3 questions to choose insulation wear that won't make a mistake and 15 recommended items
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Among the outdoor winter wear, jackets called insulation wear play a role in keeping the cold and keeping the heat (insulation). There are various variations, from those that are mainly worn as middle-aged underwear to those that can also be used as windproof and waterproof outerwear.
Here we will introduce three simple questions to see how to choose the best one for you from among the many candidates. In the second half, we will introduce the editorial department's recommended insulation wear, so if you want to know the recommendations right away, please jump directly from the table of contents below .
table of contents
Introduction: As long as it's light and warm, that's fine, and it won't end there
Introduction: Regarding the name insulation (ware), it comes from the word "insulate" meaning "to block out" and is a middle layer wear that is primarily intended to keep heat in, blocking the heat from literally cold air outside and warm air on the body surface. Most of the items are mixed with padding under the outer material, so to put it simply, it's winter clothing. Incidentally, it seems to be called insulation. By the way, fleece is a middle layer that can protect you from the cold, but it generally has lower heat retention and bulkiness than this one, so it is said that insulation is more suitable for winter cold protection when used alone.
Next, the question is what "optimal insulation wear" is, and in fact, this is a much more complicated and troubling question than you might think. To put it simply, in winter outdoor activities, various functions and characteristics are required in addition to being "warm" depending on the type of activity, and a wide variety of winter clothing is released accordingly.
Even though it's winter outdoor activities, there are a wide range of activities, from hiking in snowy fields and snowshoes to winter mountain traverses, ice climbing, skiing on slopes, cross-country, backcountry, and hinautre run, including seasons and locations, and of course, the characteristics required for each are slightly different. For this reason, there is no definitive version that says, "If you buy this, there's no doubt about winter."
Three questions to consider when choosing the best insulation
So, what criteria do you need to have in order to choose the best item for you from the countless options, or to decide that the current equipment is sufficient? After comparing various sources of information with experience, I found that the key points to consider when choosing the best insulation for you can be organized into the following three things:
1: Whether it is (potentially) worn while you are still in action
The first thing to consider is whether there is a possibility that insulation will be worn during action. If you are thinking about the versatility of being able to wear it while you are still active, I won't say anything bad, so you should avoid using down jackets . Down is extremely sensitive to wet, so even if it gets wet or gets wet with sweat, its performance will deteriorate , making it unusable. If winter does not help, it means death immediately, so to be honest, it is extremely dangerous for amateurs like us.
For this reason, I think down is "basically" unnecessary. However, I still think that there are times when downs are a big hit. These can be when you want to stay more comfortable than anyone else in a hut or tent, or when you are exercising when you are skiing and are less sweating and receiving wind. Down is the best in terms of its lightness and heat retention (soft comfort) compared to its lightness, so there's no reason not to make use of it. Think of it as your main winter clothing as it has insulation, and even if you add one more bag, it's just a little over 100g, so it won't have much of an impact. After a day of russell and getting tired, you can stay comfortable after entering the tent, which is the ultimate happiness. Or maybe it would be great if you could climb to the top covered in sweat, take a short break and skate comfortably while keeping your cold body warm with your down. For this reason, I think down is extremely convenient for fleece and synthetic fiber insulation, and also as a single piece of warming clothing.
In addition, recently there have been some downs that are resistant to wetting, such as the Marmot Complete QUIX DOWN Jacket, which has enhanced water repellency on the surface and the down itself. The price is still high, and the heat retention performance seems to be lower than pure down, so it's hard to say for sure, but if you really want to be particular about down, you might want to consider such options.
2: Do you want to wear it as an outerwear?
The second question is how far can you divide the functions added to the insulation. Recently, down and synthetic fibers are not simply heat-retaining functions, but have many products that can compensate for their weaknesses and can be used in a wide variety of situations. Of course, it's better to have a multifunctional function, but if this reduces the functions that are truly necessary, or makes it difficult to reach at a high price, it would be counterproductive. In such cases, what I think is better to think about is whether you want to use it as an outerwear. For example, MONTANE's ICE GUID JACKET and Patagonia's DAS Parka are both insulation and at the same time provide sufficient functions as outerwear (windproof, durability, waterproof, and ample heat retention), so if you're looking for a middle layer, you'll be off the option. Of course, this is not a matter of being superior or inferior, so if you are looking for a piece that can be worn as an outerwear, there is a good chance that this one will suit you better.
The important thing is to avoid making inconvenient choices such as windproof and durable products that you are planning to wear inside but are not windproof even though you are planning to wear them on the outside, or products that are not windproof even though you are planning to bring anything outside . However, these days, there are few cases where there are clearly differentiations between outerwear and middle layered layers, and there are surprisingly many models that have both functions, so it is also true that it is difficult to judge. As a guideline for me right now, to the point where catalogs say they are "can also be used as outerwear," it is usually not enough to be used as outerwear as hard outerwear, so I think of them as middle layers, but in reality, it's frustrating that you can't understand until you try it.
3: How cold do you expect to wear it?
