CMP Men's 3M Thinsulate FP Jacket

Product Information

Selected for the 2021/22 Outdoor 100 – Read our full Keela Talus review. BUY NOW: KEELAOUTDOORS.COM The exact levels of warmth they offer differ, as well as any special features the individual brands might offer. The best example of this is that Thinsulate actually comes in a flame-resistant variant, which is extremely useful for people who work around fires. Selected for our Green Gear Guide 2023– Read our full The North Face Thermoball 50/50 review. BUY NOW: BANANAFINGERS.CO.UK The other type of insulation they manufacture is PrimaLoft Bio. It is made from 100% recycled content and it is biodegradable, which is absolutely insane for synthetic insulation. In about two years it degrades by more than 90%, while standard polyester pretty much remains intact that entire time.

Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets 2023 - Outdoors Magic Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets 2023 - Outdoors Magic

Insulation: 80g PrimaLoft Gold Active (45% recycled content) / 80g Polartec Alpha (55% recycled content) / shell: 20D stretch ripstop polyamide shell / available in S-XXL. Where synthetic insulation really trumps down is in its ability to insulate when wet. Down absorbs water, and clumps up, thereby losing its loft, as opposed to synthetic insulation which retains its loft. Water sits between the fibers, allowing the insulation to keep its shape, maintain warmth, and dry faster than down.Additionally, P.U.R.E. is just a better and more eco-friendly version of PrimaLoft Gold, which used to be their best and warmest type of synthetic insulation. But the best part of all is that they didn’t have to make any compromises on the performance and quality of their insulation. It’s still as good as it was when it was labeled differently; they focused on changing their manufacturing process and sourcing the materials, and not the market-leading performance they were known for. Insulation Variety But they have since shifted their focus to sustainability and recycling, so now they only offer synthetic insulation that is made from recycled materials.

Thinsulate™ Insulation 3M™ Thinsulate™ Insulation

It’s important to remember that both Thinsulate and PrimaLoft are designed to do the same thing, and they both do it well. The differences are there, from the manufacturing process to wet weather performance, but they are not so drastic that I can tell you that one is outright 10 times better than the other. PrimaLoft And Environmental ResponsibilityPrimaLoft, one of the most widely used types of synthetic insulation, is made with 100% polyester microfiber that mimics the fluffiness of natural down, and comes in a few different categories. The most popular are PrimaLoft Gold, PrimaLoft Silver, and PrimaLoft Silver Eco (which is made of 70% recycled fibers). But Thinsulate comes in several versions that are specifically designed around wet weather performance, which actually gives them an edge over PrimaLoft if you want gear that manages to stay very warm when wet. Our favorite feature? The silky smooth, stretchy lining fabric has the best next-to-skin comfort we’ve tested in a while. Though we usually have a base layer underneath, the almost fleece-like lining had us throwing this on over our T-shirts around camp, and even sleeping in it without a shirt on. It’s that cozy.

Thinsulate Jackets - Etsy UK Thinsulate Jackets - Etsy UK

For start-stop activities where ventilation is needed while cranking hard, and warmth is required when static, the First Light Stretch Hoody is about as good as it gets. It won’t keep you as warm as others on this list but is a phenomenal technical layer for missions that have you constantly on the move. All synthetic insulations have an edge here because they are able to trap heat even when they get wet. But they don’t always perform the same, and that’s exactly what we’ll be discussing in this section. This active insulated layer combines lightweight mobility with great breathability while offering some warmth But if you are comparing just regular Thinsulate and the new and improved PrimaLoft insulation, there’s really not that much of a difference. The main benefit of Thinsulate is that there is an option of synthetic insulation that offers better performance in wet weather, but ultimately it’s up to manufacturers whether or not they’re going to put it in their gear.This model performs well in shoulder season adventures, or as part of your layering system for colder forays in the mountains. The PrimaLoft Gold Eco insulation used in the current model does deliver impressive warmth for how thin it feels and does a great job of retaining its insulating properties when wet. Learn to choose a PFD that works best for paddling, including tips on sizing, fitting, standard vs. inflatables and more. It’s slightly different with Thinsulate. All of the variants of their synthetic insulation are water-resistant to a degree because the polyester fibers that the insulation is made from are somewhat water-resistant.