How was it? Did you like it?

Lol, I see what you did there.

@@unclerojelio6320 I didn't do it on purpose, but now that you point it out, it is pretty funny. :)

Thanks for watching and we're glad you like our content. Good joke by the way!!

Or....I have a down vest I wear under my synthetic jacket. Both are about medium weight.

Glad it was helpful! I'll pass your comments onto Hannah. Paul

You're very welcome!

Gotta love a bit of Rab!

How have the synthetic down lasted are they still warm, I heard that after a few years it breaks down and starts to be not as warm

My synthetic Northface vest started fading in color so I got rid of it. The Columbia Omni heat is still in great condition 4+ yrs later! All the Eddie Bauer down vests are still in great condition! I’d say they are both great

Jeremiah Stringer Hikes I would definitely get a synthetic puffer if you want it for hiking. It’s going to be much better at drying out if you sweat heavily into it, and with strenuous activity into a puffy coat, you are going to sweat into it.

Especially in Kentucky where it doesn’t get too cold.

@@gregkosinski2303 Thank you so much for responding!! I plan to use it just while stationary like when I am sitting around camp after hiking all day

Glad it was helpful!

Thanks very much!

What have worms got to do with this?

albion1949 lmao

Thanks for the extra information! Are you looking for an insulated jacket or a hardshell? Essentially, the best way to manage your breathability is to wear layers rather than an insulated jacket which is also waterproof such as the Rab Valiance; this allows you to remove layers once you warm up rather than overheating, or add layers if the temperature changes and you begin to feel cold. If you wore a breathable baselayer such as an Icebreaker, then a grid fleece such as the Arc'teryx Delta (only if you required extra warmth) then a hardshell such as the Mountain Equipment Firefox Axel, you'd have some of the most breathable layers that will also keep you dry. Everyone works differently and no one will wear the same layers, so even though I've recommended three layers, you don't have to wear them all at the same time if it's not cold enough or if the rain dies down, alternatively you may require warmer layers. I'll pop the correct links below: Icebreaker Baselayer: www.trekitt.co.uk/36496/products/icebreaker-mens-oasis-ls-crewe-gritstone.aspx Arc'teryx Fleece: www.trekitt.co.uk/34937/products/arcteryx-mens-delta-lt-jacket-nocturne.aspx M.E Hardshell: www.trekitt.co.uk/36186/products/mountain-equipment-mens-firefox-axel-waterproof-jacket-kiwi.aspx

Get a Synthetic insulated 3-season jacket ( 2oz/67g fill ) + a light rain coat to put on top in medium/heavy rain.

Glad it was helpful!

It's good that you've found a product that works for you, thanks for watching.

That's a cool name. Did he have a son called Max Power?

@@trekitt You know him too?🤣😉

Good advice! Thanks for watching.

You are very welcome!

Fair point, but with the advent of modern "hydrophobic" down the lines are becoming more blurred. Thanks for watching.

Downside of synthetic if it's dry & freezing is tiny versus the risk if down becoming useless if it happens to rain.

Down certainly still has its benefits, although synthetics are gradually catching up. Harry

Don't tempt her David, we really like having Hannah on our team! Paul.

Star wars didn't

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you.

Thanks for watching

👍 Now that is an interesting observation. I tend to gravitate towards the 'Woods Dweller', having relied on and trusted Wool for many years now. I have a Down 'Puffy' that is very nice .. however, at any hint of rain, it skulks in the cupboard, refusing to come out to be replaced by Wool and Fleece 😊. Lightweight '100% Lambs Wool' Pullovers (Woolworths Brand) and the trusty 100% Wool Genuine British 'Woolly Pully' have served me well for years. Throw in a Woollen Top Coat (New York Mafiosi Style) bought for a song at a bargain store and Bob's your Uncle. Actually, Wool and Synthetic Fleece make for a very good Combo .. Down too (dry cold) .. but you're 100% correct. For long term hard core, Wool is it!

That is true, PrimaLoft is one of the more expensive options, but down simply requires more effort to collect, wash, sterilise, sort, etc, so it'll most likely always be a little more pricey. Harry

@@trekitt how good of an insulator is Primaloft compared to down?

@@nischaljimee2192 It's pretty similar in warmth to weight, but doesn't pack down as small and doesn't last as long as high quality down.

