Down jackets are the most popular clothing for the cold season. Despite their lightness, they perfectly warm, protect from the wind, and are indispensable in winter rain or snowfall.
The advantages of down jackets largely depend on their filler. Synthetic fibers are used for insulation in clothing.(holofiber, tinsulate, isosoft, sintepuh, etc.). Another option is to use natural materials.(wool, down, which is often supplemented with a feather).
When choosing a product, you need to take into account the properties and qualities of various heaters.
We will tell you what duck down insulation is, whether it is warm, how many degrees it keeps warm.
Characteristics of duck down 
Down fillers are made from the down of waterfowl: eider, swan, goose, duck.
Duck is one of the most common materials. Manufacturers refer to it frequently. But how good it is for owners of down jackets, we have to figure it out.
Advantages
A rather small downy feather of a duck has a number of obvious advantages.
- Due to its naturalness, it environmentally friendly.
- duck down attracts with its lightness.
- Filler spreads well inside clothes. Small fluff size allows you to evenly fill the interior space down jacket so that even small areas free of fluff remain in the clothes.
- In a down jacket made of such material, a person feels comfortable. After all filler retains heat well.
Reference. In such down jackets, even small children do not freeze during long walks at temperatures down to minus 25 ºC.
Flaws
Compared to other waterfowl ducks cover their feathers with a rather large layer of fat. It is secreted from the sebaceous glands of the bird and is necessary to protect its feathers in contact with water.
Reference: the fatty layer of duck feathers is larger than similar protection in other birds: eider, swan, goose.
This feature leads to negative features insulation.
Difficult and expensive cleaning
Due to this feature, before using it as a filler, needs to be cleaned more thoroughly than other feathers. It uses strong detergents. They are able not only to wash off the greasy layer, but also get rid of the smell.
But the complexity of the cleaning process increases the cost of production of insulation.
There is another disadvantage of such cleaning: the period during which the fluff plays a warming role is reduced. Which means shortening the lifespan of clothing.
Weight 
The fat layer also affects the weight of the down, making it heavier. That's why jackets with such insulation are heavier than products with other contents.
Care
When washing in the machine the contents of the jacket may clump. And after washing her required long time for complete drying products.
Advice: If you need to wash a product filled with duck down, put a few tennis balls in the washing machine drum or in the pockets of your clothes. This will prevent lumps from forming.
Features of the filler down / feather 
Very often, manufacturers produce warm clothes, the insulation of which cannot be called completely down, since a feather is added to it.
It adds volume to the product, and also reduces its cost.
Label designations
You can find out what was used for the insulation of a particular jacket. from the information on the label.
- Inscription down points to downy content products.
- Word "feather" indicates that a mixed type was used, made with feather additive.
In addition to the indicated text inscriptions, the label has numbers. They are written as a fraction. This is the percentage of two components.
- At the top (numerator) presented down amount.
- From the bottom of the fraction (denominator) you can find out how much feather was added to the insulation.
For example, if the label says 70/30, this means that the filler of the down jacket is 70% down, and the remaining 30% is feather.
Optimal ratio 
Having received information about the jacket, you need to evaluate it. To do this, you need to know which combination will provide warmth.
Reference: Increasing the feather percentage makes the down jacket less warm.
- In order not to freeze in winter at a temperature up to minus 25 ºC, you need to select products in which feather takes up no more than 20% (80/20).
- Residents of the districts With harsh winters need to find model in which the pen is even smaller: 10% (90/10).
Having information about duck down, you can decide whether a down jacket with such insulation will suit you or not.
The women's clothing store offers down jackets, short coats and coats with different insulation, so you involuntarily wonder with what filler to choose a winter down jacket, so as not to freeze cold in it? An important indicator of the ability of a down jacket to retain heat is a filler. The durability of the product and the preservation of its original properties even after a couple of seasons of wear depend on the quality and properties of the insulation. On sale you can find one- or two-layer fashionable down jackets different style. For the Russian winter, two-layer jackets are more suitable, and for European and southern regions, a single-layer jacket is quite suitable, it can withstand temperatures up to minus 12 degrees, and there is no lower.
