What is warmer: down or padding polyester?

The main advantage of winter clothing is the ability to retain heat and be reliable protection from low temperatures. This ability depends on what kind of insulation is used for a particular item. Materials such as down and padding polyester are widely used today. To determine which filler is better, let’s look at the properties of each of them.

Down as a natural filler

It is common to use natural down to insulate outerwear. This was even fixed in the name of the things - “down jackets”. To prevent clothing from getting wet and keeping out the cold, its contents must have the property of repelling rather than letting in moisture. Therefore, clothes are filled with down obtained from waterfowl. Most often, duck or goose is used for this, and less often, swan down.

Reference! It is believed that the warmest and most suitable for regions with harsh winters is eider down filling. Products with natural eider down are more expensive than jackets with duck or goose down.

Sintepon as an artificial filler

Synthetic winterizer, a material made from artificial fibers, has replaced natural down as a modern insulation material. Bonded together using heat, glue or mechanical bonding, synthetic polyester fibers have become a substitute for down, making the filling cheaper.

Features, characteristics and differences

Each of the materials has its pros and cons.

Pros and cons of down

One of the main advantages of down insulation is its natural origin and environmental friendliness.

Down has other positive qualities:

• reliable thermal insulation, providing comfortable conditions in winter;
• ability to repel moisture;
• light weight that does not weigh down the product;
• practicality, long service life.

Reference! Adding feathers to the down filling increases the life of the product. Their price should be lower than products with 100% down insulation.

Disadvantages of down insulation:

• may cause allergic reactions in people with hypersensitivity;
• compliance with special conditions (washing and drying regime of the product) during care.

Pros and cons of padding polyester as a filler

Manufacturers of artificial material have managed to endow it with many of the qualities of down.

Advantages of padding polyester:

• ability to retain heat well;
• moisture resistance;
• ease;
• high wear resistance;
• hypoallergenic;
• ease of care;
• affordable price.

The negative aspects of synthetic insulation are associated with its washing:

• Wash gradually has an adverse effect on the filler fibers. They are destroyed, which leads to deterioration in the appearance of the product.
• During washing, the padding polyester may clump into a lump.

Which jacket is better to choose: down or padding?

Having learned what qualities various materials have, let's see how these qualities manifest themselves in the finished product. This will help you decide what is better to choose, clothes made with padding polyester or natural down.

Down jackets filled with natural down

Main advantage down jackets are reliable protection from the cold. Natural down makes the jacket light and very warm. Down jackets with eider, goose or duck down are best purchased by residents of northern regions where constant low temperatures are observed in winter.

In temperate latitudes, down jackets may also be needed by people who spend long periods of time outdoors.

However, these products have several shortcomings. The main ones are the high price and difficulty of care.

Important! Professional dry cleaning instead of washing it yourself at home will preserve the quality appearance and extend the life of the down jacket.

Jacket with padding polyester

Advantage synthetic padding material becomes practical and functional, at an affordable price. Winter clothes with synthetic fiber insulation also retain heat well. Their lightness and water resistance make the products most convenient for active people who do not change their lifestyle even in winter. Padded jackets provide comfort during long walks, sports, and outdoor games.

Another advantage of artificial contents is ease of care. You can wash these jackets yourself.

Flaws winter jackets with synthetic padding are also related to the care of the product. Sintepon, which tends to bunch up when wet and washed, will force you to work hard to return products that do not have quilting to their former appearance.

Important! To prevent the insulation from crumpling during washing, you need to place tennis balls in the drum of the washing machine along with the jacket.

What to look for when choosing a winter jacket

Knowing the properties and characteristics of different materials will help you decide which jacket to buy.

But choosing a specific product will require attention to the item, because no filler can save a low-quality jacket.

Tips for choosing winter jackets

• Carefully study the label, ask the seller about the insulation and how to care for the product.
• Examine the jacket carefully, pay attention to its weight: the true quality of the jacket does not make it heavy.
• Pay special attention to the filler. See how evenly it is distributed throughout the item, and whether there is quilting to secure the material.
• Don’t forget to examine the quality of all seams and fastening of fittings. Crooked stitching and protruding threads are never found with serious brands, but they are not uncommon for fakes that should have a low cost.

Choosing a winter jacket is a serious matter; not only appearance, but also human health depends on it.