Perhaps the biggest advantage of synthetic insulation is that it keeps insulating in damp conditions.
When down absorbs water, it collapses and loses loft.
Synthetic fibers don’t soak up water like down; they repel it, so they keep insulating.
If you’re wearing a down jacket and rain rolls in, you’d better have a shell or find shelter.
The same goes for your sleeping bag.
If it gets wet, you can end up with long, potentially dangerous nights.
That’s why many hikers use a bivy to add waterproof protection.
Synthetic layers can be used in light to moderate precipitation.
For this reason, synthetic jackets are often the go-to insulating layer for winter activities.
It’s worth noting that some jackets and sleeping bags apply a DWR treatment (Durable Water Repellent, a polymer-based water-repellent coating) to the down clusters.
Thanks to these treatments, down gains “some” resistance to moisture.
This technology is known as DriDown, Q.Sheild, and others.
Which one is more compressible
Down is also known for its high compressibility.
You can stuff a down jacket into a water bottle without much effort.
That means you don’t need a huge 70 L pack to carry all your insulation layers.
And they weigh almost nothing.
One thing to keep in mind when storing or compressing down jackets is that you can’t keep them that way for long, because they can lose loft.
And if they lose loft, they lose insulation.
The same would happen if it gets soaked in a heavy downpour.
If your pack isn’t fully waterproof, use stuff sacks to keep moisture away from your insulation layers.
Which one is more breathable
El plumage is such an effective insulator because it traps your body heat and keeps it in.
Synthetics, on the other hand, aren’t as good at trapping heat and therefore breathe better.
Synthetic fibers don’t absorb moisture, so you won’t end up soaked in your own sweat—unlike down.
You’ll really notice the difference when you’re moving.
If you put on a down garment while hiking, you’d overheat pretty quickly.
But a good synthetic insulation can keep you warm while pushing moisture out from the inside.
For these reasons, synthetic jackets are ideal for high-aerobic activities.
Some people swear by down; others lean more toward synthetics.
Between down and synthetic insulation in mountain clothing, in terms of comfort, I prefer down.
That puffy, warm, lightweight feel gives you a cushioned loft you just don’t get with synthetics.
The loft of a good down-filled sleeping bag is hard to replicate.
But it’s the same point as before.
It depends on the climate and where you sleep.
If you plan to hike in early spring at higher elevations with high humidity and an ultralight shelter like a tarp, I’d probably choose a synthetic bag.
Which is more durable
El down requires more maintenance and care.
Dirt can damage the down’s structure, reducing its performance and therefore its insulation.
Cleaning it is harder than with a synthetic-filled garment.
You can’t just throw a down jacket in the washing machine the way you would a synthetic.
You could ruin it.
Also, down garments tend to lose loft sooner, and therefore lose thermal insulation.
Even over time, the fabric and seams that hold the down lose effectiveness and slowly start to leak feathers.
And if you’re unlucky enough to puncture your jacket… don’t get me started.
Synthetics don’t have those problems
There are many types of synthetics, and generalizing isn’t ideal.
But in general, they slowly lose their shape, and their fibers don’t break down as quickly.
Which has the best Price
Without a doubt, synthetic insulation is cheaper than natural down.
Down prices keep rising (low supply and high demand), and it isn’t easy to source high-quality goose down in the industrial volumes manufacturers need.
Many brands use a blend of different feather types when making their garments. I EXPLAIN IT HERE.
If you look at the labels, you’ll find 60/40 ratios (60% down/40% feather) of excellent quality, and other more conservative ratios.
Why?
They use feathers to add structure to the garment, preventing empty spots from forming, but above all to keep the price down.
Synthetic insulation can seem expensive—especially high-end PrimaLoft, Polartec, and Climashield products—but even so, it’s still cheaper than down.
At Superligero we sell synthetic garments with Climashield.
Down or synthetic fiber
I explain the differences between down and synthetic fiber in mountain clothing.
When it comes to staying warm, some people prefer down-filled clothing.
Others, on the other hand, prefer synthetics.
Which is better?
The answer depends largely on the environment and the type of activity you do.
Both a down sleeping bag and a synthetic one will keep you warm and dry, but each does it best in different conditions.
One isn’t strictly better than the other, but one may fit your needs better than the other.
Let me explain…
Down or synthetic insulation in mountain clothing
Mountain gear filled with pure goose down is among the best natural insulators out there.
At very low weight, down can trap and hold the warm air your body generates.
But down loses all its effectiveness when it comes into contact with moisture.
In other words, if it gets wet.
Synthetic insulation can’t match down’s performance, but it works better in damp environments.
That’s a major advantage over down if you plan to hike in winter.
So my recommendation is: before you decide, think about the kind of activity you’ll be doing, where you’ll do it, and what time of year.
Because the insulation you choose will directly affect warmth, weight, packed size, and price.
Which is warmer and lighter
Without a doubt, down keeps you warmer for less weight.
The reason is that natural down has an unmatched lofting ability to trap air and retain heat.
Top-quality goose down can reach 950 cuin with very low weight.
