How to choose down jackets in winter clothing series

How to choose the Best Down Jacket
Do you feel at a loss when facing the large number of down jackets on the market? If you have such a problem, then you may wish to refer to our purchase suggestions. We will analyze down jackets from multiple aspects and put forward the key points you need to pay attention to so that you can choose The Down Jacket that best suits your needs. We will first introduce the comparison between down and synthetic cotton materials, and then introduce some key indicators of down jackets. Finally, we will introduce some issues that need to be paid attention to when purchasing. I believe that through our introduction, it should be able to help you sort out your thoughts and finally choose the product you like.

Comparison between down jackets and cotton jackets
Should you choose a down jacket or a cotton jacket? This should be the first question you should consider before buying warm clothing. Here is a comparison between them:

Advantages of down jackets: higher warmth/weight ratio and best compression performance, better durability (will not lose the fluffy effect with compression and relaxation) and better breathability of down jackets

Disadvantages of down jackets: cannot effectively maintain warmth in a wet state, more difficult to clean and care for, not easy to dry, must be handled immediately after the outer material is damaged (otherwise the down inside will fly in the wind like snowflakes).

Advantages of cotton jackets: can still maintain warmth in a wet state, very convenient to clean and maintain, good quick-drying performance, no need to rush to deal with it when it is damaged.

Disadvantages of cotton jackets: relatively low warmth/weight, poor compression performance, and the fluffy effect will slowly decrease with compression and relaxation.

Some key indicators of down jackets
Waterproof down or regular down
Waterproof down is a new technology recently adopted by the market to solve the biggest disadvantage of down. This method of adding coating to down not only reduces the water absorption of down but also increases its quick-drying effect. Is this kind of down really that magical in actual use? As far as we know, although this type of down has better water repellency and quick drying than regular down, it is still far behind synthetic cotton materials, so it can only be used as a reference rather than a decisive indicator for choosing down jackets. In addition, we do not know whether the coating added to this waterproof down will affect the durability of the down, and it is also worth considering whether this treatment method has a longer life than the DWR water-repellent coating on the surface of the clothing (which will lose its effect with use).

Fluffiness of down jackets
The fluffiness has a lot to do with the quality of the down. High fluffiness down also means high quality. At the same weight, high fluffiness down has better warmth retention and a smaller volume after compression. If the warmth retention effect is considered, there is not much difference between 340g 650p and 225g 850p down.

Down jacket manufacturing process
Sewn-through sewing method (Sewn-through): This commonly used processing method is very simple. During processing, the lining, filling and outer materials are stacked together, and then the three layers are sewn together. The needle holes of down jackets processed by this process penetrate three layers, so it is called one-needle-through type. The cotton uniformity of this processing technology is good, the filling material of the seam part is relatively thin, and the overall weight is relatively light, but this production process is easy to let air in the needle hole, which will affect the warmth retention effect of the down jacket. This process is generally used for some lightweight and cheap down jackets.

From the following pictures, we can see the better warmth retention ability of down jackets (the left picture is a pure cotton jacket, the right picture is a down jacket, the brighter the color, the higher the temperature) and how heat is lost from the down jacket.

Box Baffles: Different from the first ordinary sewing method, the box baffles method is to sew the down into rectangular or square cubes first, and then sew these cubes together, thus eliminating the sewing lines in the ordinary sewing method (this sewing line is a heat dissipation point because there is no down). This process has better warmth, breathability and strength, but the weight, complexity and labor costs are greatly increased, so it is mostly used in some expensive and heavy down jackets.

Some down jackets use a mixed manufacturing method of the two processes. They generally use box sewing in the core part of the body and one-needle through sewing in the arms.

Fabric material of down jackets
The fabric material of down jackets can affect many aspects of the product performance, such as durability, weight and compression performance, warmth and weather resistance. Down jackets made of ultra-light fabrics have advantages in weight and compression performance, but they are difficult to cope with the test of outdoor environments. In addition, down jackets made of ultralight fabrics also have better breathability, but this is generally at the expense of weather resistance. Therefore, when choosing a down jacket, you must consider your use environment and requirements. If you have a hard shell protection, then there is nothing wrong with pursuing a down jacket made of lightweight fabrics. Otherwise, you should choose the right product based on durability and weather resistance.

Issues to pay attention to when purchasing down jackets
Warmth
This should be your primary concern when purchasing down jackets, and this issue should be analyzed based on your use. If you plan to use it for rock climbing, mountaineering, or hiking, then it is more appropriate to choose a lightweight, breathable and easily compressible down jacket. If you need a warm clothing that can be used for commuting in the city or self-driving camping, then the above lightweight down jackets cannot provide the required warmth. In addition, the warmth effect is also related to the aforementioned production process. Down jackets using box sewing methods have better warmth.

With or without a hood
When asked if they want a piece of clothing to have a hood, most friends will give a positive answer. Because the hat only slightly increases the weight of the clothing and greatly improves the warmth and the response to adverse weather. Clothing with a hood not only keeps the neck warm, but also has the advantage of not being lost compared to a hat. Of course, everything has its pros and cons, so we have to point out the opinions of some people who don't like wearing hooded clothing. They think that a lightweight down jacket as a middle layer will become an extra burden when wearing a hard shell, and the hat protruding from the shoulder will become a rain and snow collector in rainy and snowy weather. Although most of the products we tested have hoods, in fact, most lightweight down jackets are still sold in hoodless versions.

Whether it has the advantage of portability
Some outdoor people have a special preference for cotton jackets with their own storage function. This fast and practical design can not only compress the cotton jacket to an ideal volume, but also make it easier to carry it in a backpack. Some cotton jackets are also designed with hanging loops on the storage bag, which undoubtedly simplifies the difficulty of carrying for people engaged in rock climbing and mountaineering activities. These products with hanging loops and very small storage volume are also the favorite warm equipment for rock climbing enthusiasts. Some down jackets can be stored in the included storage bag, but it is not as convenient and quick as the products with their own pockets, and there is also the risk of losing the separate storage bag.

Down jacket function and style
In addition to the difference in warmth, down jackets also differ in function and style. Lightweight down jackets will simplify some functions to reduce the overall weight, while some heavy down jackets used for adventure will not omit those features that can help you better cope with cold environments. For example, you can often find large mesh pockets inside such down jackets, which can not only store thick gloves but also keep your water bottle warm. The style of the down jacket will affect the weight, compression and warmth performance. Even if the same manufacturing process is used, different compartment shapes will bring different appearances, and different colors are available for you to choose.

Price
Down jackets are one of the most worthwhile investment equipment for outdoor activities. It is not a reckless decision to spend a high price to buy a high-quality product, because as long as you use it properly and take good care of it, it is fully capable of accompanying you through many years of outdoor journeys. Pursuing low prices too much is not a smart choice in the long run.

Ethics
Among companies that use animals as raw materials, not all companies can adhere to humane practices to obtain down materials. Although live plucking is an industry-recognized practice, some companies still adopt the humane practice of non-live plucking.