The Debate Over the Superiority of Natural Down vs. Synthetic Continues. For outdoor enthusiasts, the quality of insulation in their gear is of crucial importance. Whether you'll feel comfortable in temperatures of -5 or -15 degrees Celsius, or whether you'll survive a night in your sleeping bag, makes a difference not only for Himalayan climbers and mountaineers but for everyone. The weight of the equipment is also not insignificant. So, which insulation is lighter, more compressible, and better at providing warmth?In today's article, we will answer these and other questions about the differences between natural down and synthetic insulation.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN FROM THIS POST?

• What are the differences between natural down and synthetic down?
• Which down jacket should you choose?
• Which down sleeping bag should you choose?
• Are products with natural down more challenging to maintain?
• Is natural down more expensive than synthetic down?

IN BRIEF

Top-quality jackets and sleeping bags filled with natural down insulation are exceptional at providing insulation against the cold, and once compressed, they take up no more space than a thermos cup. Synthetic down pales in comparison in these competitions, but its advantages lie in lower moisture absorption and a lower price.

NATURAL DOWN

Natural down is the smallest type of waterfowl plumage, obtained from geese and ducks. Unlike feathers, it lacks a hard quill, which is what makes it so fluffy and soft. It is closest to the bird's body and provides excellent insulation against the cold. Clothing manufacturers take advantage of this knowledge when creating down garments.

In terms of insulation level, natural down has no equal. When the tiny down clusters hidden within the fabric of a jacket or sleeping bag expand, they create a significant amount of air pockets that store body heat. No synthetic insulation can match these properties. Additionally, down is incredibly resilient, allowing it to compress well. When properly packed, a down jacket or sleeping bag takes up minimal space in a backpack. The loft of down is measured in cubic inches per ounce (cuin). Top-quality jackets and sleeping bags can have a loft rating as high as 900 cuin.

Natural down has one single drawback, which, however, can discredit it completely for some users: when wet, it loses its insulating properties. As a result, there is a common belief that products filled with natural down are challenging to maintain and do not perform well during prolonged outings in rainy conditions. It is worth knowing that this is not entirely true, as we discussed in the article about protecting down sleeping bags from moisture. The most important thing is that clothing and sleeping bags filled with natural down dry by themselves when worn.

SYNTHETIC DOWN

Synthetic down continues to improve in quality and performs better in laboratory tests. Additionally, producing synthetic insulation is cheaper than obtaining goose down. However, even the most determined efforts of scientists have yet to create the perfect synthetic insulation. In this match, natural down still comes out on top!

The advantage of synthetic down lies in its lower moisture absorption compared to natural down. Even in highly humid conditions, synthetic insulation should not get soaked too quickly. However, once it becomes wet... well, it becomes heavy and completely loses its thermal insulation properties. Furthermore, it is challenging to thoroughly dry synthetic insulation in the field, and if not properly dried, there is a high chance of it clumping together.

Synthetic down is significantly less compressible than natural down, and therefore, less packable. It is assumed that the loft of high-quality synthetic insulation reaches a value comparable to natural down with a loft rating of 500-650 cuin.

We are increasingly wearing down clothing, not limiting it to the winter season. Down vests and sweaters accompany active individuals throughout the year. And it's no wonder because down has many advantages! As of now, no synthetic down has been invented that can match the resilience and insulation level of natural down. But who knows, maybe someday it will be achieved? For now, you know where to look for the best sleeping bags and jackets with certified white goose down - of course, at pajaksport.pl!