, Patagonia, Columbia, Jack Wolfskin, Lands" End, LLBean, Eddie Bauer, cabelas, Woolrich, Parajumpers, Moncler, Haglofs, Halti, Rossignol. As you can see from this list, most of the companies represented are from the Nordic and Scandinavian countries, where they know what real frost is.
8. The price of a down jacket, ranges from $120 for a simple down jacket to $1,000 and up for luxury brand down jackets. An adequate price for a good down jacket of a famous foreign brand will be the amount of $200-600 depending on the materials used and subject to purchase on well-known Internet sites in the USA and Europe. Of course, the same down jackets can be found in Russian retail, but then prices will have to be boldly increased by 2-3 times. And at all sorts of sales and seasonal discounts, a great down jacket can be purchased at huge discounts for only $100-250, not to mention eBay.com and Amazon.com with their truly amazing opportunities to grab wonderful things at ridiculous prices.
Well, buying down jackets for $ 1000 and more from fashionable couturiers, for whom appearance is of paramount importance over the main property of a down jacket, is a purely individual matter. The main part of the price tag here is the payment for a high-profile brand. Often, such down jackets are simply categorically not suitable for use in harsh climates, as they are created by designers from France and Italy, where the climate is much milder.
Here we will not consider Chinese-Turkish consumer goods for $ 50 -100 with a "swing" under Moncler and Canada Goose, wagons offered on the Chinese sites Aliexpress.com and Taobao. It is foolish to assume for such a price to get real goose down, at best it will be chicken, at worst - cotton wool. After all, downy raw materials undergo special processing: they are cleaned of fat and dust, undergo veterinary and radiation control, are treated with special antibacterial and water-repellent agents, and only after that they are allowed to produce downy clothes and it is simply impossible to imagine that for all those millions of down jackets that are inundated with our markets and shops, there was so much goose down!
9. Where can I buy a real down jacket? There are 2 answers to this question: in the nearest shopping center or in a foreign online store. We advise you to direct your eyes towards the second option, because there are at least 6 huge positive points when buying a down jacket abroad:
Perhaps the only sensible manufacturer of down jackets in Russia is the Bask company, whose down jackets can be purchased at the Bask.ru online store. In any case, you should pay attention to Russian Bask down jackets.
Important note: If a large foreign online store offers you to choose a regional site, for example, in Russia, then be sure to compare prices before choosing. Many foreign stores believe that only millionaires live in the Russian Federation and significantly increase the price tag. The images show two women's down jackets for the winter 13/14 season from the official Moncler online store, offers for Russia and Germany (the price tag is the same for the rest of Europe). Comments are superfluous.
Screenshot from Moncler.com
Where to buy down jackets online
In the official online stores of manufacturers. But here a "surprise" may await you, because. far from all such stores accept payment from residents of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and offer international delivery, and even at an affordable price.
Insulation(goose down, duck down, 550-850 Fill, 80/20, 90/10, 60/40) - insulation (goose, duck down, the value of the elasticity of the down, the ratio of down and feather in%).
body liner(Lining) - lining material.
Shell- fabric, the top cover of a down jacket, both from natural and synthetic fabrics or mixtures thereof.
wind proof(block wind) - windproof.
Waterproof- waterproof.
Hood- hood.
Cuffs(soft, rib-knit inner) - cuffs (from the inside with a soft, knitted insert).
Detachable(hood, ruff, skirt, fur) - removable part (hood, collar, skirt, fur).
Adjustable(hood, gaiter / throat, cuffs, cord waist & hem) - adjustable / tightening parts (hood, neck, cuffs, drawstring at the waist and along the bottom hem).
Fur(natural / genuine or faux) - fur (natural or artificial), as an element of decoration.
Zipper(external, internal, two-way) - a zipper (outside, inside, in both directions), give preference to YKK locks.
VELCRO closure - Velcro
Pockets(external, internal, security, hand warmer, dual entry, zip-off) - pockets (external, internal, secret, for warming hands, with double access, with a zipper)
fit(regular, slim, relaxed) - fit, cut (regular, tight, loose fit - usually oversized).
Bulky- voluminous, baggy.
