Comparison review: [Beyond fleece!?] We compared the latest synthetic fiber insulation (cold protection clothing)
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
A thorough comparison of new-generation winter clothing that's warm yet comfortable and allows you to move freely
Mid-layers are often worn all the time when outdoors in winter. Also known as mid-layers or thermal layers, these garments provide adequate insulation and effectively expel sweat from inside the garment as water vapor, making them an essential layer for activities in cold weather. The familiar fleece jacket was once the go-to mid-layer. However, this perception may be changing starting this season
The features of this comparison test are some noteworthy models of Active Insulation Wear, a new cold weather garment that was undoubtedly the hottest topic in the outdoor gear world for the 2015/2016 season, which compensates for the weaknesses of fleece while improving usability (the names have not yet been decided, but this is the name that feels the most natural, so we will try calling it that)
We have previously introduced its , but to put it simply, this winter garment uses a newly developed synthetic padding material that combines warmth, breathability (good sweat evacuation), light weight and compactness, and the entire garment is stretchy, so it more than meets the requirements for winter activewear and is a next-generation winter jacket that is sure to become an essential for outdoor activities in the future.
This season, a variety of high-tech synthetic insulations have been released one after another by various manufacturers. This time, our editorial team independently selected the strongest candidates from different manufacturers and materials, and conducted comparative tests from various angles, focusing on the differences in their respective areas of expertise. As always, we'd like to preface this by saying that, as always, all of the models this time around are excellent items overall, so we hope you will focus on the special features of each, rather than worrying too much about the differences in overall scores
If you want to know the results right away, click here to jump to the results
Comparative test items
The theme of this comparison is "The latest winter clothing that's comfortable to wear all winter long." While some of the categories are somewhat forced due to the lack of strict definitions, the criteria for selection are synthetic insulation jackets that use highly breathable synthetic fiber padding. Furthermore, when there are multiple volumes in the lineup, we select models that are neither too thick nor too heavy
Arc'teryx ATOM LT Hoody
![Arc'teryx Men's Atom LT Hoody, Black, 2015, Size XL [Parallel Import]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/410zmIE17PL._SS150_.jpg)
finetrack drout polygon 3
Houdini C9 Luft Jacket
MAMMUT Eigerjoch Light Jacket
MILLET TOI 3D INSULATED ST *Test conducted on jacket type
Patagonia Nano Air Hoody
Test environment
I tried them on and tested them on multiple mountain trips between September 2015 and February 2016, changing clothes every few hours under the same conditions. I also tried them on in my daily life, even when it was raining
Detailed evaluation using field tests
Evaluation comparison
| Overall ranking | 1st place | 1st place | 3rd place | 4th place | 5th place | 5th place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| item |  MILLET TOI 3D INSULATED ST |  Patagonia Nano Air Hoody |  finetrack Draught Polygon 3 | ![Arc'teryx Men's Atom LT Hoody, Black, 2015, Size XL [Parallel Import]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/410zmIE17PL._SS100_.jpg) Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoodie |  MAMMUT Eigerjoch Light Jacket |  Houdini C9 Luft Jacket |
| This is ◎ | Comfort, mobility, and weight during activity | Comfortable to wear, breathable | Breathability and ease of movement | Warm, well-balanced and windproof | Fit, mobility, and weight | Comfort and good balance |
| This is △ | Slightly warm | Price, windproofness | Weight, packability, pockets | Breathability and mobility | Price, warmth, breathability | Price, weight |
| Thermal insulation (20) | 12 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 |
| Comfort (20) | 16 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 18 |
| Motility (20) | 19 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 17 |
| Sweat removal (20) | 17 | 17 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
| weight (15) | 14 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 9 |
| Ease of use (5) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| General (100) | 82 | 82 | 79 | 78 | 76 | 76 |
| Filling material | 3DeFX+Ⓡ | full range | Fine Polygon® | Coreloft™ | PolartecⓇ Alpha | PolartecⓇ Alpha |
| Weight (actual measurement) | 336g | 360g | 408g | 342g | 321g | 395g |
| Windproof | × | × | × | ◯ | △ | × |
| Water repellent | △ | △ | ◯ | ◯ | △ | △ |
| 3 (2 left and right, 1 chest) | 4 (2 left and right, 2 chest) | 1 (chest 1) | 3 (2 left and right, 1 inside) | 3 (2 breasts left and right 1) | 2 (left and right 2) | |
| Model with (or without) hood | can be | can be | none | can be | none | can be |
| Reference price | 28,080 yen | 38,880 yen | 26,784 yen | 30,240 yen | 37,800 yen | 34,560 yen |
Thermal insulation
As a winter garment, the most basic thing is to put it on and keep warm when you feel cold. However, in this theme, it is not acceptable to sacrifice everything else for warmth, and we must keep in mind that there are high demands that all models must ensure maximum warmth while maintaining active performance
the Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody felt to have the best warmth of the comparison . Coreloft insulation, also used in full-scale cold weather garments, is fully mapped except under the armpits, making it extremely effective. However, the Patagonia Nano Air Hoody and Finetrack Draught Polygon 3 also offer comparable warmth, so the difference seems to be more down to the overall wind resistance of the garment rather than the insulating properties of the material. Meanwhile, the Millet Toi 3D Insulated ST and Mammut Eigerjoch Light Jacket may not perform as well as full-scale cold weather garments due to their thinness, but they offer absolutely no issues as warm clothing for active wear.