Before proceeding with the choice of a down jacket for the winter, in accordance with, let's deal with its filling and study the entire list of contenders for filling a winter jacket. So, manufacturers choose artificial synthetic fibers and natural materials as a filler. Natural ones have been a priority for a long time, as they kept heat well, but they require complex care and the creation of special conditions for washing. New-fashioned synthetic ones are slightly inferior in terms of heat-shielding properties, and some even surpass natural heaters. The main advantages of synthetic insulation include ease of care and hypoallergenicity. Each type of filler has its own characteristics and features. Want to figure out which filler is the best? Let's explore the qualities and properties of each of them.
What is the best filler for a down jacket: types and descriptions of materials
Consider all natural fillers
Fluff. It can be duck, swan, eider down. Jacket stuffed with it proper care will last over 10 years. Thanks to this filler, jackets stuffed with down got their name "down jacket". Advantages of the material: high heat-saving capacity, lightness, softness and durability.
The photo shows a natural filler for a women's down jacket down
As for the shortcomings, we will include the high cost of the final product (although it is formed not only because of the filler, but also depends on the coating fabric, style and brand). For the care and washing of a down jacket based on down, special conditions. Sensitive people also note the appearance of allergic reactions during wear.
Among all the downs, the most expensive and warmest is eider fluff. It is used for warming products for women living in harsh climates. Jackets with eider down are suitable for outings, long walks in the fresh air.
Goose and duck down
the most common option. IN Lately it is often blended with synthetic fibers to keep the cost down. In principle, this has little effect on the heat-saving abilities of products. Yes, according to the reviews. Women's Jackets with duck and goose down mixed with artificial fibers are easier to wash and retain their properties after manipulation in an automatic machine.
Feather + down.
Enough frequent filling for women's down jackets and coats. On the one hand, the pen reduces the cost of the product, and on the other hand, it creates a certain basis for volume. On personal experience I will say that a down jacket with a feather can be washed at home.
For information:
P uh is usually denoted on the manufacturer's labels with the word "down". Inscription "feather" means a mixed type of feather with down. Word "Intelligentdown" indicates that a combination of down and synthetic filling is used here. If you want to know how to choose a good down jacket for women by filler, you will have to learn these characteristics by heart. In addition to these inscriptions, the label may contain the designation "Cotton" or "polyester." This means that cotton, batting or synthetic winterizer was used for filling.
The label also indicates the ratio of down component to feather (fraction on the label). 70/30 or 80/20. Usually the first digit is the percentage of the pen. Check the percentage before buying a down jacket. Normal - 70-80%. It is with this indicator of fluff that the product will be adapted to the harsh climate and cold winter.
Looking ahead a little, I’ll tell you how to determine how to determine a synthetic winterizer or fluff is in a down jacket. To do this, squeeze the filler through the fabric with two fingers, and rub it between your fingers. At the synthetic winterizer, holofiber and other artificial filler, a creak will be heard, it will seem to slide between the fingers. The fluff does not make such a sound, and if the filler is created in a combination of fluff and feather, then between your fingers you will feel thin feather rods, they are quite noticeable to the touch.
Wool.
This natural material for filling jackets. They are conditionally called a down jacket, since there is no down in them. A winter jacket or short coat stuffed with wool perfectly retains heat and is inexpensive. Often sheep or camel wool is used for filling.
Disadvantages: the final product is heavy and shrinks when washed. Also causes allergic reactions. Recently, manufacturers have been practicing a mixed type of filling for down jackets, these are wool and synthetic fibers. Thanks to this combination, such jackets lend themselves well to washing at home in automatic washing machines.
Artificial fillers: advantages and disadvantages for down jackets
Sintepon
. Popular and most cheap material for down jackets and coats. Lately he's been pushed back modern views fillers and was rarely used for stuffing clothes. Advantages:
- retains heat well;
- is not a hydroscopic material;
- dries quickly after getting wet;
- can be washed in automatic washing machines.
Isosoft
. Excellent material for filling down jackets. This is a European membrane insulation from the manufacturer Libeltex.
