With the end of summer approaching, you are probably thinking about adding some warm layers to your wardrobe. You may be considering buying a men's down jacket or a women's down jacket to keep you well protected from the cooler temperatures — whether in the city, out hiking, or travelling! Here are our tips on how to choose a men's or women's down jacket, which criteria matter most, and what to look out for.
Which insulation should you choose for a down jacket?
The insulation in a down jacket can be either natural down (made from goose feathers) or synthetic material. Some down jacket models occasionally combine both, though this is less common. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, which we describe below.
Natural down in a down jacket: it has the advantage of being naturally warm and rather cosy. It is also fairly lightweight and compactable. On the downside, it does not handle moisture well and can leak at the slightest tear in the garment.
Synthetic down in a down jacket: easy to care for and moisture-resistant. However, it remains heavier and bulkier, and less breathable than natural down.
Finally, it is worth noting that natural down is expensive — sometimes very expensive!
Are there alternatives to natural or synthetic down for a down jacket?
Technology has made enormous strides in recent years, leading to the development of new technical materials that eliminate the drawbacks of both options mentioned above.
For example, Primaloft® is a material originally developed by NASA for military and aerospace use: it provides an immediate sensation of warmth, similar to goose-down, combined with a windproof effect and excellent breathability that natural down cannot match.
Moreover, the thermal properties of Primaloft® are barely affected by moisture, unlike natural down, which clumps when wet and loses up to 40% of its insulation.
In fact, Primaloft® is the world's warmest and lightest synthetic insulation. Its high-compressibility properties mean that a Primaloft-insulated jacket can be packed into a single pocket — making it the material of choice for effective, reliable protection in any weather.
What fabric for a down jacket?
The fabric used in your men's or women's down jacket also matters a great deal — particularly for its lightness and compression. The finer the fabric, the lighter and more compactable the down jacket. However, with a lightweight fabric, you should pay close attention to its durability and resistance to abrasion and tearing. While a tear in the fabric of a synthetic down jacket is not irreparable, on a down jacket it means feather leakage — and ultimately, the loss of the jacket's insulating properties.
When it comes to weather protection, choosing a men's or women's down jacket also means selecting a model with a fabric that has been treated with a water-repellent finish to offer basic protection against the elements. A windproof effect is also a welcome feature. Some down jackets feature a fabric resistant to winds of up to 60 km/h.
Other factors to consider when choosing a men's or women's down jacket
When choosing your down jacket, it is important to select one with baffles. This prevents the insulation from clumping over time and ensures it remains evenly distributed — something that can unfortunately happen quite frequently under backpack pressure or in humid conditions. Baffles are created either with through-stitching (which passes through the down jacket from the inside to the outside) or with box-wall construction (forming squares). Through-stitching is ideal for down jackets worn as a mid-layer under a jacket (making the down jacket lighter and thinner) or for activities such as walking.
A down jacket with a hood
A hood is often a welcome addition to a down jacket. It is a real asset in terms of warmth, and head protection becomes essential as soon as temperatures start to drop. The head is where heat loss is greatest in the body, and therefore where the temperature difference is most significant.
Pockets with closures
It is also important that the pockets of the down jacket are fitted with a closure (such as a zip) to reduce heat loss and provide a little more security for the items you place inside.
A down jacket that packs into its own pocket
One of the key features of a down jacket is its compression capacity. It should therefore come with a stuff sack or be able to fold into its own pocket. The pack-into-pocket option is the better choice for active people, as it avoids carrying a stuff sack that can easily get lost. It is also quicker and easier to pack away when you are hiking or out on a walk.
