Keeping Warm On A Winter Hike

Sometimes, when you are out walking in the countryside or on an all-day hike, a fleece just won’t cut the mustard. For colder outdoor weather, insulated jackets offer the protection you need. It’s it is essential to identify where and when you will need your insulated jacket. This will determine whether you need a down-, synthetics well as a hybrid-insulated jacket.

Low temperatures are not any obstacle for hiking if you dress properly. In order to stay warm and comfortable, an insulated jacket is one of the most important parts of winter hiking clothing. The insulated jacket reduces your body heat loss by trapping the human body-warmed air within its insulation. Insulated jackets also offer some basic protection against rain, snow and wind.

Down Jackets

A down jacket keeps you warm by holding body heat and preventing it from diffusing straight into the cold air around you. If you’ll be outdoors in the cold to freezing weather, deciding on a down jacket is the best option. A down jacket is made from duck or goose feather and tubed into the jacket material.

The numbers 550, 600, 750, for example, discuss with the fill’s quality. Fill power is measured by the number of cubic inches that 1 oz of down occupies in a location-controlled test cylinder. Down is nature’s greatest insulator, delivering exceptional warmth and breathability.

Synthetic Jackets

Jackets with synthetic insulation differ from down jackets by suppling good warmth even if they should contact moisture (rain, snow, wetness, etc.), effectively making them more versatile. Besides, they dry faster and therefore are cheaper than down jackets. Having said that, down jackets offer a greater weight-to-warmth ratio and pack smaller.

Synthetic insulation jacket has been growing in popularity. If you’re looking to make a more conscious choice when it comes to your insulated jacket, you might want to avoid jackets filled with down feathers.

Remember Other Layers

Wearing an insulating layer is better than simply wearing an additional-heavy jacket. This is because you have the option of taking off this layer if you warm up. Yet you still have the protection no matter what the outer layer. The harder the hike, the more you’ll sweat, indicating you’ll need to have a ventilated jacket. When there is a ventilation zip, we discuss mechanical ventilation. These are generally located underneath of the arms though some pockets also have mesh which intensifies perspiration wicking.

If you like, visit the following links to find a range of Men’s insulated jackets and Women’s insulated jackets.

Down Jackets — Key Points

• Lightweight
• Packable
• Superior warmth
• Not ideal in a downpour (except in cases where jacket specifies it is waterproof)
• Slightly tougher to clean as well as care for

Synthetic Jackets — Key Points

• Remains warm in wet weather, shouldn’t clump like down.
• Often less costly than down jackets.
• May lose heat sooner than down jackets.
• Easier to clean as well as look after compared to a down jacket
• Need more synthetic insulation to imitate down, meaning jackets shall be slightly heavier

Thanks for taking the time to read my article. You can find me at Walk The Land.