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What you need to know before you buy your down jacket ?

If you're in the market for a new down jacket, you've come to the right place. Down jackets are one of the most popular types of outdoor clothing among hikers and outdoor adventurers and it's easy to see why. Whether hiking the trails, running errands or braving the school run, these jackets have all the warmth and features you need. Choose from an RDS-approved feather down jacket or a synthetic option in a range of styles, lengths and colours. If you want to know how to choose a down jacket, here's everything you need to know.

How do natural down and synthetic insulation compare?

Both natural feather down and synthetic down insulation are superb at insulating and keeping you warm. But there are some significant differences between the two.

Natural down insulation

Natural down jackets have a characteristic puffy appearance, which comes from their down insulation. Down jackets have small pockets positioned right across the garment, called baffles, which are packed with down feathers, generally geese or duck feathers as there are considered better quality and offer a superior insulator. All our down is certified by the Responsible Down Standard, which promotes animal welfare.

Even in exceptionally cold weather, a down jacket will keep you warm as toast. Have you noticed a three-digit number printed on your down jacket and wondered what it meant? That's the jacket's fill power rating. Under laboratory conditions, down is tested for its fill power. This indicates the down's loft, the technical name for fluffiness and insulation performance. Down fill power typically ranges from 400 to around 800 to 900. The higher the fill power rating, the more insulating the jacket is, but without adding extra weight. This means if you choose a higher fill jacket, you get an exceptionally warm jacket that's lightweight and packable.

There is one important drawback to natural down that you should keep in mind. It's by no means water resistant. If it gets wet, the feathers will clump up and stop insulating, and the jacket will quickly lose its warmth. It also takes a long time to dry and must be thoroughly dry for the down to return to its former fluffy glory.

Synthetic down insulation

Synthetic down jackets don't use natural materials such as feathers for their insulation. Instead, they use engineered 'human-made fabrics. While natural down is the superior insulator, synthetics still provide exceptional warmth and are ideal for many outdoor activities. They are heavier and bulkier than natural down, so you may not be able to easily compress it into your backpack.

Besides its insulating qualities, synthetic down really stands out in how it deals with wet weather. While feather down loses its power in wet conditions, synthetics continue to insulate. The engineered insulation keeps you warm for as long as needed.

Down or synthetic, which is best?

Overall, both down and synthetic insulation effectively keeps you warm. In very cold and dry conditions or when you need a packable jacket, feather down is the perfect option. When it's raining or when the weather looks unpredictable, a synthetic down jacket will keep you insulated. You should keep in mind that even synthetic down jackets are not completely waterproof, most of the time, they simply have a water-repellent treatment, which will keep you dry and warm in drizzle.

What type of down jacket is best for different uses?

While we've looked at the different types of insulation, there are also the different types of down jackets to consider. From sleeveless and hooded options to parkas, each one's suitability typically depends on your lifestyle and the weather.

  • Casual everyday wear: when you want an everyday jacket to keep you warm while running your daily errands, a lightweight hooded down jacket or even a sleeveless gilet is a good choice. It will keep you warm but won't add bulk.

  • Outdoor activities: if you’re an avid hiker or planning a backpacking adventure, consider a lightweight and packable natural down jacket. If it’s likely to rain, then layer with a waterproof jacket or switch to a synthetic jacket with a hood.

Extreme cold temperatures: if you're braving freezing conditions, then you'll probably need something heavy-duty like an extremely warm parka, which is better at retaining heat.