green LB-2 Septa
Staying warm is the key to having fun in freezing temps. Insulated jackets come in all weights, styles, and different fill materials. If you’re confused, here’s a breakdown of the two basic types of insulation and how you might go about choosing between them. The overriding principle at work in insulated jackets (and sleeping bags, mittens, or any other insulated apparel) is the same: air is trapped in the small spaces between the filaments of down or strands of polyester, providing warmth in cold conditions. Loftier (or puffier, if you will) materials consist of more air, and offer a greater warmth-to-weight ratio. Overall, down is lighter, more compressible, and longer-lasting than synthetic insulation.thermogreen Synthetic Insulation Synthetic insulation is made up of fine filaments of polyester that are spun to create pockets of air between the fibers. Higher-quality, softer-feeling insulation is usually made up of finer filaments with more air space between them. Higher-end synthetic insulation may also be treated for water- and odor-resistance, to improve performance in outdoor settings and active uses. As mentioned earlier, synthetic insulation will usually outperform down in wet, humid conditions, and will dry more quickly. How much insulation do you need in a jacket? The thickness of synthetic insulation is usually expressed as grams per square meter (note that this is NOT a measure of the total weight of the insulation in a jacket). So, a jacket with 200g insulation is going to be thicker and warmer than a comparable jacket with 100g insulation. As a rule of thumb, 50-100g jackets are great for spring or fall, or in situations where you expect to be wearing several layers, while 100-200g jackets are ideal for more frigid conditions. However, these rules don’t totally apply for the newer generation of synthetic insulation like The North Face’s Thermoball or Marmot Featherless; these new technologies are engineered to more closely resemble down and will be lighter yet warmer than other types of synthetic insulation. A new type of synthetic that is starting to show up is high-tech insulated jackets that are engineered to breathe in high-output activities. This helps resolve the old dilemma of how to dress for aerobic activities in cold weather, since you can go longer before overheating or perhaps avoid it altogether. Examples of this include The North Face Ventrix, Patagonia Nano-Air, and any jackets with Polartec Alpha .It’s also more expensive and doesn’t insulate very well if it gets wet. On the other hand, synthetic insulation is slightly heavier, slightly less compressible, and wears out a bit quicker. On the plus side, it’s also less expensive (in general) and insulates much better if you get it wet. Which you choose will depend on your price point and how you plan to use your jacket.