Isosoft advantages:
- has a low weight;
- well repels moisture, does not absorb it;
- even a thin layer perfectly retains heat;
- products with isosoft filling can be washed in washing machine;
- the down jacket on isosoft dries quickly, does not lose its original appearance during long-term wear.
Holofiber.
Artificial insulation made of synthetic spiral fibers. It is used as a heater for women's and children's clothing. According to the reviews of the owners of down jackets on holofiber, this is a real find for the Russian cold winter.
The following advantages of this material are noted:
- a light weight;
- does not get lost when washing;
- inexpensive and accessible;
- bulk material;
- hypoallergenic.
Thinsulate
. The insulation is made of highly siliconized polyester fiber, twisted in a spiral. There is air around the fibers. It is also called artificial swan down. The thickness of the fibers is 60 times less than the thickness of a human hair. It has a high ability to retain heat. To achieve identical characteristics, a thickness of 10 times less than conventional fillers is required. Initially, thinsulate was developed by order of NASA for the clothing of astronauts and polar explorers. Currently, this insulation is considered the warmest and thinnest of fillers for down jackets.
Advantages of thinsulate:
- light weight with large volumes;
- has elevated thermal insulation properties;
- in the process of wearing it does not stray into lumps;
- well tolerates washing, does not deform and does not crumple after prolonged use;
- environmentally friendly hypoallergenic material;
- does not absorb odors;
- does not shrink after getting wet;
- dries quickly.
Sintepukh. It is a fluffy volumetric mass of synthetic fibers with a hollow structure. It consists of white springy fibers, intertwined, they form a dense structure. There are several types of synthetic down, among them siliconized down. Twisted polyester fibers are additionally treated with a silicone emulsion. This allows them not to cling to each other, to maintain volume for a long time.
The characteristics of the insulation are as close as possible to fluff.
Advantages of synthetic fluff:
- environmental friendliness and hypoallergenicity,
- the material does not absorb odors, does not accumulate dust;
- high wear resistance, it does not collapse;
- antibacterial, microorganisms and fungi do not live in synthetic fibers;
- breathability, provides ventilation
- resistant to deformation, the original form returns after compression, stretching;
- water resistance, fibers quickly evaporate moisture after wetting, but even wet they retain heat-insulating properties;
- tolerates washing well, does not shrink;
- in care, down jackets on sintepuhe are well washed in typewriters.
Spray-bonded cotton wool is an environmentally friendly, safe material. On the label of a down jacket or jacket, it is indicated as follows: spray bonded wadding. It is made from natural cotton and cotton wool. It is soft, wear-resistant and breathable material. By technical properties This filler is close to bio-fluff. It has a high quality of thermal insulation, does not cause allergies, does not give in to rotting and corrosion, does not crumple, and has air permeability. Be sure that microorganisms, moths and other insects will not start in the spray-bonded cotton filler. Spray-bonded wadding will not climb through the seams and roll into clumps. It will help you withstand the most severe frosts.
I hope I answered the question of what is the best filler for a down jacket and now you know for winter.
Urgently making an audit in the closet (due to sudden frosts), you think: “How much fluff should be in the main subject of the winter uniform - a warm down jacket? And why do they dislike the pen so much?
How much down should be in a warm winter down jacket?
The main advantages of outerwear with down include: high thermal insulation properties with low weight, practicality and durability. A down jacket is a product made only from natural down, on the label of which the word “down” appears. Leading manufacturers use a ratio of 20% feather (feather) and 80% down (down)
Down or feather, which is better for a down jacket?
A good winter coat is not filled with only one fluff (the product is deformed after the first wash). A feather in a down jacket is essential to maintain the shape of the “down block”. Doubt the quality? Take the sleeve of the jacket and squeeze, letting the air out. Did the product quickly recover its shape? This means that the feather and down in it are of high quality, move freely and hold securely. warm air inside.
An important indicator of quality is the coefficient of elasticity of down. It is labeled "Fill Power" on the label. This is a generally accepted measure of the quality of the down filling reflects its ability to recover after compression. In jackets, with a high degree of elasticity of natural fluff, it is comfortable up to - 30-35 degrees and below.
