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WOMEN'S DOWN JACKETS BUYING GUIDE

We'll help you choose the right down jacket for your winter activities.
Down jackets are essential for insulating you from the cold, even during strenuous activities. The key is to choose THE right down jacket for your needs. On AlpinStore, you'll find a wide range of women's down jackets with different weights and fabric combinations to best suit your sport. You'll find different cuts: sleeveless down jackets, long down jackets, hooded down jackets, hoodless down jackets, short lifestyle down jackets... etc.

Whether you're in the city or the mountains, a down jacket is an essential part of your winter wardrobe. Our advice is to help you choose the down jacket that's right for you: feminine, technical and insulating to face winter.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT WOMEN'S DOWN JACKET

Warmth: the1st criterion for buying a down jacket

Insulation is certainly the most important criterion in your purchase. What should you choose between a down jacket with natural down insulation and one with synthetic insulation?
There are 2 main types of insulation: down and synthetic. Some down jackets offer a mix of both.

1. Down comforters: the warmest down comforters

Down is a natural material derived from duck or goose. Its insulating and compressive properties are far superior to those of synthetics. Down's insulation is linked to its loft. The more air down inflates, the warmer it will be. This is measured in cuin (cubic inch) or fil power. The higher the cuin, the warmer the down.
  • Between 400 and 500 cuin: medium-quality down
  • 600-700 cuin: good quality down
  • Over 800: very good quality down

To compare two down comforters, simply multiply the cuin by the quantity of down (not the weight of the down jacket).

  • Down jacket 1: 600 cuin x 200 grams of down = 120,000
  • Down jacket 2: 800 cuin x 150 grams of down = 120,000

In both cases, the down jackets are equally warm, but the second will be lighter and more compressible. The term "warmth index" is used when testing down jackets and sleeping bags. Obviously, the better the feather, the more expensive the down jacket.

Down jackets fall into 3 categories:

  • 90 to 150g down: micro down jacket for temperatures around 0°C
  • 200 to 300g down: winter and high-altitude down jackets, for temperatures below zero
  • 400 to 500g of down: expedition down jacket for extreme cold

Another point to bear in mind is the down/feather ratio. While the feather is essential to stabilize the down, the more down there is, the warmer and more compressible the down jacket will be, but it will be more sensitive to humidity. Ratios generally vary from 85/15, to 95/5 for top-of-the-range products, i.e. 95% down and 5% feather.

Moisture being down's main enemy, more and more down jackets are treated to be water-repellent.

2. The most insulating synthetic down jackets in wet conditions

The competition is fierce among synthetic insulation manufacturers. All of them have their own technologies and innovations, and claim unrivalled properties. There are, however, some highly reputed manufacturers of synthetic insulation, such as Primaloft or Polartec (made from recycled plastic bottles).

  • PrimaLoft One: the warmest, lightest and most compact, but expensive
  • PrimaLoft Sport: a little less warm, but more economical, good value for money
  • PrimaLoft Eco: less warm than One and Sport, but ecological, made from 100% recycled bottles
  • Polartec Alpha: less warm than PrimaLoft One and Sport, but more breathable, very compressible
  • Wadding: generic insulation used for low/mid-range garments, stays warmer than a fleece.
Synthetic insulation is made of polyester filaments that mimic the loft of down. It would be simplistic to say that synthetic is inferior to down. Less compressible than down, synthetic retains its thermal properties even in damp weather! Synthetic is less fragile, less sensitive to water and, above all, much more economical. It just has different properties.

The density of synthetic fillings is measured in gr/m². The higher the grammage, the better the insulation.

COMPARISON TABLE BETWEEN DOWN AND SYNTHETIC DOWN JACKETS

Advantages

Disadvantages

Down

High warmth-to-weight ratio

Very compressible

Very lightweight

Comfortable, cozy

Longer life than synthetic

More breathable than synthetic

High price (depending on down quality)

Loses its insulating capacity when wet, and dries with difficulty

More expensive than synthetic

Feather leaks when outer fabric is torn

Is harvested from animals - prefer labelled down

Synthetic

More economical

Retains some of its insulating qualities even when wet

Dries more quickly

If torn, the filling remains

Easier to care for and wash than down jackets.

Lower warmth-to-weight ratio

Not as compressible

Not as durable

Less breathable than down (except for certain types of synthetic)

Choice of outer fabric:

The outer fabric is also important in the choice of your down jacket, not only for its lightness and compression, but also for its properties (waterproofing - breathability - windproofing). The finer the fabric, the lighter and more compressible the down jacket, but the more fragile it will be. While a fabric tear in a synthetic down jacket is not catastrophic, in a down jacket, it's a guaranteed loss of feather.

Most down jackets are windproof and water-repellent, but not totally waterproof. Very few down jackets are, as this affects breathability, compression and price. You'll find ultra-warm down jackets from RAB, the quality of columbia down jacketsdown jackets, or Karpos hybrid down jackets for ski touring.

Tip: an outer fabric made of "Pertex Quantum" is a guarantee of quality!

ECO-FRIENDLY DOWN JACKETS FOR WOMEN

For some years now, down has been the subject of much controversy. Manufacturers have realized that many consumers are concerned about their environmental impact when buying a down jacket. Indeed, there have been calls to question the mistreatment of animals, as well as the working conditions of employees in down production factories. Manufacturers have understood this, and are trying to come up with solutions that are more respectful of the environment, animals and people alike.

This is why the RDS (Responsible Down Standard) label was created. It certifies that the feathers used to make an eco-friendly eco-friendly down jacket comes from animals raised in a healthy way, without unnecessary suffering. It is thus synonymous with sustainability and respect for the environment, a quality increasingly appreciated by consumers.

Now you have all the tools you need to choose the down jacket that's right for you!

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DOWN JACKET

You've finally invested in the down jacket of your dreams, and you want to look after it as well as possible so that it lasts as long as possible. Taking care of a down jacket isn't easy. Don't hesitate to wash your down jacket once a year. This will reactivate the loft and waterproofing properties of your down jacket. Alpinstore gives you a few tips.

  • Tip 1: To make your down jacket last as long as possible, take care of it every day! Start with a light cleaning, using a washcloth lightly soaked in soapy or clear water, to avoid wetting the down inside.
  • Tip 2: read the down jacket label! We recommend that you follow the advice given by the supplier on the down jacket label. Please note that some down jackets cannot be machine-washed.
  • Knowing the washing instructions on the label and following them will ensure your down jacket lasts longer.
  • Tip no. 3: use appropriate products and avoid fabric softener! green cleaning products from Granger
  • Tip 4: use dryer balls or simply tennis balls during the machine program and for drying. Perfect for maintaining the down's loft, the balls stir up the down so that it doesn't clump together in the corners of the down jacket.
  • Discover Alpinstore's special down jacket washing kit with down detergent and 3 drying balls.
  • Tip n°5: if you're worried about washing your down jacket, you can always call in a dry cleaner.

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