Fair point, wool is a good insulator, but can be a bit heavy. Thanks for watching.

Makes sense if I go bikepacking in UK, Spring to Autumn, even for 1 to 3 days then. Wish it could pack small and light like down, but I guess cons of down in this climate outweights the prons, when you got your experience ruined in the middle of nowhere...

Exactly the information I was looking for, thank you! Need a vest for several days long treks in the mountains and if it's gonna be the only puffy I'm taking with me, it should probably be a synthetic.

Then only one thing to consider, which one looks best for earning those style points!

We love wool as a baselayer, but as an outer layer it tends to be heavy, quite expensive and doesn't pack down particularly small. It does however have great temperature-regulation, anti-odour properties and retains most of its warmth when wet, so it just depends what you're using the garment for. Kind regards, Harry.

The main attraction to a down jacket is that it's super lightweight, packable and offers plenty of warmth; however adding a waterproof membrane to the outer of that jacket would massively increase the pack size and weight; it would also negatively affect the breathability. If you are using a down jacket in wet conditions, it's far more effective to pop a separate waterproof jacket over the top, then when it stops raining, you have the option to take the waterproof off to increase breathability again.

Arceteryx does, for 1000 dollars to start with ;-)

Glad to be of service, thanks for watching.

Isn't that primaloft sawn into a square?

@@JoeZUGOOLA "The North Face™ developed a partnership with PrimaLoft® to offer a new synthetic alternative to down. ThermoBall™ is a revolution in insulation technology. Unlike traditional, continuous-filament synthetic insulations, the small round PrimaLoft® synthetic fiber clusters closely to mimic down clusters; trapping heat within small air pockets to retain warmth."

Those are good reasons to love down, but here in the soggy old UK, synthetics do perform very well. Paul.

The amount of oil required to make a synthetic jacket is tiny relative to other uses and is actually an excellent use for it. Compare outdoor clothing to aviation and it would be millions:one in terms of use.

Good point. I have also read that every time you wash your fleece you send micro-plastics into the water. Again possibly a minor amount compared to other plastic issues. But we have to all do our part. Especially outdoors people.

@@granthaller9544 Hi Grant - haha we sound very similar! I too was concerned about microplastics from fleeces etc & emailed a number of suppliers (including Paramo & Arc'teryx) to ask them about it. The response was that shedding only tends to be an issue with lower qualty fleece, the type where you can visibly see the fibres, whereas technical fleece such as Polartec powergrid is much more durable & it does not occur. I tested this by using a microfibre catcher in my wash for several months & was delighted to find that my outdoor clothing didn't shed. Hope this helps and best of luck in the outdoors.

@@27johnny Very reassuring! Thanks for your research! I still prefer wool, but will not feel so bad about my fleece.

You're welcome. Harry

You can layer a down jacket under a shell if the weather warrants it, just ensure you aren't wearing too many layers which will cause you to overheat and consequently become wet from the inside due to sweat. Sweat shouldn't affect the loft of the jacket.

Thank you!

No, not at all! Although down jackets do last longer with regular care and maintenance, it's not uncommon for synthetically insulated jackets to last up to 10 years of regular use. Kind regards, Harry.

@@trekitt Thanks for taking the time to reply!

There is not a problem with stuffing any down jacket into a stuff bag, provided it's only for short periods of time. For instance, in your pack when hiking, or when travelling. But the jacket should never be stored for long periods in a compressed state as this will certainly reduce the loft. Paul.

Down is rated according to fill power (the loft quality). Fill power is an internationally recognised measurement of how well down will “loft”. Loft describes how “fluffy” the insulation is, the “fluffier” down is the more space it can occupy and the more warm air it can trap to keep you warm. It is represented by the number of cubic inches one ounce of down will occupy (e.g. if one ounce of down takes up a volume of 650 cubic inches it is given a 650 fill power rating). The quality of down is directly related to its fill power rating. Higher quality down has a higher fill power and is much loftier than down of a lower quality. This means you'd require fewer ounces of down to create the same level of warmth. The higher the fill power the better the down will insulate, because there is less chance of cold spots forming.

Trekitt Mountain Sports Thank you. I think I’ve got it now.

Good advice! Thanks for watching.

Hi Dan, we just need to clarify what you mean in your last sentence; are you looking for a highly breathable and weather resistant insulation piece? If so, what will you be getting up to in the jacket activity wise?

