longest lasting synthetic insulation (i.e., don't lose its loft) for puff jacket

Climashielf apex ….

Of course with big names like MB, pataguci, MH, etc …. One can often buy synth poofayz very cheapo

synth poofays are disposable items, if the insularion doesnt wear out first ten the UL shell will

;)

Climashield Apex is what is generally used in synthetic quilts and jackets. Honestly, when you touch, it doesn’t feel like much is there, my Rab something-or-other synthetic jacket uses it and it’s pretty low profile for a puffy. It’s ten in CT right now and this with a long sleeve wool shirt under it is all I need to keep my torso warm.

Melanzana high loft hoodie with a windshirt.

Survey says…Apex. Now, Richard Nisley may have some more specialized insight.

FullRange has performed admirably on a few of my Patagonia garments, for what that’s worth. Definitely some loss, though.

I’m going to concur with Eric Chan.

Rather than seeking the ultimate one synthetic puffy, get several from reputable manufactures and rotate between them to fit the conditions of the weather and environment. Some might last you years, and others might last a season.

I currently have 5 different synthetic puffs in my closet and will probably add one or two more while the big end season blowouts are happening. I probably won’t need to buy another for a few years after that.

Shop sales, use coupon codes, only accept free shipping. Buy it cheap and stack it deep.

I have some camo military jacket liners that have held their loft well. The loft seems to be renewed by washing.  I’m guessing that the fiberfill is just made of thicker or stiffer fibers and holds its loft better than some of the lighter fiberfills.

The owner of the military surplus store where I bought these jacket liners said they look like military surplus but are really military surplus knock offs mad in god only knows where.  So my info isn’t very helpful because I don’t know where you could reliably buy the same fill.

Wiggys claims to have fiberfill that holds its loft better over time but if it does I think it is because it is a bit heavier

Wiggys claims to have fiberfill that holds its loft better over time but if it does I think it is because it is a bit heavier

But he makes claims about just everything, and most of the time they’re … well let me say , they make (often) me laugh

I’m gonna give the Rab jacket with the “Cirrus” insulation a shot. They claim it stands-up to repeated use and repeated cleanings

tried to find jackets with APEx insulation…no luck.

Thanks for the tips you guys!

Check Nunatak

https://nunatakusa.com/skaha-ultralight/151-skaha-apex-ultralight-climashield-jacket.html?adtoken=d82ec9006b2a8409d35459170461b355&ad=admin123&id_employee=1&live_configurator_token=1794a557ef94bcb9c7565ed9e403f8c5&id_shop=1&id_employee=1&theme=&theme_font=#/skaha_pocket-no_pocket/interior_chest_pocket-no_inside_pockets_0/size-small/jacket_sleeve_ends-plain_skaha_type_sleeve_finish/skaha_back_length-no_extra_length/skaha_sleeve_length-no_extra_length/apex-25_oz_yd/hood_or_collar-regular_collar/apex_skaha_shells-membrane_10d_taffeta_in_moroccan_blue_light_breathable/apex_liner-membrane_10d_in_black

Polartec Alpha may last the longest since it is essentially hi-loft fleece trapped between two layers of nylon. My Rab Strata (now discontinued in favor of Rab Alpha Direct) has held up very well.

My DAS Parka, made of Primaloft Silver Hi-Loft (née  Primaloft Synergy) has also seen some loft degradation, but given how often it gets crushed into my pack and under pack straps, it has seen substantially the least besides Alpha.

Note that polartex alpha isnt much warmer than a thermal pro hi loft fleece and a windshirt…

which makes sense since thats basically what its made out of

;)

Recently I bought this Cumulus Climashield Apex hooded jacket on GearSwap and have used it on only 1 overnight trip and some hikes with the dog, one of those a 3.6 mile hike with heavy, gloppy snow falling. The Pertex Quantum shell material did an excellent job in both the DWR and vapor permeability departments. However, this is still a very new item for me and only time will tell the full story. But I really like it so far and even the full retail price is not astronomically (dead bird) high, lol… quite reasonable in fact. :^)  (Unfortunately only available in xl at my link, sorry ’bout that!)

I got it mostly for early spring cold/wet and hope to use it on a longer trip in April.

I’ve been using my Nanopuff with Primaloft for years with no loss of loft or performance that I’ve been able to detect. Don’t know if it fits your weight category (I’ve never weighed it) but I’d think there’d be something out there with Primaloft that would.

I have been using a TNF Thermoball hoody this winter, and I am pretty impressed with how well it compresses and springs perfectly back to life. I have no idea how long it will continue to do this. The insulation is Primaloft Silver, which TNF cuts into little ~ 3/16″ squares, which they somehow stuff into a lot of 2″ x 1.5″ baffled pockets. All that stitching for these pockets is the weak link, of course, but a wind shirt or WP/B shell solves that. These jackets or hoodies are only good down to about + 30* F though, unless you layer them over other insulation. I use mine for another insulating layer while stopping for lunch while on a snowshoe outing, and it works perfectly that. The best part is that I can compress it down to very small size.

Apex holds up very well and has a good warmth to weight ratio; Alpha does well in the “doesn’t degrade quickly” department as well

I think you’ll be seeing more and more Apex clothing in the coming months- it’s pretty easy to work (doesn’t require a lot of quilting like Primaloft) and is pretty reasonably priced- especially in bulk.  The quilt market caught onto pretty well, clothing will catch up

For now: I’m giving an Arc Teryx Nuclei FL a try.

I usually wear seize M in everything. The Nuclei Medium was too small. I went up to size L..much better for layering (underneath).

Before I arrived at the Nuclei I tried a Rab Altus with their “Cirrus” insulation. VERY nice and puffy, but the armpit openings were way too small for me, uncomfortable. I tried Patagonia Nano Air, but felt that the outer fabric would shred too easily (but man was that jacket comfy!)
<h2 class=”c-product-item__name”>ALTUS JACKET</h2>

Try not to compress it tightly when you’re not wearing it.  Maybe make sure that it dries well between uses.

Apex is supposed to be better but other brands like Primaloft are pretty close to the same if you don’t find something identified as Apex.

Continuous filament synthetics (a la Mammut’s Ajungilak) seem to hold up much better over time, at the cost of weight/bulk. I go the higher performance, higher replacement rate route.

Continuous filament synthetics (a la Mammut’s Ajungilak)

Actually, I don’ think Ajungilak MTI/OTI is continuous.

short syn fibers generally perform a little better than continuous fibers- weight for weight; my personal opinion is that slight edge is lost quickly in loft degradation, which can often be pretty rapid

Exactly. Montbell’s Exeloft however is probably continuous fiber. Mine however has hardly any loft degradation after ± 10 years.

If Montbell had a 60g jacket I would try it. They have only a 40g UL (not warm enough) or 80g “pro” (too heavy). hmm…I feel like Goldilocks!