The best synthetic insulated jackets are those that are dependable and that will see you through the rough stuff. The first synthetic insulated jacket that I purchased did just that. It was a Mountain Equipment Fitzroy Jacket and it was one hell of a thing. Fit to burst with PrimaLoft insulation, it lived in the bottom of my climbing pack only to be pulled out during cold, wet and windy winter climbing belay stances that you so frequently find up in the Highlands.
The bombproof, heavy and warm style of the Fitzroy was the trend when I bought my first synthetic jacket – it was built to last in the ‘ming’ that you’re so often blessed with in Scotland and it did the job extremely well. To be honest, synthetic insulation was the piece of equipment you purchased because you knew you had to, not because you wanted to – oh how things have changed with recent developments in synthetic fibres.
Synthetic insulation is made from polyester that has been spun into filaments that creates a pocket of air between each fibre. This pocket then warms up from your body temperature and thus, provides warmth. This is exactly the same way natural down can be used to keep you warm.
Down versus Synthetic
We’ve not yet quite mastered a precisely like-for-like synthetic alternative to down – its formation is just too unique – and so there are still some downsides (sorry) to synthetic insulation in comparison to it. That being said, there are also some upsides to using synthetic insulation over down.
Warmth-to-Weight
Down offers the better warmth-to-weight ratio over synthetic insulation materials. Put simply, the unique 3D structure of down creates what is called loft which traps air more effectively than any synthetic fill in production at the moment. We could reach a point soon where synthetic insulation will be able to match up though. PrimaLoft is a good example of a type of fill that is getting very near to hitting that same warmth-to-weight ratio.
Wet weather performance
Down doesn’t have a natural ability to repel water (on a goose or duck it’s protected under larger, oily feathers), and so, if it gets wet it will clump together, lose its loft and in turn fail to trap warm air. Synthetic insulation on the other hand won’t collapse when it gets wet to the same extent as down, so in wet conditions you can still count on some insulation value. Bear in mind though, that these days it’s possible to treat down with a solution that gives it hydrophobic properties – so it’s hard to say outright that synthetics are better in wet weather than down! The debate rages on…
Sustainability
Plucking a helpless goose/duck of their lovely insulating down isn’t a very nice thing to do. Fortunately, many reputable outdoor brands these days (though not all of them) take measures to ensure that the down they use is responsibly sourced. This is an argument explored in our best down jackets test.
On the flip side, many are concerned about the impact of synthetic fibres on the environment – they’re normally made from plastic after all. To address this issue, brands like Polartec and PrimaLoft have managed to develop fills that can be recycled. There’s also a fully biodegradable and recycled fibre called PrimaLoft Bio which is now available in some jackets. With these developments in mind, the scale is perhaps tipping in favour of synthetics on this front.
Give our Down and Synthetic Insulated Jacket Buyer’s Guide a read to get a real in depth look into the designs and technologies behind both fill types.
Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets
OM Editor Will has taken a range of jackets out with him in Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. I took a bunch up to the Highlands and the Alps during some ski touring weekends. Many of the items featured here were actually good enough to be selected for our Green Gear Guide and Outdoor 100, meaning they past our gear team’s rigorous selection processes.
- Best Overall Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Black Diamond Vision Hybrid Hoody
There are some incredibly impressive materials that are used in this and the result is something with an impressive warmth-to-weight, durability and wet weather warmth. Our testers loved it and decided it was well worthy of being selected as the best overall synthetic insulated jacket.
- Best Value Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Keela Talus
£140 represents excellent value for a jacket of this standard. It’s super cosy and has impressive details, including a protective hood with a big moldable peak.
- Best Synthetic Belay Jacket: Arc’teryx Nuclei
The Nuclei all the small details you’d want from a synthetic jacket for climbing and then that all important cosy warmth when you’re static for long periods.
- Best Breathable Synthetic Insulated Jacket: The North Face Summit Casaval
We used this in Northern Italy and really liked the fact this creates a warm and dry climate around your body during activities that could typically work up a sweat.
- Best Lightweight Synthetic Insulated Jacket: Patagonia Nano Puff
The Nano Puff is a great jacket – albeit one that’s quite thin. As such, we found it to be the best option for those who want a light and thin layer that won’t weigh their pack down – and that’ll fit comfortably under most waterproof jackets too.