How much down should be in a down jacket by weight
A good down jacket weighs no more than a kilogram. If desired, it is always easy to twist it into a small bundle. Winter jackets with fur weigh a little more, but when worn they still seem almost weightless. But cheap fakes with ground chicken feathers are heavy and fail at the first frost: they do not heat up and quickly lose their presentation.
Branded brands of down jackets always supply their products with special sample bags. It is easy to determine the quality of the filler from them. This is what natural goose down looks like, which was collected from a live bird:
Of great importance for the quality of the down jacket is the age of the goose. The older the bird, the more developed the structure of its down, both in terms of fluffiness and strength.
The percentage of down and feather in a down jacket
In a high-quality product, the number of feathers should not exceed 30% of the total volume. If there is more feather in the down jacket than down, then after the first wash the filler will simply slide down, making the thing unwearable.
Why does fluff come out of a down jacket when worn?
The appearance of "fluffs" on outerwear leading trademarks(Decently, Lusskiri, Mohnass) excluded. Special "bags" sewn into the technical part of the jacket prevent the filler from crawling out and its uneven distribution. Noticeable protruding feathers that pierce the fabric and fluff constantly crawling out are a sign of a defective or poor-quality product.
The amount of down in down jackets in grams
It is correct to evaluate not the amount of fluff, but its quality. Sometimes the weight of the down in the product may not exceed 500 g. Fabrics with waterproof and windproof properties almost double the weight of the down jacket. (Possessing high hygroscopicity, fluff easily accumulates moisture and deteriorates without quick drying). The material of the down jacket has breathable properties, providing unhindered air circulation, but does not allow the down to get wet. Upper layer protects down insulation from seasonal precipitation and prevents an airy jacket from turning into a miserable bag full of hard, wet lumps in one moment.
How down is processed for down jackets
Down after collection from a goose or duck goes through more than ten stages of processing. It is washed, dried, sorted according to the capacity of its filling. After all procedures natural material packed in a special container that will not damage the fluffiness and structure of the fluff, and sent to the factory. If the down receives approval from the manufacturer of outerwear, it once again undergoes an air circulation procedure, during which all foreign particles are completely eliminated. Careful cleaning and processing make the down in the down jacket hypoallergenic and safe.
Is it true that there is more down in a winter jacket than in a demi-season jacket?
The numerical indicator of the thermal insulation of the CLO down jacket (look at the label) will help you choose the right down jacket model for the season. The jacket with the designation 3 CLO is designed for severe frosts, as its filler material with a high coefficient of elasticity is used. Walking at a temperature not lower than -10 degrees, comfortable in clothes with an indicator of 1 CLO.
The saying "neither fluff nor feather" is inappropriate in this case.
The temperature on the street inexorably tends to zero. And if now you can still walk in autumn coats and jackets, then with the advent of winter, you cannot do without warm winter clothes. Undoubtedly, the most comfortable, light and warm winter outerwear is a down jacket. Down jackets are warm due to the fact that they hold air well, which heats up from the body and retains heat.
Right now, many are in the process of looking for winter clothes. We hope that our advice, which is given by Tatyana Prokopenko, a commodity manager of industrial goods of a large retail chain, will be useful to them.
Don't go cheap
- It is better to buy down jackets from trusted brands or manufacturers of sports models specializing in winter recreation and sports.
Canada, Finland, Sweden, Italy are considered the best manufacturers of down jackets. A product manufactured in one of these countries can be bought with confidence. It will serve for a long time and protect from any cold weather. However, down jackets produced by companies in these countries are quite expensive and not everyone can afford it. Domestic firms also sew quite decent down coats, and products from Chinese manufacturers are also in demand. However, in any case, the choice of a down jacket, as well as any other product, must be approached especially carefully so that you do not slip a low-quality item.
Look at the price first. Cheapness is a sign of a low-quality product. If you can not afford an expensive down jacket, then stop at the average price: around 8 - 10 thousand. Remember that you are buying a thing not for one year, if it is, of course, of high quality. Otherwise, you are just throwing money away.