Once you have decided which functions you need, whether it is down or synthetic fiber, the last thing you will think about is "how much bulk is needed." Down or synthetic jackets are roughly divided into three levels in terms of bulk (thickness) of the padding: heavyweight, middleweight, and lightweight. Heavyweight is too hot in a case where you're walking around with heavy luggage all day long, and you're just strolling around the snowy field with a camera in hand, so you'd be unwilling to be a lightweight one. Also, the optimal solution will vary depending on whether it is Niigata, Hokkaido, January or March. In short, "how cold it is and how much it moves" is important for how much weight you choose. Personally, I think that as a middle layer used in Japan (assuming you'll wear a breathable, windproof jacket on the outside), the lightweight class is the most defensive range (if you're not enough, you can manage other clothing you have). Also, as a single piece that can be used up to the winter mountains, I think a middle-weight class would be sufficient (although I have experienced the Alps and Mt. Yatsugatake during the New Year holidays, but I have never experienced extreme conditions such as Hokkaido during the harsh winter, so it may not be sufficient as a sample).
Additional information: Maybe there's a food
This tends to be subjective, so this is just my case, but as an insulation, I definitely choose a hooded one. It's true that even the hoods inside are nuisances and some people may find it a little expensive. However, even considering the hassle, the fact that the hood is even more important is that it keeps warm, especially around the neck, where you are prone to feeling chills, which is extremely helpful. Of course, there may be some who say it's not necessary because of a clear belief. However, if you're unsure, I'm sure you'll be missing out if you choose a food item.
Editorial Department's Recommended Insulation Wear - Down Hybrid Edition -
From here, we will introduce some of the recommended insulation wear chosen by our editorial team. With a wide variety of options, such as down, synthetic fibers, and hybrids, I was so pleased that he couldn't finish the styling and finished in 15th place. Below are some rough criteria for picking up, but please be aware that you will inevitably have a strong intuition about whether or not you have made me think, "I want this!"
The following recommendations are as of 2016. I wrote about recommendations for modern synthetic fiber insulation in this article. →
Arc'teryx Cerium LT Hoody
Heat retention ★★★ Comfort ★★★ Weight ★★★ Weather resistance ★☆☆ Breathability ★★☆ Style ★★★
Among the many excellent variations of Arc'teryx, this is a masterpiece that is highly perfect and stands out from the overall head. The abundant down provides high heat retention and breathability thanks to the original synthetic fiber (Coreloft) mapped to areas where sweat is needed. Its lightweight and stylish design is also not to be missed.
Rab Continuum Hoodie
Heat retention ★★★ Comfort ★★★ Weight ★★★ Weather resistance ★☆☆ Breathability ★☆☆ Style ★★★
The NIKWAX company's 850Fill European goose down, which is durable water-repellent, maintains heat retention without getting wet if there is some snow or moisture. The terrifyingly comfortable and stylish look is hidden behind the cutting edge technology.
Mountain Hardwear Hooded Ghost Whisperer
Heat retention ★★☆ Comfort ★★★ Weight ★★★ Weather resistance ★☆☆ Breathability ★☆☆ Style ★★★
The outstanding heat retention performance (800Fill) among ultra-light downs and the unique water-repellent technology (Q Shield Down) give you peace of mind when it gets wet. I'm also pleased with the stylish design.
MILLET DOME DU GOUTER WR H-DOWN JK
Heat retention ★★★ Comfort ★★★ Weight ★★★ Weather resistance ★☆☆ Breathability ★☆☆ Style ★★★
The bulky down is fully usable for outerwear, and the high-performance down, which uses a thin layer of aluminum padding to minimize heat loss, is excellent in heat retention and durable and water-repellent. What's more noteworthy is that the ventilation under the armpits provides moderate breathability, making it useful for a wide range of purposes, from harsh winters to cold weather gear for fall and winter hiking.
Black Diamond Hot Forge Hybrid Hoody
Heat retention ★★☆ Comfort ★★☆ Weight ★★☆ Weather resistance ★★☆ Breathability ★★☆ Style ★★★
The body part is mapped with PRIMALOFT GOLD INSULATION DOWN BLEND, which has high heat retention, and PRIMALOFT GOLD INSULATION, which has breathability and strength to wet on the shoulders, sleeves, and hood. Furthermore, the slim silhouette and adjustable hood are designed to make it easy to move in, making it a hybrid insulation wear that is truly an extremely mobile and typical of a brand for climbers.
Marmot Megawatt Jacket
Heat retention ★★★ Comfort ★★☆ Weight ★☆☆ Weather resistance ★★☆ Breathability ★★☆ Style ★☆☆
The body part is made of high-performance water-repellent down (800Fill Power Goose down DEFENDER), and the one, sleeves and hood are made of highly breathable synthetic cotton (Polartec Alpha), and the smart concept is used to make a generous amount of high-quality materials. The cuff gaiter prevents snow from entering is also a great outerwear. The only thing that bothers me is the weight.
THE NORTH FACE FUSEFORM Light Heat Jacket
Heat retention ★★★ Comfort ★★☆ Weight ★★★ Weather resistance ★☆☆ Breathability ★☆☆ Style ★★★
This 2015 model includes the latest technology from the North Face (Goldwyn). The "dot baffle" design reduces the unevenness of the filling by fastening the outer and lining at points, not only has a strong design, but also has a successful improvement in comfort, heat retention, and weight reduction. The padding is made of PRIMALOFT GOLD INSULATION DOWN BLEND, which balances heat retention and weather resistance.
Next page: Editorial Department's recommended insulation wear - Synthetic fiber edition