Overall length- the total length of the down jacket.
Weight(light, medium, heavy) - weight (light, medium, heavy).
wash(machine or hand) - washing (machine or hand).
Quality down jackets can last more than a dozen seasons if properly cared for. No supernatural care conditions are required, just try to keep the fluff in the down jacket from getting wet, and if this happens, dry it as soon as possible. It is necessary to store a down jacket in a straightened form on a coat hanger. Read care labels carefully!
Pay special attention to the washing process. We will give some practical tips for washing in the washing machine.
The women's clothing store presents down jackets, short coats and coats with different insulation, so you involuntarily wonder what filler to choose a winter down jacket with so as not to freeze in it cold? Important indicator the ability of a down jacket to retain heat is a filler. The durability of the product and the preservation of its original properties even after a couple of seasons of wear depend on the quality and properties of the insulation.
On sale you can find one- or two-layer fashionable down jackets of different styles. For the Russian winter, two-layer jackets are more suitable, and for European and southern regions, a single-layer jacket is quite suitable, it can withstand temperatures up to minus 12 degrees, and there is no lower.
Before proceeding with the choice of a down jacket for the winter, in accordance with, let's deal with its filling and study the entire list of contenders for filling a winter jacket. So, manufacturers choose artificial synthetic fibers and natural materials as a filler.
Natural ones have been a priority for a long time, as they kept heat well, but they require complex care and the creation of special conditions for washing. New-fashioned synthetic ones are slightly inferior in terms of heat-shielding properties, and some even surpass natural heaters. The main advantages of synthetic insulation include ease of care and hypoallergenicity.
Each type of filler has its own characteristics and features. Want to figure out which filler is the best? Let's explore the qualities and properties of each of them.
Fluff. It can be duck, swan, eider down. A jacket stuffed with it, with proper care, will last more than 10 years. Thanks to this filler, jackets stuffed with down got their name "down jacket". Advantages of the material: high heat-saving capacity, lightness, softness and durability.
The photo shows a natural filler for a women's down jacket down
As for the shortcomings, we will include the high cost of the final product (although it is formed not only because of the filler, but also depends on the coating fabric, style and brand). For the care and washing of a down-based down jacket, special conditions are required. Sensitive people also note the appearance of allergic reactions during wear.
Among all the downs, the most expensive and warmest is eider fluff. It is used for warming products for women living in harsh climates. Jackets with eider down are suitable for outings, long walks in the fresh air.
Goose and duck down the most common option. Recently, it has often been blended with synthetic fibers to keep the cost down. In principle, this has little effect on the heat-saving abilities of products. And judging by the reviews, women's down jackets with duck and goose down mixed with artificial fibers are easier to wash and retain their properties after manipulation in an automatic machine.
Feather + down. A fairly common filling for women's down jackets and coats. On the one hand, the pen reduces the cost of the product, and on the other hand, it creates a certain basis for volume. From personal experience I will say that a down jacket with a feather can be washed at home.
For information:
P uh is usually denoted on the manufacturer's labels with the word "down". Inscription "feather" means a mixed type of feather with down. Word "Intelligentdown" indicates that a combination of down and synthetic filling is used here. If you want to know how to choose a good down jacket for women by filler, you will have to learn these characteristics by heart. In addition to these inscriptions, the label may contain the designation "Cotton" or "polyester." This means that cotton, batting or synthetic winterizer was used for filling.
The label also indicates the ratio of down component to feather (fraction on the label). 70/30 or 80/20. Usually the first digit is the percentage of the pen. Check the percentage before buying a down jacket. Normal - 70-80%. It is with this indicator of fluff that the product will be adapted to the harsh climate and cold winter.
Looking ahead a little, I’ll tell you how to determine how to determine a synthetic winterizer or fluff is in a down jacket. To do this, squeeze the filler through the fabric with two fingers, and rub it between your fingers. At the synthetic winterizer, holofiber and other artificial filler, a creak will be heard, it will seem to slide between the fingers. The fluff does not make such a sound, and if the filler is created in a combination of fluff and feather, then between your fingers you will feel thin feather rods, they are quite noticeable to the touch.
Wool.
