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How
to Decide
Which to Get
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In the beginning, there was a duck, or perhaps a goose. It floated along the water,
its feathers shining in the sun, water beading up like pearls on satin. Not ones to
bulk up with body fat or fur, we marvel that they don't freeze  in
the middle of a Colorado winter as they float the un-iced portions of the Gunnison
River.
Enter Mother Nature's gift to our feathered friends: down
feathers, the light, fluffy undercoating on ducks, geese,
and waterfowl. Down is a cluster of as many as 2 million
interlocking, overlapping filaments, that looks like a dandelion
and insulates because of the loft, keeping the warmth in and the cold out.
The quality of down depends on type, age, and maturity of the bird. All things being
equal, goose down is better than duck; but a mature duck's down is better than a young
goose's down. Since it's pretty difficult to trace the source of any given down product,
we rely on manufacturer reputation and fill rating, which is a function of lightness
of down and how it's measured. The higher the number, the better the down.
Marmot is one company that tracks its down, from farm to their plant in Santa Rosa, California, purchasing
it only from certain suppliers in Eastern Europe where standards
of raising fowl and harvesting down is exceptionally high.
For the company's 800-and-higher down, Marmot puts lot numbers
on each individual sleeping bag for quality control.
Reasons to get down
Some folks believe that down is the best insulation simply
because it's the real deal. Practically speaking, down:
• Is warmer than synthetic insulation (about 3X warmer per oz);
• Is thermostatic, meaning it keeps you warm in the cold and cool
in the warmth;
• Retains shape and loft over the long haul and could last your lifetime
if you take proper care of it; 
• Wicks moisture away and allows it to evaporate;
• Traps warm air in and keeps cold air out;
• Varies in quality, weight, and cost;
• Is highly compressible and lightweight.
The downside
While Mother Nature has our best interests
at heart, down has a couple minor setbacks.
• It's not 100% water-resistant. If it gets wet (like, really wet),
it loses loft and insulation until it's dry.
• When wet, its ability to insulate is less when compared to synthetics.
• It takes longer to dry without a dryer, depending on climate. If it's
really damp, chances are your down won't dry completely while
you're out enjoying the day.
• It requires a bit more care when cleaning. Regular detergents
are an enemy, and only very soft powedered soaps or down-specific
products are recommended. Harsh detergents and chemicals break down the natural
capabilities of down.
• It's not entirely hypoallergenic. HOWEVER, we have learned that an allergic reaction is not caused by the down itself, but rather by the bits of debris, particles of dust, and other non-down matrial that is in a low-quality product. If the down is from an inferior supplier or if the down is not cleaned to the highest of standards, it will be dirty. It's likely this dirt you're allergic to, not the down.
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Some of us remember when down was the best insulation because it seemed to
be the only thing of its kind. Big, puffy, cloud-like warmth that felt like heaven.
But it was expensive, so most of us layered…a lot, and it was bulky and
annoying. But man's ingenuity came up with ways to mimic the insulating
powers of down and other animal fur to create a slew of synthetic products
that offer people alternatives to down. There are a lot of trademarked
products out there, but we're going to stick to the general qualities
of synthetics.
Synthetic insulation is most often made from polyester and most commonly structured
as a hollow filament. These are not absolutes in the creation of a synthetic fiber,
but they are very common. From here, manufacturers weave their magic, building filaments
to mimic a down cluster or combine to be loftier bundles. It all depends on their
approach and the end use of the fabric.
As we began to understand our needs in the outdoors and
as the demand for specific gear has arisen, a lot of synthetics
have made their way to market. Some mimic the down cluster;
others have hollow cores, like the fur of a caribou or
polar bear. The latter is another way in which warm air
is trapped near the animal's body for insulation. And remember:
that's at the heart of insulating.
Reasons to go with the faux
The primary reasons to purchase synthetic:
• It's more water-resistant and dries relatively quickly. Primaloft®
goes so far as to coat each fiber with a permanent water-repellant
agent.
• It's generally less expensive than down.
• It's usually machine washable/dryable.
• Variety gives you freedom of choice. Polarguard®,
for example, is made in 4 different variations (from the original Classic up to
the latest and greatest Delta), all of which claim to perform better than down,
insulate when wet, and have a high warmth to weight ratio.
• It's hypo-allergenic. It's less likely to give you a reaction,
unless you're allergic to polyester and nylon.
The downside
It's not down. And it breaks down eventually, no matter
how well you take care of it. The fibers eventually get
brittle and cease to perform.
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We've tossed that question around the shop alot. We
go through clinics with the reps, and we use this
stuff, being the outdoor fiends that we are. So, here
are a few pointers and things to consider.
Why - The reason you're even looking for insulation
will often determine what you get. Is a jacket for town
or for adverse conditions? Is the sleeping
bag for easy, moderate
camping or high-altitude backpacking?
Water - Are you going to be in damp, humid,
moist conditions practically all of the time? If so, look
at the synthetics.
Warmth - We believe down
is warmer. Period.
Packability - Down is lighter and
more compressible than synthetics. You may think that a few ounces doesn't
make a difference, but go on an overnighter at least once to see what
we're talking about.
Care - Are you willing to take a couple extra
steps to take care of your gear? Or do you throw it all
in a corner and let it sit? Down should be professionally
cleaned, but it's perfectly fine to do it yourself with
the proper instructions.
If you absolutely can't make up your mind, please give us a call toll-free at
800-847-0244 and we'll be happy to help you out! Or send an email.
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Follow
the links below to see the Alpineer's selection of
insulated product.
Down |
Synthetic |
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| updated: October 13, 2007 |
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