Unfortunately it's pretty difficult to give a timescale as it depends where you are in the world, whether you use a heavy pack, how often it gets used, which layers you have over the top (if any), etc. Some synthetics may last a year or two in the hands of a mountain guide, some others may last 10 years and above with someone who largely uses it on the weekends for general walking. Sorry that's not more specific, but be assured the synthetically insulated jackets we stock are designed to take some abuse! Kind regards, Harry.

It's the Montane Phoenix Jacket; the same jacket on the right hand side of the table but in Tibetan. www.trekitt.co.uk/35991/products/montane-womens-phoenix-jacket-tibetan.aspx

Its a synthetic one

I'm afraid we don't personally have any tests comparing the two. Outdoor Research has a good blog with a bit more info in which may be useful though; I'll pop a link below. Kind regards, Harry. www.outdoorresearch.com/blog/article/down-vs.-synthetic-whats-the-difference-between-down-and-synthetic-insulati

Each brand has their own idea of what a medium/large is, so the only way to know for sure is to try both on with the layers you're expecting to wear. The only time we'd recommend sizing up is if you're purchasing the jacket as either a belay piece or when throwing it over all your other layers when stationary. Kind regards, Harry.

I'm afraid we haven't got any experience with them, so we wouldn't be able to comment on their quality from first-hand use. Kind regards, Harry.

In wet weather you're better off with a synthetic as they'll still maintain their warmth if they happen to get wet. Kind regards, Harry.

Looks interesting! Can't say we have any direct experience with it, but the credentials do look promising for a synthetic insulation. One to keep an eye on.

What type of jacket are you looking for? An insulated jacket/softshell/hardshell? A Mountain Equipment Kinesis might be worth a look if you're after something lightly insulated but with plenty of breathability.

@@trekitt Hi, thank you for reply. I am looking for insulated jacket because it should be winter jacket. I would prefer more of softshell because on bicycle I need to bend over to riding position. It does not need to be full waterproof, just water resistant. The Kinesis model looks good with polyamide outer layer. Now I cannot decide which one to buy ?

I bought the Mountain Equipment Trango down jacket with water resistance on the Black Friday. I have just tested this jacket on 50 km route at temperature 5C and with very heavy fog. On the distance of 20 m there was no visibility, it was like a small rain. I was dry and warm. This jacket is simply perfect for e-bike, very light and warm but breathable enough. It has lots of pockets 7 in total which are very useful when riding on e-bike.

The tennis balls bounce around and help to loft the jacket back up, therefore reducing the chance of the down clumping.

It depends on your activity; the warmest synthetic jacket we stock is most likely the Arc'teryx Kappa or Fjallraven Yupik Parka, but these are both for static/extremely low intensity activities.

@@trekitt 250gr is the thicker jacket i've seen, thanks!

Arc'teryx Dually Belay Parka.

Chur bro. gunna try the dishwash. how much sunlight would you use on say a down sleeping bag?

@@carlskipper6701 it is the sunlight bar soap my bro, not the liquid stuff, the bars they come ina 4 pack, just a small shaving will do

@@RasDoesBushcraftBackcountry great tip chur my bro.

Pure soap is a good alternative to "technical cleaners" Thanks for watching.

Because generally the aim of a down jacket is to offer high amounts of warmth with a low weight and a small pack size. Adding a waterproof shell drastically increases the weight, the cost, the packsize and reduces breathability. If you're wearing the jacket on a cold, dry, crisp day, the waterproof shell would be wasted. This is why manufacturers (and retailers like us) recommend you layer clothing rather than have it all in one, therefore you can adapt it to your environment. Kind regards, Harry.

They do have ski gears that have a waterproof layers on top of down. I like the 3 in 1 idea, where a shell can be attached and removed from a down jacket.

Because waterproof shells don't necessarily keep you dry.

Both nylon and polyester fabrics are flammable, but not so much that they'd explode; the melting of the fabrics is what typically causes burns. Down can also catch fire but won't melt. So, going back to your original question, there won't be much difference between most down and synthetically insulated jackets as they both use nylon/polyester fabrics, the only exception to this are jackets which use polycotton fabrics such as Fjallraven. Kind regards, Harry.

