Read this before you go shopping for a jacket or coat!
With the arrival of cold weather, many people ask themselves: "How to keep warm so that you are comfortable in any weather?" And it's not so much about "What to take: a jacket, a down jacket or a coat?", but about "What kind of filling for clothes is better? What should you give preference to: artificial or natural?"
In this publication, we will look at some of the main insulation materials that are used in the production of demi-season and winter outerwear today. Without pretending to give a deep and detailed description of each material, we will still try to tell you in the most accessible form the main things you need to know about insulation. Read this before you go buy a jacket or coat!
WHAT OR WHO WARMS US IN A JACKET, COAT OR FUR COAT?
Insulation materials can be as different as the outside air temperature. Some allow you to feel warm only at a relatively small minus, while others "work" in a fairly wide range of negative temperatures. Why is that?
The main thing to understand is that any filler, whether artificial or natural, does not warm, but retains heat. How does it retain heat? - Due to the air that is bound and held in a motionless state by the thin fibers of the filler. And the more of these fibers per unit area, the better the heat-insulating layer, the better the clothes "warm". That is why the polymer industry has given us such a rich choice of artificial fillers. They all differ in fiber structure and, accordingly, have different heat-saving characteristics.
Perhaps some of you will ask: "Then why a dozen insulation materials if you can choose one or two of the most effective ones?" Here's the answer. If the normal human body temperature of +36.6°C is considered more or less stable (+/- two tenths of a degree are not taken into account), then the ambient temperature is a complete unpredictability. Therefore, there is no universal clothing for any climate conditions. What is needed to conquer Everest will not be comfortable in urban conditions, and vice versa.
Now that it is clear who warms us, it is time to get acquainted with the main insulation materials and their characteristics.
MODERN INSULATION FOR DEMISEASON AND WINTER CLOTHES: WHAT TYPES ARE THERE AND HOW THEY DIFFER.
According to the composition of the materials used, insulation materials are divided into 2 main groups: natural and synthetic (also called artificial). In fairness, we will say that there is also a third group - mixed, but we will not dwell on it, since it is still rarely used in the production of outerwear.
NATURAL DOWN IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE INSULATION IN THE WORLD.
Duck, eider and goose down are used to make down jackets.
- Duck down is practically not used in the outerwear segment. It is smaller, stiffer and retains heat worse, and in terms of elasticity and service life it is much inferior to goose down.
- Goose down is collected from the nests of the eider duck - a small arctic diving duck. It is extremely expensive. This is explained by the peculiarities of collecting and processing the down. The price of a goose down jacket can reach several thousand dollars. Almost always these are exclusive items made to order. The service life of the insulation is approximately 20 years.
- Goose down is considered the most affordable. It is obtained by plucking the bird during the molting period, and it is produced on an industrial scale. An adult white goose has only 40 g of pure down. Therefore, natural down jackets are quite expensive.
The Fill Power (FP) elasticity index is the main indicator of down quality. It is indicated on the label. If the manufacturer does not provide such information, then this is a reason to think about the quality of the product. The higher the FP, the better the down straightens out in the jacket after compression, the better the clothes retain heat.
For good quality urban jackets, the FP will be close to 750 units. For high-end sports equipment, the FP can be between 750 and 1100. Instead of FP, the manufacturer can indicate the maximum temperature of use or the purpose of the product (for example, for mountaineering, for the city, etc.)
The second important indicator of down is its ratio to feathers. It is indicated on the label as a percentage.
- 100% down can only be goose.
- Winter down jacket - 90% goose down and 10% goose feathers.
- For a demi-season jacket, this ratio can be 70 to 30 or less.
The effectiveness of natural down lies in the structure of the fluff. They do not have rigid elements, so they easily adhere to each other, forming a spatial structure. It quickly restores its original volume after compression, has minimal weight, has good hygroscopicity (easily removes steam from the body to the outside) and low thermal conductivity.
WHY ARE SYNTHETIC INSULATION DEVELOPED WHEN THERE ARE EXCELLENT NATURAL MATERIALS?
Despite all its advantages, down has quite significant disadvantages.
- Can cause allergic reactions.
- When wet, completely loses its heat-protective properties.
- It takes a long time to dry, and with frequent washing and active wear it wears down into dust and falls out.
- The production of clothes from down is a rather labor-intensive and expensive process, requiring the use of special "down-retaining" fabrics that prevent the down from coming out of the clothes.
Against this background, "synthetics" look much better: it is not hygroscopic, hypoallergenic, and can "warm" even when wet. The table below shows the main differences between natural and synthetic fillers according to six main characteristics.
THE MOST FAMOUS TYPES OF SYNTHETIC INSULATION:
- Sitepon.
- Izosoft.
- Holofiber.
- Thinsulate.
- Fibertek.
SINTEPON - USE THRESHOLD UP TO -10 °C.
This insulation has long enjoyed well-deserved popularity. The basis of the material is polyester fibers. They can be bonded together using one of three methods: adhesive, thermal or needle-punched. The last two are used to produce warm clothing.
- Needle-punched provides high-quality and dense insulation, which is slightly susceptible to deformation, tolerates washing and dry cleaning well, has good thermal insulation and elasticity. But it is the heaviest and does not hold its shape well.
- Thermal allows you to get the highest quality synthetic padding. It is very light, has a high level of thermal insulation, is non-toxic, and is not subject to destruction during folding and washing (subject to compliance with the temperature regime).