Comfort
the Patagonia Nano Air Hoody , the winner in this category, the Houdini C9 Luft Jacket, is the soft, smooth feel created by their fine lining. It's so appealing that you'll be hooked once you try it on, and in fact, these two jackets were by far the most frequently worn on a daily basis. Other features include a slim but not too tight fit, just the right amount of stretch, soft cuffs made from the same stretch material, and hand pockets on both sides, ensuring every necessary element for a comfortable garment is met. The other items weren't bad either, but in terms of overall comfort, nothing beats these two jackets for their exquisite balance.
The silhouette of the garment, along with the feel of the material, greatly influences comfort. A looser fit is more comfortable when you first put it on, but a tighter fit that doesn't get in the way while you're moving is easier to use
Motility
Here, we evaluated another aspect of this insulation, its mobility, or ease of movement, within its performance during activity. The results showed that we were more than satisfied with all of them, but after wearing them for a long time, we ultimately decided that the MILLET TOI 3D INSULATED ST offered stable ease of movement. There are two reasons for this.
One is the specs. Looking at each model, Millet's 3DeFX+® and Patagonia's Full Range feature stretchy fabrics, which offer a significant advantage in terms of mobility . Next, Finetrack and Houdini use fabrics that are not stretchy, but the fabrics used throughout the garment have moderate stretch, ensuring overall stretch. Finally, Arc'teryx and Mammut use non-stretch fabrics in the areas where the padding is mapped, while using stretchy fleece in areas of movement such as underarms and elbows to ensure overall stretch. As can be seen from this, Millet's overall stretch provides seamless, comfortable mobility for any movement. Furthermore, its slim silhouette and streamlined cut further reduce stress during exercise. It allows you to focus more naturally on walking than any other model, which was the deciding factor in its evaluation.
On the other hand the MAMMUT Eigerjoch Light Jacket was also appealing due to its extremely tight silhouette that doesn't restrict movement, and the highly elastic Polartec® Powerstretch that makes up many of the moving parts, from the shoulders to the elbows and sleeves. However, it's undeniable that the extremely tight fit is not for everyone, and while it's suitable for more active activities like climbing and backcountry, it seems like a model that's difficult to accept for relaxed mountain hiking.
Sweat removal
The most distinctive feature of each item in this collection is their excellent sweat-wicking properties, meaning they don't get stuffy despite being thermal garments. Padding materials, which have been appearing one after another in recent years, not only provide excellent insulation but also have the breathability and ventilation to absorb water vapor from inside and expel it to the outside. Among the items in this collection, the finetrack Draught Polygon 3 excels in sweat management. The reason for this is undoubtedly the ventilation attached to the left and right sides of the waist. This ventilation takes in a lot of outside air in response to arm movement, and thanks to the synergistic effect with the breathability of the finepolygon itself, no matter how active you are, you hardly feel stuffy.
However, in terms of the performance of the material itself, the Patagonia Nano Air Hoody , MILLET TOI 3D INSULATED ST , Houdini C9 Luft Jacket are all just as good at wicking away sweat as Finetrack, so it seems unlikely that there will be a clear difference unless you are doing an extremely high-intensity activity.
Ease of use
Up until now, we've been comparing key performance features. In this section, we'll evaluate the overall usability and versatility of the garments, as well as other minor features. The Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody 's overall superiority stands out. For example, it's the only one of these to offer high wind resistance, making it suitable for use as an outer layer, and its water-repellent performance is on a par with the finetrack Draught Polygon 3 the Patagonia Nano Air Hoody . Compact storage is also important. The finetrack Draught Polygon 3 's high water-repellent and odor-resistant properties are noteworthy added value not found in other models.
We compared the water repellency when it started to rain lightly. Not only did we see it in the photos, but in our indoor tests, finetrack's water repellency was far superior
Comparison of this comparison
Editors' Choice 1: MILLET TOI 3D INSULATED ST
Despite being one of the models with the lowest thermal insulation, this new generation of wear, introduced with this season's new material, 3DeFX+Ⓡ, received the highest overall rating. The reason for this can be summed up simply in its outstanding ease of use and high quality as "active wear ." It provides gentle warmth even when active in cold temperatures, yet its high breathability prevents stuffiness even during intense movement. And best of all, it's lightweight, with an incredibly easy-to-move silhouette and stretch that makes you forget you're even wearing it. Rather than actively using it in everyday life, it's more like a piece to take with you on activities in more challenging environments. The non-hooded model we tested here is particularly useful for active wear during intense activities, but if you're asking which is easier to use, we recommend the hooded model for its warmth and versatility.
Editors' Choice 2: patagonia Nano Air Hoody
Considering the fact that it has already won awards around the world since last year, it goes without saying that the pioneer who pioneered this category is a force to be reckoned with. The high-quality comfort, ample warmth, and excellent breathability make it unrivaled even now, some time after its release, proving its overall high quality. However, although it has a moderate level of water repellency, it is more breathable than you might expect, so it is probably best to think of it as a less suitable outer layer. Its somewhat out-of-reach price tag is more than enough to satisfy you, as it is essentially an all-purpose winter mid-layer and is perfectly fine as an everyday jacket.
Related reading
Comparison Review: Trying out the most popular insulation garments this winter
"Moving" winter clothes! 7 reasons why we recommend modern synthetic fiber insulation and 7 popular items
We will announce the list of gears to be released at the mountain tool flea market held on November 13th.
I'm left wearing it and not getting cold and sweaty! 7 recommended synthetic fiber insulation for your activities