Puffer jackets are a must-have in every closet - they're like wearing a big, warm hug all the time. But how do you find the perfect one? To help you make the tricky decision, we've outlined the nitty-gritty of each fill type.
Synthetic fill
Kathmandu's synthetic down insulation is made from 100% recycled polyester. Used plastic drinking bottles are recycled and broken down into resin and reinvented as polyester fibres. These ultrafine fibres become the fill in your jacket, trapping warmth within air pockets and mimicking the insulating effects of down. Compared to traditional down, a jacket with synthetic down loft fibres has some significant advantages:
- Keeps you insulated, even in damp conditions
- Doesn't clump together after being washed
- Quicker drying
- PETA approved as a vegan product
- Typically more affordable than feather down
However, it doesn't quite compare with feather down in terms of its weight-to-warmth ratio. If you're planning on travelling to extremely cold climates, a feather-down will keep you warmer, and take up less space in your bag.
Down fill
Feather down is nature’s best insulator, and provides exceptional warmth, while also being incredibly lightweight and supremely packable. 100% of our feather down is independently certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which describes and independently certifies animal welfare practices in down and feather production from the farm to the final product.
We've mentioned that a downside is that the feathers don't insulate when wet, and they can be time-consuming to wash and dry properly. To combat this, our Puffer jackets and vests are treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish which helps to bead water in light rain. But if you do expect to get caught out in heavy rain, take a full rain jacket to add on top of your puffer, so you can stay cosy and dry.
If you anticipate that your puffer jacket will get wet and/or dirty often, then perhaps a synthetic fill is the way to go, as synthetic fill is easier to wash.
All things considered: it's often a matter of comparing price, colour, and fit to find the perfect match. The decision is in your hands now - browse our range of puffer jackets and see what speaks to you.