This is a natural material for filling jackets. They are conditionally called a down jacket, since there is no down in them. A winter jacket or short coat stuffed with wool perfectly retains heat and is inexpensive. Often sheep or camel wool is used for filling.
Disadvantages: the final product is heavy and shrinks when washed. Also causes allergic reactions. Recently, manufacturers have been practicing a mixed type of filling for down jackets, these are wool and synthetic fibers. Thanks to this combination, such jackets lend themselves well to washing at home in automatic washing machines.
Sintepon
. Popular and cheapest material for down jackets and coats. Recently, it has been supplanted by modern types of fillers and has rarely been used for stuffing clothes. Advantages:
Disadvantages: loses volume after the first wash, and after a few washes it clumps, with the exception of quilted products.
Isosoft
. Excellent material for filling down jackets. This is a European membrane insulation from the manufacturer Libeltex.
Isosoft advantages:
The disadvantage is the high cost.
Holofiber.
Artificial insulation made of synthetic spiral fibers. It is used as a heater for women's and children's clothing. According to the reviews of the owners of down jackets on holofiber, this is a real find for the Russian cold winter.
The following advantages of this material are noted:
It is believed that holofiber does not allow air to pass through well, but if it is used in conjunction with a fabric covering of a down jacket, this disadvantage disappears.
Thinsulate
. The insulation is made of highly siliconized polyester fiber, twisted in a spiral. There is air around the fibers. It is also called artificial swan down. The thickness of the fibers is 60 times less than the thickness of a human hair. It has a high ability to retain heat. To achieve identical characteristics, a thickness of 10 times less than conventional fillers is required. Initially, thinsulate was developed by order of NASA for the clothing of astronauts and polar explorers. Currently, this insulation is considered the warmest and thinnest of fillers for down jackets.
Advantages of thinsulate:
Among the disadvantages: it can cause overheating of the body, it is expensive and accumulates static electricity.
Sintepukh. It is a fluffy volumetric mass of synthetic fibers with a hollow structure. It consists of white springy fibers, intertwined, they form a dense structure. There are several types of synthetic down, among them siliconized down. Twisted polyester fibers are additionally processed silicone emulsion. This allows them not to cling to each other, to maintain volume for a long time.
The characteristics of the insulation are as close as possible to fluff.
Advantages of synthetic fluff:
So, if we compare fillers for down jackets, which one is better, we can note the following: if you are looking for a light and warm down jacket, then your choice is sintepuh or tinsulate filler. For allergy sufferers, it is also better to choose synthetic insulation, they do not cause allergic reactions and do not contribute to the reproduction of microorganisms. All adherents of natural insulation are recommended a combination of feather + down, they have better performance characteristics than 100 down or feather. If the label indicates the proportion: 80% down (down) in a combination of 20% feather, you will not freeze in a down jacket even in extreme weather conditions.
Recently, more and more often on clothing tags opposite the word "filler" you can find the following phrase: spray-bonded cotton wool. Many of my friends and blog readers ask what kind of filler it is, how it behaves in winter, and how to take care of it.
Spray-bonded cotton wool is an environmentally friendly, safe material. On the label of a down jacket or jacket, it is indicated as follows: spray bonded wadding. It is made from natural cotton and cotton wool. It is soft, wear-resistant and breathable material. According to the technical properties, this filler is close to bio-fluff. It has a high quality of thermal insulation, does not cause allergies, does not give in to rotting and corrosion, does not crumple, and has air permeability. Be sure that microorganisms, moths and other insects will not start in the spray-bonded cotton filler. Spray-bonded wadding will not climb through the seams and roll into clumps. It will help you withstand the most severe frosts.
I hope I answered the question of what is the best filler for a down jacket and now you know for winter.
The Russian winter, as you know, is unpredictable. It's cold, it's slush. What outerwear to choose for this capricious season?
Fur coat, sheepskin coat, down jacket, coat or jacket with synthetic insulation - this is the main arsenal of winter clothing. If we talk about clothes made from natural materials, then the warmest will be a fur coat made of natural fur, the second place is for a high-quality down jacket, the third is for sheepskin coats , well, synthetic insulation, even if they are ultra-modern, will still be outsiders.
