What fillers are there in down jackets?

The fashion industry does not stand still. Thanks to this, now in the autumn-winter season it is possible to dress not only warmly. Outerwear is very functional and at the same time allows you to look fashionable and beautiful.
Buyers are pleased with the variety of models for cold weather. The down jacket confidently holds the lead among them. If previously it was believed that it belonged to the sports style of clothing, now everything has changed.
The filling of a down jacket is an important characteristic of clothing. Manufacturers offer a large selection of comfortable and stylish jackets of various shapes and lengths, colors and styles.
However, the first thing you need to pay attention to is not the appearance of the product. When choosing a down jacket for the winter, carefully study its internal insulation.

Let's figure out what fillers are used to insulate clothes. This will help you determine which filler is best for you.

To feel comfortable in winter, manufacturers use artificial or natural fillers.

Types and characteristics of synthetic fillers

The latest technologies allow synthetic (or artificial) fibers to be no different from natural ones.

They have good thermoregulatory properties. In addition, it is hypoallergenic to use and easy to care for.

For down jacket insulation, different types of synthetic fibers are used.

Holofiber

Artificial filling consisting of 100% polyester.
Available in the form of balls, springs, spiral forms. Holofiber fibers do not connect with each other and contain voids, due to which the contents of the down jacket keep their shape well and retain their thermal insulation properties.

Things are not afraid of moisture. Holofiber does not absorb moisturethat got on the product during rain or snowfall. And liquid is easily removed from the surface of the fibers, so clothes dries quickly.

Does not require special care, can be washed in warm (not hot!) water, including in the drum of a washing machine.

It has virtually no drawbacks.

Reference: polyfiber and fibertek have the same properties.

Thinsulate

A thin, durable, lightweight synthetic fiber that is great for winter.
High-quality thermal insulation material.
It was originally invented for workers at polar stations and astronauts, and therefore has increased strength.
Another advantage is that Thinsulate is twice as warm as natural down. An additional plus: it is a hypoallergenic material.

Buyers note the only inconvenience of Thinsulate: static electricity, which accumulates in the insulation, sometimes causes an uncomfortable feeling.

Isosoft

Another type of artificial insulation, which is used in winter jackets.

This became possible due to the fact that the thermal insulation characteristics of isosoft are much higher than those of synthetic padding linings used in autumn jackets.

At the same time, in terms of its thermal functions, it is slightly inferior to other types of modern fillers.

However, the pricing policy is quite competitive.

Sintepooh

In terms of its ability to retain heat, artificial down can compete on equal terms with natural down.
It consists of non-woven tiny polyester threads that are shaped like springs. They intertwine with each other and create a strong connection between the fiber and the air voids.
Due to these cavities with air retains heat perfectly.

Synthetic fluff does not absorb moisture. It also does not bunch up during washing and does not become deformed after it.

The only wish of the owners of jackets with synthetic down is to make the material more resistant to frequent washing. This would be especially important for children's things. Because if you frequently wash clothes with this insulation, its ability to retain heat is reduced.

Types and characteristics of natural fillers

Despite the triumph of modern technology, traditional natural filler remains popular.
These fibers are rightfully considered the most reliable insulation for the winter period. They have excellent thermal insulation properties: they maintain the temperature of the human body, preventing hypothermia in the coldest winter.
But despite these excellent characteristics, such threads have a disadvantage: the rather high cost of the products.

Natural fibers also require special care.

Pooh

A popular filler that gives down jackets their name.

The main advantage of this insulation is that it is lightweight, durable, and retains heat well.
In the production of outerwear, down such as this is used. waterfowl:

• duck;
• goose;
• swan;
• eider.

Reference: The warmest of all is eider down. It is also the most expensive filler.

The advantage of such insulation is the extended service life of such jackets, which reaches up to ten years.
The most affordable insulation materials are duck and goose down.
Sometimes mix natural and synthetic insulation. This allows you to reduce the cost of the product.

Of the minuses, it should be noted that natural fluff requires additional and special care, and can also be an allergen.

Down + feather

The mix of these fillers is the most popular among manufacturers.
The advantage of the pen is its natural origin. In addition, the feather gives the product additional volume. Retains heat well and reduces cost.
Such products can be washed at home. This is very convenient and saves money on dry cleaning.

But the pen also has its disadvantages. It has a rigid spine, which allows it to climb onto the surface of the outer and inner coating. It doesn’t look very aesthetically pleasing, and the tips of the feathers prickle from the inside. Therefore, wearing such a thing will be uncomfortable.

Wool

Usually used for stuffing clothes camel or sheep wool.

The advantage of wool fillers is obvious. Jackets with it keep warm well and are affordable.

People with allergic reactions will notice the disadvantages. They need to be careful.
The disadvantages include heaviness of the product.

To increase the advantage of items with wool filling, manufacturers began to add artificial fiber to wool, which makes the item lighter and allows them to be washed in a machine without fear of shrinkage.

Which filler to choose

The warmest

We have already mentioned that jackets filled with eider down, not only expensive, but also are the warmest.
Things with such insulation are made for polar explorers, and this says a lot. When looking for the warmest down jacket with synthetic insulation, you should pay attention to Thinsulate.
You can find out about the presence of eider down by looking at the label. The English word down is printed on the label of such a product.

Important! Keep in mind: this kind of fluff is very rare. As a rule, manufacturers use a mixture of natural insulation materials.

The number of pens matters

If feather is indicated on the product label next to the word down, this means that we have insulation in which feathers have been added to the down.

• A down to feather ratio of at least 80% to 20% is considered the best option for cold winters.
• For weather not lower than -10°C, the following proportion of down and feather filling is suitable: 50/50 or 60/40 percent.

Tips for choosing filler

• High-quality filler has the ability to quickly recover after deformation. Do the test yourself: sharply press anywhere on the jacket and release your hand. The compressed filler should quickly return to its original form.
• It is desirable that the inside of the down jacket be divided into small blocks or cells with filler. This will give a greater guarantee that the fiber will not fall into one lump, but will be evenly distributed throughout the product.
• A responsible and serious manufacturer indicates on the label the compression ratio, which is denoted by the Latin letters P.F. If you are looking for the best option, choose the one with a digital compression ratio of at least 550.
• A conscientious company must treat down and feathers from bacteria and parasites.In this case, DIN EN 12934 signs are placed on the label. This means that the insulation has been washed, disinfected and dried.
• Avoid spontaneous markets and unknown producers. Buy things from branded stores.

Now you know what fillers are in down jackets. This means you can choose the right clothes.

Such a purchase will give you a guarantee that the new thing will not only delight you with its appearance for more than one season, but will also keep you warm in the cold.