Buying Premium Down-Filled Outerwear

Exceptionally light and packable, premium down-filled outerwear offers incredible warmth for its weight and size.premium down-filled outerwear The best of these jackets are designed for outdoor enthusiasts who appreciate the versatility of a thin shell that can be easily stowed when temperatures warm up and retrieved again as the weather turns colder. For serious outdoorsmen, this sort of insulation is an excellent choice for extended trips where every ounce counts.

Synthetic jackets, however, tend to retain their warmth even when wet, making them more suitable for pursuits like mountain biking and climbing that require moisture-resistant fabric.premium down-filled outerwear For those who live in cold climates and love to backpack or ski, down is still the insulation of choice. Its feathers trap heat to keep you warm when you’re stowed away in a pack for long stretches of time.

The key to a good down jacket is the quality of its fill and the outer fabric that it’s encased in. The latter dictates all manner of important properties like durability, warmth, packability and weather resistance. The latest designs often feature Pertex or other water-resistant shell fabrics that keep out moisture and withstand cold-weather conditions. Some also incorporate performance-oriented features like helmet-compatible hoods, adjustable hem straps and storm flaps to help you dial in the fit and keep the elements at bay.

In terms of the fill, look for a high fill power number (also known as loft). This refers to the amount of space in cubic inches that an ounce of down occupies; higher numbers indicate better quality and more warmth for less weight. Macpac uses responsibly-sourced, high-quality RDS goose and duck down with fill powers ranging from 600 to 800. Another factor to consider is the jacket’s packed size – a smaller pack size makes it more convenient to store and carry when hiking or backpacking.

Ethical sourcing has become an important consideration for many shoppers, and this is particularly true of down-filled outerwear. A growing number of brands, including Patagonia, Mountain Hardwear and Black Diamond, use down that adheres to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS). This criteria ensures that the down comes from animals that were killed humanely and weren’t endangered or mistreated during their lives. This is an important distinction from some cheaper, lower-quality down that can be sourced without regard to animal welfare or environmental sustainability.

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