For the Russian winter, it’s nice to have several options in your wardrobe. winter clothes, and such a universal thing as down jacket must be present in it. Only down jacket you need to choose the right one, and for this you need to know some secrets.
First of all, a down jacket you need to buy only in a good store from a reputable manufacturer. Market closed! The filler for down jackets can only be produced at specialized factories, where the down is separated from the feather, washed, cleaned, treated with special antibacterial and water-repellent compounds. Before going into production as a filler, it goes through the entire processing cycle, which includes about eighteen operations.
It is difficult for the buyer to check the quality of down, so it remains to hope for the decency of the seller and for the availability of certificates for down in a particular product.
If you need really very warm winter clothes, then try to find out as much as possible about the "stuffing" of the down jacket you like. The store must have documentation for the product that is offered to the buyer. Unfortunately, there are loopholes in our legislation that allow you to circumvent the law and sell dubious products that have not been properly certified. Therefore, trust large stores that take goods only from reputable suppliers and choose clothes only from well-known reputable manufacturers who have a website on the Internet with comprehensive information. A serious manufacturer of down-filled winter clothes tells in its presentation information not only what kind of down is used in the product, but also about the region and under what conditions the bird was grown, when its down was collected. This is important because the down of a bird raised in a cold climate is warmer. The best is eider down, then goose, followed by swan and duck. Chicken down for top filling winter clothes does not apply. Swan down is used extremely rarely. In some products, duck down can be superior in warmth to goose down if it is collected from a specific type of wild duck that lives in a specific area, such as Canada.
The rules for collecting eider down are very strict. Only the down that the female eider plucks from herself is used and lines her nest with it. The collection of fluff is carried out exclusively by hand and only after the female and chicks leave the nest. Raw materials for eiderdown products are collected in Iceland, Finland, Norway, Canada, and Denmark. The collected raw materials are exported. The best supplier of processed, ready-to-eat down is Japan. There are also domestic upscale eider down processing companies. Eider down clothing is an elite, piece goods, basically, it can be purchased to order.
In addition to a good down filler, it is necessary that the fabric from which it is sewn down jacket was of excellent quality. In the production of down jackets, two types of fabric are used - fully synthetic and blended, which were produced by mixing several types of fibers. As a rule, these are natural and artificial fibers. Thus, the natural basis of the fabric enhances its properties, thanks to the additional qualities of artificial fiber.
But, despite the high quality of the fabric used in the tailoring of branded down jackets they still need additional protection. It is the impregnation of the fabric with special solutions, due to which down jacket acquires windproof, water-repellent and dirt-repellent properties. There are a lot of such impregnations now. For example, a membrane, a special film welded to the fabric or an impregnation applied hot to the fabric, consisting of tiny holes through which water drops cannot penetrate, and vapors emanating from the human body pass unhindered, or a polyurethane coating is the thinnest film on the inside fabrics that create the effect of water resistance, etc.
Now available for purchase down jacket from the most famous designers, but when choosing such a designer new thing for yourself, pay attention to what is said about its content. Often down jackets haute couture made with artificial down. In addition, in the production of top winter clothes widely used synthetic filler called "Swan Down", so be careful. If you carefully read everything that is written on the product label, there will be no error.
Russian down jackets from major manufacturers are good quality goods. The only thing that can be reproached for those who produce domestic goods is the design, although there are also very successful models, as well as repetitions of models from collection to collection.
Questions regarding the storage and cleaning of a down jacket are of concern to many. And rightly so, because these products require special attention. When washing a down jacket, you must comply with all the conditions indicated on the labeling of this item. Although some down jackets allow machine wash, it is better to wash the down jacket by hand at a temperature of 30-40 degrees, you can not soak, wring out and iron. At the end of the winter season, be sure to try to wash the down jacket in order to remove traces of dirt from the outside and inside, in the filler, as the down perfectly absorbs all human sweat secretions, as a result of which its quality is significantly reduced.
