How to choose between down or synthetic jackets?

If it’s time to get a new winter jacket, you may find yourself considering down or synthetic jackets. Both are filled with insulating materials, which makes them great at keeping you warm in cold weather. However, there are also some key differences between the two that are important to keep in mind before making your choice. Are you looking for a jacket that offers superior warmth even in very cold conditions? Then, down jackets could be the answer. Alternatively, do you expect to be hiking in wet environments? Synthetic jackets may be your go-to coat.

At Columbia Sportswear®, we want you to be able to get the most out of your outdoor adventures and believe that it starts with the right high quality jacket designed for your needs. Here’s our expert guide on how to choose between down or synthetic jackets.

Before exploring down and synthetic insulation and their pros and cons, it’s a good idea to consider where and when you’ll wear the jacket. For example, will you be wearing it while hiking or skiing? If that’s the case, you’ll need a jacket that provides excellent warmth and moisture resistance and is compressible. Meanwhile, if you wear it as an everyday casual jacket, your priorities might be style and warmth. Similarly, consider the weather conditions you’ll be facing. Will it be cold and dry or are you expecting to wear your new jacket in wet weather? If cost is a deciding factor, keep this in mind, as both options can vary in price, depending on brand and quality. Consider all these factors as you explore down and synthetic jackets in more detail.

Down jackets contain a layer of insulation made from the feathers and down of ducks and geese. These soft and fluffy feathers make the jacket feel warm and give it its puffy appearance. Down is a superb insulator thanks to its loft or fluffiness, which creates thousands of little pockets of air that trap and retain warm air. This trapping effect makes down jackets so good at keeping you warm. The quality and lightness of the feathers and down give these jackets an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. While goose down is typically considered the warmest and lighter of the two, duck down is often used in less expensive down jackets. While down does offer exceptional warmth, its main drawback is that it doesn’t insulate once wet. While some jackets may have water-resistant and waterproofing features, down jackets are generally best worn in cold and dry conditions.

You’ll likely hear of down-fill power when shopping for a down jacket. After the down is washed and sterilised, it is given a fill power rating between 300 and over 900. This rating is based on the amount of space in cubic inches the down takes up and its insulating properties. Essentially, how fluffy it is! The higher the fill power, the better the quality of the down and the warmer the jacket. Plus, as jackets with high fill power need less down to provide the same warmth, they are lightweight and compressible – making them easy to squash into your backpack or bags for travelling.

All down jackets from Columbia Sportswear® use RDS-approved down from certified farms that promote animal welfare.

Advantages of down jackets:

• Superb heat retention and warmth-to-weight ratio
• Lightweight and packable
• Highly durable with the right care

Disadvantages of down jackets:

• Stops insulating and providing warmth when wet
• It takes a long time to dry
• Not hypoallergenic
• Requires careful cleaning and drying
• More expensive than synthetic insulation

Synthetic jackets contain engineered, ‘human-made insulation made from polyester fibres. This fabric mimics the warming and heating effects of natural down. As the fibres are treated not to absorb water and moisture, synthetic insulation provides a greater level of moisture resistance. They fare much better than down in cold and damp conditions. If the insulation does get wet, it will continue to provide warmth. Engineered down also dries much quicker than natural down and is significantly easier to clean.

While down jackets use fill power ratings to measure warmth, there isn’t an equivalent rating system to compare synthetic jackets.

Advantages of synthetic jackets:

• Stays warm even in wet weather
• Synthetic insulation doesn’t clump like natural down
• If the jacket tears fill, it won’t leak out
• Easier to clean and maintain
• Hypoallergenic
• Less expensive than a down jacket

Disadvantages of synthetic jackets:

• Heavier than feather down jackets
• Lower warm-to-weight ratio
• Can lose heat more quickly
• It is less compressible than down

Now you know all the ins and outs of down vs synthetic jackets, browse our extensive range of jackets to find your perfect fit. We have the jacket you need wherever your adventures take you, from hooded and sleeveless to recycled and extreme warmth.

• Choosing puffer jacket or down coat
• Materials in down jackets
• What is a down jacket
• Best down jacket for climbing
• Fill amount for down jacket
• Best down and puffy jackets
• Before buying a down jacket
• Picking the perfect down jacket for winter
• Purpose of thin down jackets
• Benefits and drawbacks of down jackets
• Expensive vs cheap down jackets
• Down jackets in wet weather
• Environmentally friendly down jackets
• How to tell the warmth of a down jacket
• Duck vs goose down jackets
• Machine washing down jackets
• Down jackets in windy conditions
• Cost of down jackets
• Why down jackets are warmer