The main disadvantages of synthetic padding are: low vapor permeability (as a result of which a person sweats) and a temperature limitation of use to -10 °C. Therefore, this filler is most often used for the production of demi-season clothing.
The inclusion of various natural and artificial additives made it possible to obtain new types of synthetic insulation with more practical characteristics, including: synthetic fluff, synthetic plast, wool stepon and holofiber.
ISOSOFT - A FEELING OF COMFORT AT + 5°С AND - 20°С.
This is the leader among European insulation materials. It is produced by the Belgian company Libeltex, which has more than half a century of experience in the production of various fillers for outerwear and bedding. Isosoft is made from polyester fibers. The structure of the output material is ultra-thin fibers in the form of balls, which are fixed on both sides by a thermal printing method on a layer of spunbond (a non-woven material that keeps the fibers from shifting and deforming).
The most popular density for clothing:
- warm autumn-spring: from 40 to 70 g/m2;
- cold autumn-spring and warm winter: from 100 to 150 g/m2;
- frosty winter: from 200 to 300 g/m2.
Advantages of Izosoft insulation:
- Small thickness and very light weight (practically weightless filler).
- Excellent shape retention and quick recovery after compression.
- Good elasticity, softness and breathability.
- Easy to wash and dries quickly.
- Retains heat well.
- Hypoallergenic.
HOLLOPHIBER - RELIABLY PROTECTS UP TO - 25°C.
It is considered one of the most popular and universal insulation materials. Its scope of application is very wide: home textiles, children's toys, outerwear, workwear, filters, upholstered furniture filling, wall insulation.
It is made from polyester, forming a spiral-shaped hollow fiber. Each such thread is bonded to the neighboring one, under the action of heat treatment. The output is a homogeneous, elastic and porous material with four important characteristics:
- light weight
- high strength,
- good air permeability,
- wear resistance.
Hollowfiber is an environmentally friendly filler, since it does not contain harmful chemical impurities and does not emit harmful substances into the air. For the same reason, it is also hypoallergenic. The insulation does not deteriorate from frequent washing, is not afraid of thermal exposure, does not tear or decompose during use. It does not burn (it only melts under direct fire), holds its shape well, dries quickly and does not create conditions for the development of pathogenic microorganisms: fungus, mites, mold. Its thermal conductivity is almost 2 times lower than Sintepon! That is, the material retains heat 2 times better. To create demi-season and winter clothing, non-woven fabric with a density of 60 to 350 g / m2 is used.
THINSULATE (THINSULATE) - WARM EVEN AT - 30 °C
This synthetic insulation has earned its high title for a reason. With the same thickness of eiderdown and thinsulate filler, the latter is 1.5 times warmer. And this insulation retains heat exactly 2 times better than any other synthetic filler. Such a high degree of thermal protection is explained by the incredible fineness of the material fibers - their thickness does not exceed 10 microns! This is many times thinner than a human hair.
Thinsulate is made from polyesters. Spiral-shaped fibers are coated with a layer of silicone. This makes them more elastic. Using heat treatment, highly siliconized fibers are bonded to the interlining fabric. The density of the material is from 100 to 230 g/m2. It is used to make professional outdoor clothing for extreme sports enthusiasts and polar explorers.
Advantages:
- The thinnest.
- Dimensionally stable.
- It has excellent vapor permeability.
- Hypoallergenic and absolutely sterile.
- Does not absorb foreign odors and does not shrink.
- Dries quickly after washing, completely restores shape.
Disadvantages: the most expensive production among all synthetics.
FIBERTEK - MINUS 40°C IS NOT A PROBLEM!
The insulation Fibertek is produced in the Republic of Belarus. The material is made of polyesters. It has the form of thin, hollow, highly twisted short fibers. Silicone treatment makes them more slippery and mobile. As a result, Fibertek does not bunch up, does not cake, and retains its shape even after getting wet.
The fibers are reinforced on both sides with spunbond and quilted. No glue or heat treatment is used. The result is a durable and voluminous non-woven fabric that breathes perfectly and provides good protection even at - 40°C (though the insulation will be thicker than Thinsulate). Compared to Sintepon, Fibertek is much lighter and holds its shape better. It wins over Holofriber in durability, and over Thinsulate in cost. The insulation is used for sewing work, branded, and sports insulated clothing.
Advantages:
- Light, soft, very durable.
- Does not absorb foreign odors.
- Moisture-resistant, hypoallergenic and non-toxic.
- Keeps shape well and quickly restores it after removing the load.
- It has good vapor permeability and thermal insulation (and humidity does not affect this in any way).
PS.
On the question of what is better: artificial or natural insulation?
Disputes on this issue have been going on since the mass appearance of clothing made of synthetic and natural filler on the market. And there is still no clear answer. However, for many it has already become obvious that artificial fillers are no worse than natural fluff or wool, and in a number of respects exceed them.
Of course, a natural down jacket is more expensive, since it requires more painstaking processing. However, the cost of synthetic insulation is also different. With all this, those of you who prefer to buy a jacket on Thinsulate or Holofiber in our online store will not go wrong with the choice. Those who decide to buy a quality down jacket from the Ukrainian brand FREEVER will never be disappointed.
In the sections: Men's jackets, Women's jackets and Children's jackets you will find a large selection of modern, comfortable, practical and high-quality outerwear for everyday life, sports and outdoor activities. By the way, we wrote about how to choose a natural down jacket here. And what is better: thinsulate or holofiber, read here.