It is best to take the down jacket to a dry cleaner, where they will put it in order, but if you decide to wash the product at home, then use it exclusively liquid remedy for washing or a special solution for downy products. It is recommended to place 3 tennis balls in the washing machine along with the down jacket. They will prevent fluff from getting into lumps during washing and spinning. The washing machine is set to a gentle wash cycle. The product should be rinsed several times, squeezed at extremely low speeds, but it is better not to wring out, but to get the down jacket wet, let it drain, laying it on a special mesh or bath board, and dry down jacket in the washing machine, not recommended. After the bulk of the water drains, you can hang down jacket, after shaking it properly, and direct a fan at it, or use a hairdryer. Store your down jacket, like all things, on a coat hanger, in a case. Make room for it so as not to wrinkle the product, always ventilate your dressing room and avoid high humidity.
Artificial fillings for winter clothes
Fillers winter clothes artificial heaters produced on the basis of high technologies can also serve. The coldest of these fillers is a synthetic winterizer - an artificial non-woven type material consisting of polyester fibers.
Fillers with high thermal performance
Biofluff Sustans -9- an innovative insulation, created using a patented biopolymer from "DuPont - Sorona", has excellent properties of heat retention, lightness and ease of use. Sustans™ fill is the first high-tech bio-based material in the textile market to be approved for the new USDA bio-based label.
The three-dimensional spherical shape of Sustans™ fill gives it exceptional fluffiness, a pleasant silky texture, excellent resistance to compression (it is washable). The filler has high heat-preserving qualities and is ideal for winter clothes. Sustans™ fill is non-degradable and can be mixed with down in any proportion.
holofiber, fiberskin, fibertec, polyfiber - synthetic insulation made from fibers in the form of balls, springs, etc. Balls, spirals or springs do not communicate with each other and contain cavities, so the product keeps its shape well and retains heat. Winter clothes with such fillers is not very expensive. All of the above materials have almost the same characteristics in terms of heat retention.
Thinsulate
(Thinsulate) - a synthetic filler, which is often called artificial down. In 1978, the American company "3M" for the first time introduced the technology for manufacturing a material created as part of the NASA program for astronaut suits. Thinsulate is a super-thin fiber, very elastic - no matter how you think it, it still holds volume, and there is a lot of air in this volume due to the microscopic thinness of the fibers. And air is the best insulator of cold. The lightest of all synthetic fillers. According to the manufacturer, thinsulate is 1.5 times warmer than natural fluff, has unique thermoregulating properties, does not absorb moisture, perfectly retains its shape after washing and drying.
Sintepukh- Synthetic down is a non-woven material consisting of many small fibers of polyester. The filler consists of crimped white fibers that look like springs. They intertwine with each other, forming a dense structure. There are cavities inside the fibers. Each curl is treated with silicone. All holes are microscopic, so the owner of the product does not have to worry that water will get inside.
Sintepukh - does not absorb moisture, so clothes with synthetic filler do not get wet and retain heat even when wet.
Sintepukh has characteristics similar to natural down, it contains a lot of air, which is a heat insulator. Due to its structure, the material is easily compressed, does not roll after washing and quickly restores its shape. Therefore, products made of synthetic down are easy to use and are not afraid of deformation.
Walterm (Valtherm) - a new generation of thermal insulation material, an Italian research laboratory. Micropores created by thousands of small cells form the honeycomb structure of the material. Because of this, it has the function of air padding. The structure of the insulation allows you to freely release water vapor and sweat without changing the state of the material, which advantageously distinguishes it from products that use down.
Isosoft (Isosoft)- the widest range Belgian heaters for various purposes and designs, in contrast to the traditional synthetic winterizer, gives unlimited possibilities for their use for the production of outerwear, children's, sports, workwear, overalls, as well as clothing for extreme conditions, shoes, bedding and sleeping bags.
Primaloft (Primaloft) is a synthetic material with excellent thermal insulation properties. Light and warm, it is durable, resistant to compression, well breathable and does not absorb moisture. It is positioned as a substitute for real fluff. Primaloft was chosen as a strategic material for the US Army.
Artificial swan down
- new synthetic filler. In the manufacture of artificial swan down, an ultra-thin, highly siliconized microfiber of a new generation is used. While maintaining all the advantages of synthetic polyester fibers, this filling is characterized by extraordinary lightness and softness, which puts it on a par with products made from natural down. At the same time, this filler is durable and hypoallergenic. Unlike natural down, it is easy to wash, and it does not lose elasticity and thermal insulation properties after washing.
