How to choose the perfect outerwear
Winter season is coming and soon Jack Frost will be nibbling on our fingers. You may find yourself splurging money, or buying the wrong clothes occasionally; that’s okay. You might want to consider an insulated overcoat instead of a jacket if you find the mid layers not cutting it. Take into consideration the insulation type and the features enlisted in the jacket before buying it. The weight of the jacket and the shell materials are important too. Hoods, adjustments, vents, pockets and powder skirts add bang to your buck. Is the jacket designed to handle your level of activity and also to deal with blizzards? Types of insulation for outwear Basically, there are three types of insulation features for outerwear – down, water-resistant down, and synthetic insulation. Down: Mother Nature’s best insulator, down comes from the feathers of ducks and geese. Lightweight and warm, they pack flat, perfect for hiking. However, down dries slowly and won’t insulate when damp. It’s unsuitable for moist environments and can’t handle water. You can determine the quality of down by looking at its fill power. 450 to 900 is a good fill power range. Water-resistant down: Think down, except with polymerized treatment. Can handle damp surfaces and moisture better than it’s raw product.