With the end of summer approaching, you may well be thinking about adding some warm pieces to your wardrobe. You might be considering buying a men's down jacket or a women's down jacket to protect yourself effectively from cooler temperatures — whether in the city, out hiking, or on your travels! 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.
What insulation should you choose for a down jacket?
The insulation in a men's or women's 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 naturally 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 compact. On the downside, however, it does not handle moisture well and can leak at the slightest snag in the fabric.
Synthetic down in a down jacket: it is easy to care for and handles moisture and damp well. It does, however, remain heavier and bulkier, and less breathable than natural down.
It should also be noted that natural down is expensive — very expensive, in fact!
Are there alternatives to natural or synthetic down for a down jacket?
Technology has made enormous strides in recent years, enabling the development of new technical materials that eliminate the drawbacks of both options mentioned above.
For example, Primaloft® is a material developed by NASA for military and space use: it provides an immediate sensation of warmth, similar to goose-down, with a windproof effect and a highly breathable quality that natural down does not offer.
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 warmest and most lightweight synthetic insulation in the world. With its high compactability properties — meaning a jacket insulated with PrimaLoft can be packed into a simple pocket — it is the material of choice for staying well and efficiently protected, whatever the 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 lightweight nature and compactability. The finer the fabric, the lighter and more compactable the down jacket. However, with a lightweight fabric, you need to 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, in a down jacket it means feathers will inevitably escape — and over time, your down jacket will lose its 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 undergone a water-repellent treatment for at least a minimum level of protection against the elements. A windproof effect is also very welcome. Some down jackets can be found with fabrics 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 ensures the insulating material cannot clump together over time and remains evenly distributed — something that can unfortunately happen quite often under the pressure of a backpack, or with moisture. Baffles are created either with through-stitching (which passes through the down jacket from inside to outside) or with H-stitching (which forms squares). Through-stitching is ideal for down jackets that will be worn under a jacket (the down jacket is more lightweight and thinner) or for activities such as walking.
A hooded down jacket
A hood is often a welcome addition to a down jacket. It's a real bonus in terms of warmth, and head protection is 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 have a closure (such as a zipper) to prevent heat loss and to keep the items inside more secure.
A down jacket that packs into its own pocket
One of the key features of a down jacket is its compressibility. It should therefore come with a stuff sack, or be able to pack into its own pocket. The pack-into-pocket option is preferable for active people, as it avoids having to carry a stuff sack that can easily get lost. It is also quicker and easier to pack away when you are out hiking or on a walk.
