womens ski jackets and pants on sale:Synthetic Insulation

Synthetic insulation is popular for its strong overall performance and friendly price tag. Typically made of polyester, synthetic fill is quick-drying and insulates even if wet (something down struggles to do).

It’s also less expensive than down insulation, and is durable and hypoallergenic.

There are many competing brand names for synthetic insulations, which can make shopping confusing. A more relevant distinction is knowing whether a synthetic insulator is short-staple or continuous filament.

Short-staple insulations feature short strands of fine-denier filaments that are densely packed to minimize heat loss. This makes sleeping bags and jackets feel soft and flexible, much like down-filled products, and allows for great compressibility. They are, however, a bit less durable than continuous filament and the insulation can move around to create cold spots.

Continuous-filament insulations use a thicker continuous filament that is lofty, strong and durable. They tend to have a stiffer feel and are less compressible than short-staple insulations, but they stay in place so are less likely to create cold spots.

Pros

Very water-resistant and continues to insulate even when wet

Hypoallergenic

Less expensive than down

Cons

Heavier and bulkier than down insulation

Offers less warmth for its weight than down

Less durable than down; insulating power gets reduced each time the bag is stuffed into a stuff sack