Natural Down vs. Synthetic Down Insulation: Warmth Comes Standard

Natural Down

100% of the virgin down we use is certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which ensures that the geese and ducks who supply plumage are protected from force-feeding and live-plucking, and that animal welfare practices are enforced from the farm to the final product. We use this high-loft down in some of our warmest, most premium technical and lifestyle products like the Fitz Roy Down Hoody and Jackson Glacier Jacket.

Recycled Down

Recycled Down is a mix of either 600- or 700-fill-power goose and duck down that is reclaimed from (washed) cushions, bedding and other used items that can’t be resold—without compromising warmth or quality. You’ll find it in Recycled Down products like the Women’s Recycled Down Sweater™ Parka, Kids’ Down Sweater™ Jacket and the Cotton Down Jacket.

Synthetic Down

Synthetic down provides excellent warmth for its weight, stays warm when wet and can be walked dry (it will start to dry out on your body after that creek crossing mishap). We use PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Eco 100% postconsumer recycled polyester with P.U.R.E.™ (Produced Using Reduced Emissions) technology in products like the Nano Puff® Jacket.

What Is Fill Power?

Natural down (also called virgin down) is measured in fill power, which is the amount of space one ounce of down takes up in cubic inches. For example, 650 cubic inches of natural down equates to 650-fill-power down. A higher fill power indicates a greater ability to trap air, resulting in more loft and better insulation for the same weight. Generally, the 600- and 700-fill-power garments we make use Recycled Down and are best for everyday use. Our 800-fill-power garments are made for technical outdoor sports where performance, weight and compressibility matter most. Those garments utilize virgin down that’s certified to the Responsible Down Standard. To learn more, read “Down Fill Power Explained.”

Breaking Down the Different Types of Synthetic Down

For a down-alternative in cold weather that stays warm even when wet, synthetic down (also called synthetic insulation) has many of the same qualities as its natural counterpart. Our products incorporate a variety of synthetic insulation types and technologies:

Patagonia Thermogreen® Insulation

A proprietary synthetic insulation that contains 90–100% recycled content. Thermogreen was the first postconsumer recycled insulation customized for increased durability to meet our rigorous performance and durability specifications. It’s a revolutionary advancement in midlayer performance that you can put on and leave on while moving.

PlumaFill Insulation

A feather-soft 100% recycled polyester insulation with an unprecedented warmth-to-weight ratio we use in our pinnacle technical insulation products, like Micro Puff® and DAS® Light styles. Phenomenally light and compressible, it provides down-level warmth that still traps your body heat when it’s wet.

PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Eco with P.U.R.E.™ Technology

P.U.R.E. stands for Produced Using Reduced Emissions and was developed by PrimaLoft after identifying large, energy-intensive ovens as the main culprit of carbon emissions in insulation manufacturing. Typically, insulation manufacturing requires heat to melt bonding fibers, which provide structural integrity for the insulation. PrimaLoft reinvented the traditional manufacturing process by achieving this integrity without the need for melting, thereby removing heat—and carbon emitting ovens—from the process. By implementing PrimaLoft’s P.U.R.E. manufacturing technology, the insulation used in Nano Puff® styles will not only have a drastically smaller footprint when compared to insulation derived from melting processes but also will be made with 100% recycled PrimaLoft fibers.

PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Eco with Cross Core® Technology

PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Eco fused with Cross Core® aerogel technology provides exceptional warmth and the soft, compressible feel of down with the crucial warm-when-wet performance of synthetic. These products also have extra insulation at the core places where additional warmth is needed most.

FullRange® Insulation

A multi-denier synthetic-fill insulation made from several different types of polyester fibers. It’s built similarly to traditional fill insulations but has a proprietary element that gives it added stability against fiber migration and allows for great stretch and recovery. Our Nano-Air® Light garments use a lightweight, 40-g insulation for versatility and more layering options in a wider range of temperatures. Note: Nano-Air products are ideal for staying warm during stop-start activities as the insulation dumps excess heat and wicks moisture away from your body.

The Warmth Index: Warm to Warmest

Our warmth index measures the relative warmth of Patagonia products to one another. A person’s layering system, metabolism and history, or outside weather conditions such as humidity and altitude, all impact how warm one will feel. The warmth index does not take outside factors into account but instead provides a method for comparing the warmth of products under similar conditions. See how our men’s and women’s insulated jackets compare to one another.

Wrap-Up

It all comes down to choosing the right insulation for your zone and objectives. Planning an alpine summit with ice cave bivies? Natural down would be the call for superior warmth, weight and packability. Checking winter swells in the rain or traversing mountains in cold, damp weather? Synthetic down (men’s and women’s) will keep you warm even if your jacket gets wet.