Manufacturers, trying to capture the attention of the consumer, come up with their own (trade) names for heaters. It happens that manufacturers use a combination of different heaters or a combination of heaters and a membrane, this allows them to register the trade name of a “new” insulation. In terms of its properties, it will still differ little from the known ones.
Looking at the label on the clothing itself, you can find out exactly what materials were used for the outer fabric and lining, and regarding the insulation on imported products, you can often just see the inscription: "insulation - 100% polyester." Polyester
this is the same as polyester, and almost any synthetic insulation consists of polyester fibers. Thus, on the label you will read what the material for the insulation is made of, and more detailed company instructions or a sales assistant should tell you what the insulation itself is called, what technology it is made of, and what this technology gives. Products of reputable firms have a special booklet, where all materials are described in detail and their qualities are indicated.
Manufacturers claim that in terms of their heat-shielding qualities, their heaters are superior to natural fluff. In practice, synthetic fillers are quite suitable for winter clothes, which is supposed to be worn daily in the mode of home - car, or subway, work, shop, etc. It is quite comfortable to be on the street in such clothes for a long time at a temperature not exceeding seven five - seven degrees below zero. Still better at lower temperatures winter clothes from natural materials.
- Playback this material forbidden -
Under the most modern, bright, stylish, and sometimes bizarre appearance of down jackets lies technology comparable in age to dinosaurs. “Even the latest scientific developments in the field of synthetic insulation could not surpass natural down in terms of heat capacity. It's lightweight, super warm, and if you take good care of it, it will last for years."- so say fans of natural products.
“Synthetic insulation is much more convenient to use, never get wet, easy to wash and dry, and cheaper. good fluff, because in principle we do not consider bad fluff "- so think adherents of synthetic materials. Let's figure it out - when is it better to buy a down jacket, and when a warm synthetic jacket?
Down creates the highest possible thermal insulation among all heaters known today. It has the most favorable ratio of retained heat to its own specific gravity, has the highest compression properties, ideal for people with increased body weight. The most valuable thing is the durability of good down products. 
However, down jackets require careful attention to themselves. Thorough and gentle washing and drying at the same time, ample storage space in the closet summer time. You also need to be careful not to tear the fabric, because even through very small holes, the fluff can literally seep through, reducing the warmth of the down jacket and definitely not decorating the appearance of the product and its owner.
Pooh has absorption property - the ability to absorb water vapor. This quality, on the one hand, is an indisputable advantage. It is convenient to move in down jackets, as excess moisture is quickly transported from the surface of the right one to the layer of down insulation, and then gradually evaporates. A person feels comfortable both in the process of movement and during stops - the clothes are dry. In light of this feature of down, it is worth paying attention to the need for periodic cleaning of a warm product, even if it seems that the jacket does not seem to be very dirty.
On the other hand, there is also a negative effect excess moisture (sorption) is the main Achilles' heel of down: when the fluffs get wet, they stick together, lose their volume and the ability to hold a large amount of air inside their perfect natural structure, which sharply and permanently reduces the heat capacity of a down jacket. Many leading manufacturers have found a solution to this problem by turning down into a hydrophobic (that is, does not absorb moisture) material.
In order for the down to continue to retain heat even when wet, some leading manufacturers cover the down with a special water-repellent (hydrophobic) impregnation, similar to the one that processes the outer material of the membrane The North Face, Marmot, Sivera, Baon, RedFox, etc.).
This work takes place at the molecular level. There are two features of this procedure:
Companies give names to their waterproof down, for example: Sierra Designs DriDown, Mountain Hardwear Q.Shield Down, Marmot Down Defender, DownTek down impregnation manufacturer (can be used in tailoring down jackets of different brands), also Nikwax Down Proof impregnation manufacturer (this impregnation is used in ) and others.
Benefits of hydrophobic down
The most valuable property of any insulation is to capture and hold as much air as possible.