*If you don’t know what cuin means, we recommend reading this article about down.
The higher the loft (cuin value), the more air it can retain, and the warmer you’ll stay.
Synthetic insulations were designed to mimic down’s properties—and even improve on them.
Although a lot of effort is going into catching up in this area, the gap is still very large.
At best, a synthetic garment can reach around 550 / 600 cuin.
A bit far from the 950 cuin of natural down (we sell some products in this quality)
Revelation 950
Revelation 850
Which is more resistant to moisture
Perhaps the biggest advantage of synthetic insulation is that it keeps insulating in damp conditions.
When down absorbs water, it collapses and loses loft.
Synthetic fibers don’t soak up water like down; they repel it, so they keep insulating.
If you’re wearing a down jacket and rain rolls in, you’d better have a shell or find shelter.
The same goes for your sleeping bag.
If it gets wet, you can end up with long, potentially dangerous nights.
That’s why many hikers use a bivy to add waterproof protection.
Synthetic layers can be used in light to moderate precipitation.
For this reason, synthetic jackets are often the go-to insulating layer for winter activities.
It’s worth noting that some jackets and sleeping bags apply a DWR treatment (Durable Water Repellent, a polymer-based water-repellent coating) to the down clusters.
Thanks to these treatments, down gains “some” resistance to moisture.
This technology is known as DriDown, Q.Sheild, and others.
Which one is more compressible
Down is also known for its high compressibility.
You can stuff a down jacket into a water bottle without much effort.
That means you don’t need a huge 70 L pack to carry all your insulation layers.
And they weigh almost nothing.
One thing to keep in mind when storing or compressing down jackets is that you can’t keep them that way for long, because they can lose loft.
And if they lose loft, they lose insulation.
The same would happen if it gets soaked in a heavy downpour.
If your pack isn’t fully waterproof, use stuff sacks to keep moisture away from your insulation layers.
Which one is more breathable
El plumage is such an effective insulator because it traps your body heat and keeps it in.
Synthetics, on the other hand, aren’t as good at trapping heat and therefore breathe better.
Synthetic fibers don’t absorb moisture, so you won’t end up soaked in your own sweat—unlike down.
You’ll really notice the difference when you’re moving.
If you put on a down garment while hiking, you’d overheat pretty quickly.
But a good synthetic insulation can keep you warm while pushing moisture out from the inside.
For these reasons, synthetic jackets are ideal for high-aerobic activities.
Torrid Apex Jacket
Which is more comfortable
This is where it gets personal.
Some people swear by down; others lean more toward synthetics.
Between down and synthetic insulation in mountain clothing, in terms of comfort, I prefer down.
That puffy, warm, lightweight feel gives you a cushioned loft you just don’t get with synthetics.
The loft of a good down-filled sleeping bag is hard to replicate.
But it’s the same point as before.
It depends on the climate and where you sleep.
If you plan to hike in early spring at higher elevations with high humidity and an ultralight shelter like a tarp, I’d probably choose a synthetic bag.
Which is more durable
El down requires more maintenance and care.
Dirt can damage the down’s structure, reducing its performance and therefore its insulation.
Cleaning it is harder than with a synthetic-filled garment.
You can’t just throw a down jacket in the washing machine the way you would a synthetic.
You could ruin it.
Also, down garments tend to lose loft sooner, and therefore lose thermal insulation.
Even over time, the fabric and seams that hold the down lose effectiveness and slowly start to leak feathers.
And if you’re unlucky enough to puncture your jacket… don’t get me started.
Synthetics don’t have those problems
There are many types of synthetics, and generalizing isn’t ideal.
But in general, they slowly lose their shape, and their fibers don’t break down as quickly.
Which has the best Price
Without a doubt, synthetic insulation is cheaper than natural down.
Compare an 850 fill-power one with an Apex quilt:
Revelation 850
Revelation Apex
Down prices keep rising (low supply and high demand), and it isn’t easy to source high-quality goose down in the industrial volumes manufacturers need.
Many brands use a blend of different feather types when making their garments. I EXPLAIN IT HERE.
If you look at the labels, you’ll find 60/40 ratios (60% down/40% feather) of excellent quality, and other more conservative ratios.
Why?
They use feathers to add structure to the garment, preventing empty spots from forming, but above all to keep the price down.
Synthetic insulation can seem expensive—especially high-end PrimaLoft, Polartec, and Climashield products—but even so, it’s still cheaper than down.
At Superligero we sell synthetic garments with Climashield.
Revelation Apex
Hybrids
Not all insulating garments fit neatly into one category or the other.
There are hybrids, too.
This is possible thanks to a design that uses synthetic materials in areas like cuffs, underarms, etc., which are more prone to moisture buildup.
They’re commonly built with 60% down and 40% synthetic material, but this can vary depending on the product and brand.
Finally, starting in 2012, down with hydrophobic chemical treatments began to appear.
A coating applied to the down cluster to make it more water-repellent.
Thanks to these treatments, down’s resistance to moisture has improved, reaching Fill Power levels of 1000 cuins.
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