{"id":3058,"date":"2018-10-28T10:43:28","date_gmt":"2018-10-28T09:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/superligero.es\/?p=3058"},"modified":"2026-03-09T19:16:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T17:16:03","slug":"down-or-synthetic-insulation-in-mountain-clothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/superligero.es\/en\/blog\/down-or-synthetic-insulation-in-mountain-clothing\/","title":{"rendered":"Down or synthetic fiber"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"plum\u00f3n<\/p>\n

When it comes to staying warm, some people prefer down-filled clothing.<\/p>\n

Others, on the other hand, prefer synthetics.<\/p>\n

Which is better?<\/p>\n

The answer depends largely on the environment and the type of activity you do.<\/p>\n

Both a down sleeping bag and a synthetic one will keep you warm and dry, but each does it best in different conditions.<\/p>\n

One isn\u2019t strictly better than the other, but one may fit your needs better than the other.<\/p>\n

Let me explain…<\/p>\n

Down or synthetic insulation in mountain clothing<\/h2>\n

\"pluma<\/p>\n

Mountain gear filled with pure goose down is among the best natural insulators out there.<\/p>\n

At very low weight, down can trap and hold the warm air your body generates.<\/p>\n

But down loses all its effectiveness when it comes into contact with moisture.<\/p>\n

In other words, if it gets wet.<\/p>\n

Synthetic insulation can\u2019t match down\u2019s performance, but it works better in damp environments.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a major advantage over down if you plan to hike in winter.<\/p>\n

So my recommendation is: before you decide, think about the kind of activity you\u2019ll be doing, where you\u2019ll do it, and what time of year.<\/p>\n

Because the insulation you choose will directly affect warmth, weight, packed size, and price.<\/p>\n

Which is warmer and lighter<\/h2>\n

\"down<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, down keeps you warmer for less weight.<\/p>\n

The reason is that natural down has an unmatched lofting ability to trap air and retain heat.<\/p>\n

Top-quality goose down can reach 950 cuin with very low weight.<\/p>\n

*If you don\u2019t know what cuin means, we recommend reading this article about down.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The higher the loft (cuin value), the more air it can retain, and the warmer you\u2019ll stay.<\/p>\n

Synthetic insulations were designed to mimic down\u2019s properties\u2014and even improve on them.<\/p>\n

Although a lot of effort is going into catching up in this area, the gap is still very large.<\/p>\n

At best, a synthetic garment can reach around 550 \/ 600 cuin.<\/p>\n

A bit far from the 950 cuin of natural down (we sell some products in this quality)<\/p>\n