The first rule: carefully read the label and accompanying instructions sewn into the seam of the product. It happens that the information on it is written in too small letters: do not hesitate to ask the seller to help read what it says. The label should contain information about the country of origin, what fabric the coat is made of, the composition of the filler, recommendations for caring for the product, and other data. If there is no such instruction, refuse to purchase.
Translating the "down" label
If the label says down, then inside - fluff (eiderdown, swan, duck or goose).
"feather"
100% "down" is rare, most often feathers are added to the filler - "feather".
cotton
If the label says “cotton”, then this is not a down jacket, but a coat stuffed with ordinary cotton wool, it will not warm in winter.
"wool"
The inscription "wool" means that there is woolen batting inside the jacket, and "polyester" means that the filler is made of synthetic winterizer.
Feather
The label should indicate the percentage of down and feathers in the filler. For example: down - 70%, feather - 30%. Only numbers can stand: for example, 80/20, which means: in the insulation 80% down and 20% feather. Most often, coats are insulated with a mixture of down and feathers in a ratio of 70% to 30%. A 50% ratio is used for lighter spring/fall jackets. Maximum thermal insulation in a down jacket is already achieved at 75% down content.
Another indicator may be on the label of a down jacket: CLO is a unit of measure for the thermal insulation of a product. Indicator 1 CLO guarantees protection at temperatures up to minus 15 degrees, 3 CLO - up to minus 40.
For down jackets, 3 CLO is usually used. Very often, manufacturers indicate on the labels the numbers of GOSTs, compliance with various standards. For example, DIN EN 12934 European Standard means that the down used in the product complies with the European down quality standard. It has gone through all stages of production processing: soaking, washing, drying, filtering from impurities and sterilization.
"Fill Down"
The label often indicates another indicator - "down elasticity", which is indicated by the combination "Fill Down" and characterizes the ability of the filler to recover after compression. IN good down jacket FD must be at least 550. If such an indicator is not on the label, then you can determine the quality of the fluff yourself. To do this, fold the down jacket tightly, folding the sleeves inward. The smaller the bundle is, the better quality fluff in the product. After a short time, filling with air, the down jacket will straighten.
Quality Assurance
A sign of a real down jacket is a bag attached to the label with a sample of the down used in the product. It should also come with spare hardware.
An important detail of a high-quality down jacket is the presence of a distinctive brand name of the manufacturer on the buttons and zippers.
In no case should fluff come out of the down jacket. Bend the product in half at the seam and move your finger along the fabric. If you feel a tingling sensation, then the down jacket is of poor quality.
Check the seams carefully. They should be even, not through. Usually the product has several internal pockets, the insulated hood comes unfastened.
In a good down jacket, the down is packed in bags that are sewn inside the product. This is done so that the fluff is evenly distributed and does not fall to the hem. In addition, the down jacket must be stitched vertically or horizontally.
Down in a down jacket should be in moderation. Too much fluff leads to the fact that the thermal insulation of the product is reduced. A real down jacket weighs about 1.5 kg, if its weight is more than 2 kilograms, then you should not buy such a product.
According to ROMIR, at the beginning of each season, that is, once every three months, 41% of citizens. However, every fifth Russian ( 20% ) gives himself free rein and goes to buy new wardrobe items at least once a month. More 14% can afford to make such acquisitions as often as their hearts desire. A 17% they patiently wait for large-scale sales every six months: “I won’t buy anything at random, I’ll save money ...”. More 8% prefer to buy clothes when the opportunity presents itself.
Share of expenses for clothing in the budget of Russians occupies a fairly significant place. 43% citizens spend on new things from 10 to 20% your salary. Almost every tenth 9% ) is able to lay out almost a third for them ( 30%) your budget. Every fifth ( 20% ) balances on the edge from 20 to 30% earnings. And 28% squeeze such purchases into one tenth ( 10% ) of their salary. Here, however, it is important to understand: either the costs are small, or the salary is solid, maybe this way and that.
In our country, for some reason, any voluminous jacket is called down jackets. And it doesn't matter what kind of insulation is inside her. And it happens to be different. And it is the inner contents of the down jacket that determines whether it will warm your soul and empty your wallet. How to choose a quality down jacket?