@@trekitt thank you for answer! I have understood that they don’t ”explode”, thats some bad stories circulating. Was just wondering if there are differences between synthetic and down filling. The shell ar mostly the same as you said, nylon or polyester. Havn’t seen any comparing tests. Best Regards

In most cases, the down is a bi-product of the meat industry, so the birds are put down before the down is collected. Brands such as Mountain Equipment take it a step further and ensure the down isn't collected from birds which have been live plucked or force fed and have been raised in good conditions. I'll pop a link below if you wanted to have a read. Kind regards, Harry. www.thedowncodex.co.uk/the-down-codex/

We love Merino Wool baselayers and have tried stocking Merino Wool midlayers/outer layers before, however they are a little heavy and expensive. In most cases down/synthetic insulation is superior. Kind regards, Harry.

It's normal for feathers to poke their way through eventually; maybe not on the first day though. The key is to not pull them out - try to push them back in. Harry

A synthetic jacket will be easier to take care of whilst travelling and isn't so affected by rain if you get caught out.

@@trekitt is both type of jackets provide similar amount of warmth?

@@liewpg2266 High quality down typically provides more warmth for its weight than synthetic, but it's getting close these days.

@@trekitt so synthetic jacket, if caught in rain or snow , will still provide warmth?

@@trekitt and if going to places with temperature around -10 to 2 degrees Celsius, synthetic jacket able to provide warmth?

It is true, synthetic insulation will lose some of its thermal efficiency (heat-trapping capabilities) over time, and this tends to happen quicker with synthetic compared to down insulation. (There are many different types of synthetic insulation and some are more durable than others, which is something to take into account). Don't worry though, we are not saying that in a couple of years time you will need to replace your jacket, it takes a good few years of heavy use before you will even notice the difference. As long as you aren't storing your jackets compressed for long periods of time or washing and drying it too much then you'll be fine (these rules apply to both types of insulation).

@@trekitt ahh cheers. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

Superfoodtown Been wearing the same jacket for like 2 years and it went from resisting -30c to like -10c :P

@@hazardous458 Ive hiked for years, year around and ive never experienced like -10c, just -10c. . How cold is like -10?

Synthetic will be more suitable for this.

Hi V8, we provide these videos for those who might prefer a visual explanation over a written one, making it hopefully easier to digest. The main reason we didn't pack down/weigh the jackets in the video is that there is no fair comparison. Each jacket uses difference face fabrics, zips, pockets etc which all contribute to the overall weight. That being said, we'll have a think how we can add more fair visual demonstrations for future videos. Kind regards.

Thanks I sure like the visual explanation. It does in easier

It depends! Synthetic insulation is great for stop-start activities or where stationary for extended periods of time, down is great for faster moving activities as it tends to be more breathable. Synthetic is more versatile as it can be worn in wet weather, down is better for cold, dry conditions or when weight and pack size is a priority. It all comes down to which fits your lifestyle. Kind regards, Harry.

@@trekitt haha it seems like you still don't know which is best. There's a perfect layer jacket system, personally I don't think Down is that good, synthetic is more versatile like you said.

We wouldn't recommend it. Store it in the open to allow it to loft fully, therefore allowing it to trap more air and keep you warmer when you put it on. If it's been compressed for quite a while we'd give it a wash and tumble dry to loft the down back up again. Kind regards, Harry.

@@trekitt Thank you for the replied.

You can pack it compressed just fine, but for long term storage you should take it out of the bag and allow it to loft.

Bruh just use asbestos

Climashield Prism is better hence why Arc'teryx use it in the Dually.

That's nice.

Down. Synthetic. Neither. Both? It depends!

Should hope so but how many other languages does she speak.

Naught

@@HarryKingKelowna Pity into today's world.

@@user-sq1gk3fr4i 🍎🍒🥭🍆🥥🍑🥭🍒🥭🥔🥭🥝🍓🥝🥔🍎🥔🍎🍒🥭🍒🥭🥔🍎🍑🍎🍒🍇🥔🍇🍇🍓🍇🍍🥭🥔🥭🥭🍆🍅🍅🍆🍅🍆🍅🍒🍅🍓🍇🥔🥔🥭🍑🍎🍎🍌

@@HarryKingKelowna Beautiful fruit.

Thanks for watching.

Thanks for watching.

How you get down off an elephant? A: you can't get down off an elephant. You get down off a goose. Ha,ha!

Synthetic is warmer than hemp in my experience

Lol

Good point, thanks for watching.