Synthetic Insulated Jacket Review & State of the Market Report

[Erica R]

Bob, the distinction between layering while in camp and layering at a rest stop is quite useful. Thank you. ” Could we wear those (synthetic jackets) while hiking under my backpack straps and maybe rain shell and also expect them to keep us warm while in camp?” If we extend the distinction between layering in camp/layering at a rest stop/layering while hiking, it does seem that in cold weather we inherently need an extra layer for rest stops and while in camp.

And thank you, Paul, for your detailed reply. Regarding sizing, I had to purchase and return several wind shells before I finally got one that would fit over my down puffy. I think it is worth it, though, as the puffy is much warmer with the wind shell over it, and the XL Houdini is still quite comfortable when used without the puffy.

In general I found the article quite good. It has considerably diminished my desire for an expensive and short-lived synthetic puffy.

[Edward John M]

I would have liked the reports to have given the operating temperatures and wind speeds experienced during the tests.

Given Ericas comment above I want a cheap and long lived synthetic so I guess it is back to/ stay with the fleece and windshirt combination. Given that windshirts are so light weight and so functional why don’t more of us wear multiple layers of windshirt ?

I have experimented doing so and it works very well if a little fussy

[Ken Thompson]

Fleece and wind shirt was my take away from the webinar as well. Right around an hour and a half through.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Erica, I hear you about sizing wind shells over puffys. I had to get an XL REI eVent rain parks to go over my Eddie Bauer down jacket but it works for everything from hunting to alpine skiing.

I love down, especially DriDown and Down Tek treated down but I think I want a nice synthetic fill jacket, something in the Climashield line B/C I want it to retain loft as long as possible if I have to stuff it often. The complaints I’ve heard about Primaloft Gold losing loft quickly make me shy away from it even though LL Bean uses it a lot in their jackets and Parkas.

 

[Kyle U]

Just a FYI from Arcteryx:

Thank you for reaching out to us.

Continuous Coreloft is in fact the same as Apex Climasheild. Continous Coreloft is just our branding for this material.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

I hope this finds you well,

Arc’teryx Service Team – Emily
ARC’TERYX Equipment
http://www.arcte

[Jackson]

Any chance that this market review would be updated?  It is closing on 2 years old…

[Mike M]

“Combining the Skaha Apex with an active insulation jacket, such as the Patagonia Nano Air Light, is a viable setup for fast and light winter travel in moderate temperatures (10’s and 20’s Fahrenheit). Carrying only 20 oz (567 g) of moisture-resilient insulating layers is truly outstanding!!”

this is my go to combo through all of shoulder season and most of winter; in colder weather I substitute Nunatak’s 2.5 Apex pullover w/ their 3.6 Apex jacket- this layered over Patagonia’s Air Light is extremely warm when stopped or at camp (with just a couple of ounces additional over the pullover)

 

 

[David U]

Hey Ian,

“You’re touching on it some Eric but I’m looking at this in terms of loft not weight.   Inch for inch I feel warmer with synthetic over down.”

Moving but not static?

[Author]

Posts