When a bird is cold, it fluffs up, fluffs its feathers, and adds air inside its downy layer. This allows the bird to retain more air in its plumage, to store more of the heat produced by its body, that is, to keep warm. 
Each fluff contains up to two million tiny "threads", which allow you to hold a large amount of air. The more mature the fluff, the farther north the bird, the better the assembly and processing of the fluff, the more resilient the fluff, the more heat such raw materials will retain.
The elasticity of down FP (Fill Power) is checked during a simple procedure. A strictly defined amount of fluff (weight and volume) is placed in a cylindrical container. It is subjected to compression under the weight of the load for a sufficiently long time, after which the load is removed. The volume that the fluff will take after deformation is the Fill Power index of its elasticity. 
The heat capacity of a thin down jacket with 800 FP will be equal to the heat capacity of a heavier and thicker down jacket with 600 FP, which is quite difficult to believe without knowing the principles of down insulation.
For comparison, here is a photo showing the difference in the volume occupied by synthetic (Thinsulate) and down insulation of the same weight (1 ounce = 28.35 grams).
Synthetic insulation is a decisive answer to the problem of getting wet down.
Such insulation continues to retain its volume, retain the original amount of air even when wet. The trade-off for using synthetics is that they are heavier, less compressible, and wear faster than down.
Experts say that clothes with good synthetic insulation will last 5-10 years, and clothes with high-quality down - more than 10, but on condition proper care for her.
Synthetic-filled clothing does a great job of wicking excess moisture and heat away from the body during intense movement, while keeping you warm during stops when you need it most. Such jackets and trousers serve as an ideal second warming layer in.
Among the advantages, one can also note an easier repair of a torn or punctured one - synthetics usually do not “crawl out” through holes in the fabric as quickly as its competitor, fluff.
Synthetic insulation is a whole family of modern materials with a special structure aimed at keeping the maximum possible amount of air inside the material. Such heaters are created from polyester (polyester) fibers. 
The loose and elastic structure of the synthetic fabric is somewhat similar to the wool of northern animals, somewhat like fluff, and somewhat modeled by the person himself. Such insulation consists of a combination of long and short artificial fibers, which come in different thicknesses (from micro to nano) and density (hollow and regular threads). The fibers are also given a different shape (spiral twist, crimp of different diameters, etc.). They are processed - antistatic, silicone, etc. All these combinations with synthetic fibers are made in order to obtain a lightweight material with many air cavities. The material must be resistant to deformation, not be afraid of water and serve for a long time.
The main synthetic insulations presented on the world market of clothing and tourist equipment:
PrimaLoft was created for a military patent, and then turned into a separate commercial brand, the most recognizable in the global outdoor market. Primaloft produces several varieties of synthetic insulation, which are used for sewing warm jackets and sleeping bags by other manufacturers of clothing and equipment. PrimaLoft is the first synthetic insulation manufacturer to be approved by the stringent bluesign standard, the environmental health and safety standard for textile manufacturing. 
Primaloft produces three main lines of insulation - Gold (gold), Silver (silver) and Black (black). Each line is divided into several subspecies of heaters. PrimaLoft Gold- premium series of synthetic insulation. It also contains blended heaters PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Down Blend ultra-thin fibers Primaloft 30% + goose down 70% and PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Merino Wool Blend Primaloft fibers + merino wool fibers. Hybrid materials allow you to get unique insulation that combines the advantages of both materials.
Series PrimaLoft Silver- the most commonly used, cost-optimized. It also contains hybrid materials, but with a lower percentage of natural materials. Series PrimaLoft Black Made from 100% recycled materials.
PrimaLoft Thermoball- a special development of Primaloft together with The North Face. Used only in The North Face products. The fundamental difference from other Primaloft products is in the spherical structure of the insulation fibers, as close as possible to the texture of natural fluffs.
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According to the creators, this structure allows you to increase the heat capacity of jackets / by 10%. There is no official confirmation of this yet, but, in any case, this development shows that synthetic insulation is increasingly approaching natural down in terms of thermal and weight characteristics. It is possible that one day synthetics will become the winner in this difficult competition.