Types of insulation for a down jacket
Down jacket comes from the word "down". This means that inside the real down jacket there should be only fluff, and nothing else! If the jacket contains only natural down, then you will certainly find the inscription “down” on the label. But you will not often see this inscription, since such down jackets are very expensive. But a jacket stuffed 100% with goose down alone can last about 20 years. At the same time, it will not lose its main property - to retain heat. If duck down, then the service life of such a jacket will be 5 years.
In fact, down jackets are usually stuffed not only with down, but also with feathers. On the label of a jacket with down and feathers, you will see the inscription "feather". If “cotton” is written on the jacket, then there is no down jacket in front of you. This is an ordinary padded jacket. If the filler of the jacket is woolen batting, then the label will say “wool”, and if it is a synthetic winterizer, then you will see the inscription “polyester”.
You say, what difference does it make what the jacket is stuffed with, because it is warm? But you will enjoy the warmth of a down jacket on a synthetic winterizer for a short time. After the first wash, it will retain 28% less heat than it was originally.
Today they produce ultra-modern down jackets. The filler in them is synthetic fluff, produced using high technology. The jacket on synthetic down is many times warmer than the usual synthetic winterizer. In such outerwear, you really will not freeze. Such down jackets cost less than natural ones, they absorb moisture worse and are hypoallergenic, so everyone can wear them.
To choose a quality down jacket, you need to pay attention to 5 important things when buying it:
- Percentage of down content;
- down distribution;
- Down processing method;
- Availability of protection against emerging pen;
- Other small parts, including a sample of fluff.
Let's consider each nuance in more detail.
If you want to buy only a high-quality down jacket, then the percentage of down in it should not be less than 80. The other 20% of the padding must be feather. The ratio of down and feather on the label is indicated as a fraction. But most often there are down jackets with a ratio of 70% down and 30% feather. Light down jackets are suitable for short walks around the city. The down to feather ratio can be 60/40 or 50/50. But even such jackets are best worn only in spring or autumn. For winter, choose models with high content down - 80/20 or 90/10. These jackets are ideal for long walks outside the city.
In a down jacket, the padding is distributed in blocks. They must be small. If they are more than 20 centimeters long or wide, then the fluff will fall down to the lowest seam. In this case, the down jacket loses its ability to retain heat. Down can be arranged in one or two layers. Double-layer down jackets are warmer.
The fluff should move in each of the blocks, no lumps should be felt. The filler should not prick, if it pricks, it is of poor quality. It is important to pay attention to the coefficient of elasticity of the down jacket, it is denoted by F.P., which means fill power. If you want a high-quality down jacket, then choose a jacket with an elasticity coefficient of at least 550. And you can easily check the elasticity: squeeze one block of down and release. If the block instantly restores its shape, the down jacket is good.
Before a down jacket is placed in the blocks of the jacket, it must undergo some procedures: washing, disinfection, and finally drying. If the filler has gone through all these processing steps, then the stuffing standard should be indicated on the label - DIN EN 12934. This means that the down with which the jacket is filled meets European standards.
If the jacket is of poor quality, then the fluff in it is unevenly distributed. Sometimes it sticks out, and when squeezed, the fingers begin to prick. This suggests that there are many feathers inside. In a high-quality down jacket, the down is first placed in a double bag impregnated with Teflon. At the same time, the fabric does not allow the pen to crawl out and prick.
If the down jacket is natural, then a bag should be attached to it, in which there is a sample of down. And on the zipper and on the buttons, there is usually a distinctive sign of the company. Quality down jackets are always offered with spare accessories, and the country of origin and washing instructions are indicated on the label. If the cuffs of the jacket are knitted, or they are sewn from lining fabric with an elastic band, then be sure that they will not be blown out of them. If the down jacket is stitched from the inside, then the down does not fall off at the bottom, which will allow the jacket to last more than one or two seasons.
Guided by these tips, you can choose a quality down jacket that will last you 5-10 or even more years. And don't try to buy cheaper. It is better to buy once for 5-10 seasons than every winter a new, but low-quality down jacket.
