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How can you tell how warm a down jacket is?

Buying a down jacket to keep you warm during the cold winter is one of the best decisions you can make. Our geese down jackets are designed to keep you warm and comfortable even in freezing cold weather. Worn as either a mid or outer layer, these coats come in a range of styles, designs and lengths. They are ideal for all sorts of outdoor adventures, from hiking and camping to mountaineering and skiing. Various factors impact how warm a down jacket is, including fill power, outer shell fabric and features. Here's our handy guide to how you can tell the warmth of a down jacket.

Down fill power

When checking out types of down jackets, you may spot a set of numbers printed on the jacket. This is fill power, which determines the fluffiness (called loft) of the down feathers and the level of warmth retention. Fill power is measured in cubic inches per ounce and signifies how much space one ounce of down takes up. A higher fill power typically means the down is high quality and can trap more warm air. Fill power ranges from around 400 to over 900. You can expect a jacket with a fill power of 800 to be warmer than one with 500 fill power with the same amount of down. Jackets with a high fill power are usually lighter and easy to pack down small than coats of an equivalent warmth.

You also need to take into account the down weight of the jacket. This is given in grams or ounces and reflects how much down was used to make the jacket. In general terms, the higher the weight, the warmer the jacket will be. A jacket with lower fill power but a larger quantity of down (higher fill weight) provides more warmth than jackets with higher fill power but less down.

Shell fabric and features

While down has a significant role in the warmth of a jacket, its outer material also makes a great difference. A well-built down jacket using box baffle stitching helps prevent cold spots within the coat by keeping the down in place. This ensures warmth is evenly distributed. Water-resistant and windproof shell materials also stop cold air from penetrating the jacket or rain and affecting the down's insulating properties. Down is not waterproof and will stop performing once wet, so the shell fabric will help to keep it dry and insulating. Jackets with insulated hoods, adjustable cuffs and hems help to retain heat by preventing warm air from escaping and blocking cold drafts. These features work together to help maintain a good internal temperature within the jacket to keep you warm and comfortable. Also, while pockets are essential for any outdoor jacket, insulated hand pockets are a must. They will keep your hands warm as toast as you go about your adventures.

What is synthetic insulation and its benefits?

While down has a significant role in the warmth of a jacket, its outer material also makes a great difference. A well-built down jacket using box baffle stitching helps prevent cold spots within the coat by keeping the down in place. This ensures warmth is evenly distributed. Water-resistant and windproof shell materials also stop cold air from penetrating the jacket or rain and affecting the down's insulating properties. Down is not waterproof and will stop performing once wet, so the shell fabric will help to keep it dry and insulating. Jackets with insulated hoods, adjustable cuffs and hems help to retain heat by preventing warm air from escaping and blocking cold drafts. These features work together to help maintain a good internal temperature within the jacket to keep you warm and comfortable. Also, while pockets are essential for any outdoor jacket, insulated hand pockets are a must. They will keep your hands warm as toast as you go about your adventures.

Insulating technologies

At Columbia Sportswear®, we have an impressive portfolio of insulating technologies that enhance the performance and warmth of our down jackets. For example:

  • Thermarator™: ideal for cold conditions when you need lightweight warm it looks and feels like natural down with the durability synthetics

  • Heat Seal™: provides enhanced retention while preventing water and wind from penetrating the fabric

  • Double Wall™: its enhanced insulation traps heat and blocks wind and is ideal for when you're active in cold climates

  • Omni-Heat™ Infinity: using body heat reflection technology, it delivers ultimate warmth and comfort in cold temperatures while also being highly breathable

Synthetic down insulation

Synthetic down is an engineered insulation material made from polyester fibres or recycled plastics. It is designed to mimic the warmth of natural feather down by trapping warm air and preventing heat from escaping. Many of our synthetic jackets feature our Thermarator™ lightweight insulation, which looks and performs like down but has the resilience of synthetics. While synthetic insulation is incredibly warm, it does lose heat much quicker than real down. Synthetic jackets are more suited to milder weather or when bodies tend to produce their own heat, such as running or fast hiking. Meanwhile, synthetic down insulation is better in wet weather than natural down. Even when wet, it will continue to keep you warm and insulated. It also dries much quicker.