Shelter (Sh, Shelter)- Russian synthetic insulation for clothing, produced on the Primaloft production line. Designed and constantly improved by our scientists. It has good heat capacity and weight characteristics, confirmed by certificates. It is successfully used in, revered in construction and in the production of warm bedding, toys.
Synthetic insulation thinsulate- development of a large American company 3M ™. One of the leaders in the world textile industry. The insulation is light, soft, holds its shape well, dries quickly, does not absorb odors, and most importantly - is able to effectively save heat. It is considered artificial swan down. Thinsulate fibers are heavily treated with silicone fluid, which explains its strong resistance to moisture and high comfort of use.
Thinsulate has several modifications, different thicknesses, it comes with a one-sided or two-sided non-woven lining.
Thinsulate is recognized as the lightest and most heat-intensive of synthetic insulation, although it is difficult to say for sure due to the lack of uniform tests and standards. Used in clothing active rest and extreme sports, for the extremely cold territories of the Earth.
Initially, the insulation was designed for astronauts by order of NASA, then it was slightly adapted for general consumption and successfully produced in large volumes.
These are the most famous synthetic heaters, in addition to them, there are quite a lot of materials from other brands - Sintepon, Hollofiber, Fibertek, Isosoft, Thermolite, Climashield, Sintepuh and others. Also, large brands often produce their own lines of artificial heaters, for example, Marmot Thermal R, KEEN.WARM etc.
The main properties of down and synthetic insulation, which are important when choosing winter and trousers. An unequivocal answer to the question: "what is better - synthetics or fluff?" no, it all depends on the conditions of use of the clothes.
| Properties | fluff | Synthetic insulation |
| Heat capacity | Excellent, best on the market | Very good |
| Moisture resistance | Bad in classic fluff, medium for hydrophobic down |
Very high |
| The weight | Minimum possible today | Small |
| Compression properties | Excellent | Medium |
| Durability | Very good (if properly cared for) | Medium |
| Vapor permeability | Good | Good |
| Price | High | Medium |
To be ready for any change in the weather - from cold to rain, it is worth Special attention give the outer fabric of autumn-winter things. The most practical are membrane fabrics that protect a person and insulation from getting wet both from the outside (from rain and wet snow), and from the inside (from excessive moisture when sweating), wind. In such men's and reliable and comfortable in the most slushy weather. Membrane fabrics also make the outer fabric more durable, which is also true in everyday life and in sports.
Most often, clothing manufacturers indicate two characteristics of the membrane water resistance / breathability. For example, 15,000 (mm) / 10,000 (g/m2/24h). A similar entry is 15K / 10K, where “K” means the prefix “kilo”, thousands.
The indicators are obtained during the experiment, which is carried out either by the clothing manufacturer itself or by an independent laboratory. There is no single world standardization requirement for these indicators. As a rule, you can fully trust the declared figures either based on the reputation of the brand, or on the experience of trusted people, or on your own.
For rate water resistance fabrics use water column test. A tall cylinder with a diameter of 1” inch is placed on the fabric, which corresponds to 2 cm 54 mm. Water is gradually poured into this cylinder. The height of the water column at which moisture begins to flow through the material will be equal to the water resistance of the fabric being tested. The higher the water column, the more water resistant your jacket is.
A fabric with a water resistance of 5,000 mm will save you in a light, short rain or in sleet. With figures from 10,000 mm and above, you can count on comfort in heavy rain. Indicators of 20,000 mm and more are considered suitable for extreme sports (mountaineering, expeditions, professional skiing). As the level of water resistance increases, the cost of equipment also increases.
With measurement breathability or vapor permeability the situation is a bit more confusing because there are multiple testing options, multiple standards. Most often, breathability is indicated in units of "g / m2 / 24h" (the number of grams of water vapor that a square meter of fabric can pass within 24 hours), and then the larger the value, the better. Sometimes breathability is indicated on the RET scale, which reflects the resistance of the fabric to the process of evaporation of water through it. In this case, the smaller the RET, the better.
A good warm jacket is the best choice and outer material, and lining, and insulation, and accessories. Design, functional features, tailoring quality are also extremely important.
Choose carefully to wear a thing with joy for several seasons and
Don't waste your time and money on new purchases!
