Down vs Synthetic Jacket: What’s the Difference? Which Insulation is Better?

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Down vs Synthetic Jacket: What's the Difference? Which Insulation is Better?

As we prepare for the cold days of December that are right around the corner, a lot of us are considering buying a new insulated jacket. As great as it is that the options for such a jacket are practically limitless, it can prove to be quite a feat deciding which one is the best for you.

Going through numerous jackets, deciding on the style, if it should have a hood or not, what about fur trim and, after everything else is decided, which color will be the best option, can take up a lot of your time.

While we would definitely recommend that you take a look at some jacket selections that fit the criteria you are looking for overall, the most important step of buying a winter jacket is deciding on the insulation.

This is not solely the most important step, but possibly the most challenging one, too. This is because regardless of the jacket design that you pick out, its insulation will ultimately determine how the jacket will perform in the cold, and in a winter jacket that is key.

That’s what brings us to today’s article, where we will be taking a look at the two types of insulation available: Down and Synthetic.

We will be going quite in-depth and not only learn more about each of them, but also compare the two in order to see which one you should go for. Without any further ado, let’s get started.

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Triple F.A.T. Goose Chenega Men’s Parka – Review

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Triple F.A.T. Goose Chenega Men's Parka - Review

It’s surely getting colder as the days go by and the worst is yet to come for this winter season. It is almost time to take out the parkas and heavy winter coats if we want to make it through this season warm and safe.

In case you are looking for a new parka that you can rely on during the cold and harsh months of winter, we might have found just the right one for you.

Chenega by Triple F.A.T. Goose (Check it out on Amazon) is a favorite down parka among many for its quality and warmth, so we thought to take a look for ourselves and see if the product claims match up to the experience of the men that wore it.

Some time ago we took a closer look at Triple F.A.T Goose as a brand and also compared it to the brand of down parkas, Canada Goose. You can go here to find out what we had to say about it.

Now let’s get started with today’s single review on Chenega.

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9 Finnish Clothing & Jacket Brands for Outdoors and Casual Wear

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9 Finnish Clothing & Jacket Brands for Outdoors and Casual Wear

Scandinavian clothing brands continue to surprise the fashion world with their stylish designs and the incredible quality of their products, and they also got our attention several weeks ago.

So we took a look at Norwegian, Swedish and Danish brands for some of their best and most renowned outdoor clothing and we must say, we were very impressed.

It’s time to look at their neighbor, one of the five Nordic countries, Finland, and go through some very interesting brands that caught our eye.

A quick look through our site will immediately show that our main focus is on jackets and as such, we picked brands that do provide jacket choices, even if not all of them are suitable for outdoor sports.

But they are warm and cozy, however. When it comes to warm jackets you can always rest assured that brands from countries where winter is harsh make some of the best designs, as we have seen in the previous selections of Scandinavian brands.

We picked 9 brands and each one of them adds something different to the mix as their clothing designs range from casual to more specialized outdoor ones.

A last word before we begin, these are all high-end brands, with well-made, quality products, which is why the prices are more on the expensive side, but of course, affordable options are also available.

Let’s take a look!

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Helly Tech vs Gore-Tex Technology: Which One Is Better?

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Helly Tech vs Gore-Tex Technology: Which One Is Better?

Those that spend a lot of time outdoors know too well the problems that can arise from poorly-made garments, especially jackets, when it comes to dealing with the elements.

From cold winds getting through the jacket, to even the lightest of rain soaking you completely, it is no wonder that waterproof fabric technologies are so popular.

Even the most affordable ones will provide considerable protection, despite not being the most breathable or long-lasting ones. Luckily, there are some great quality fabric technologies available nowadays and we have, for months now, been on a journey of exploring these and getting to know more about them.

Last week we took a more in-depth look at Helly Tech, a fabric technology that had made several appearances in our selections, but never had the spotlight all to itself.

To keep things consistent, it’s now time to compare the Helly Tech technology to the staple of all fabric technologies, Gore-Tex, as we have done with several other technologies.

As per usual, we will be going through a quick introduction of each and then move on to the most important part, which is the comparison between the two and see which one would be the best choice.

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Best Down Jacket Cleaner: Our 7 Favorite Products Reviewed

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Best Down Jacket Cleaner: Our 7 Favorite Products Reviewed

With winter almost upon us, it will soon be time to take out the heavy coats. Parkas are usually the coat of choice and preferably those that come with Down insulation.

Down jackets are like no other when it comes to providing warmth and comfort in the harsh temperature that winter brings, and the coziness more than makes up for the high expensive price tag.

However, with such a quality jacket and especially at that price, proper care and maintenance are key in ensuring that your jacket will last for many seasons and perform as good as new.

In the case of down insulated jackets and parkas, however, this is even more important because down is a bit fussy when it comes to cleaning and caring for it.

That’s not to say that you should wear it rarely for fear of having to clean it often, because if you know the correct steps of how to clean a down jacket, then there is nothing to worry about and not much that can go wrong.

A few weeks ago, we did a guide just for that, so that you can take matters into your own hands and have a clean and long-lasting down coat. You can check it out here.

Now, onto today’s selection, which is that of down cleaners. Why down-specific cleaners are important you can find out in the aforementioned guide, now it’s time to take a look at some of the best and essential products needed to properly wash a down-insulated coat.

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Helly Tech Waterproof Technology by Helly Hansen: Review & Performance

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Helly Tech Waterproof Technology by Helly Hansen: Review & Performance

Fabric technologies is where it’s at when it comes to high-performance jackets and outdoor garments. A quick search online will show numerous options, some of which you may already be acquainted with.

On this topic we surely have no shortage of reviews and comparisons here on our site and you can find useful information on several popular fabric technologies, as well as see how some of them compare to each other.

One technology that we have yet to look at in-depth is Helly Tech by Helly Hansen.

Similarly to other fabric technologies, Helly Tech, too, is a waterproof and breathable fabric technology that finds use in many outdoor garments, especially jackets.

In some of our past selections we have included several Helly Hansen jackets that utilize the Helly Tech technology, but today it’s time to get a better introduction to this technology and see how it works and most importantly how it performs.

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8 Best Gore-Tex® Rain Jackets for this Fall-Winter

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8 Best Gore-Tex Rain Jackets for this Fall-Winter

With the weather that is soon to come, wearing proper protective clothing is of the utmost importance. As such, we turn to jackets as the best way to keep us protected.

There are a variety of jackets available both locally and online, all with their own specifics and qualities that make them suitable for different types of weather.

When it comes to being protected against wet weather, in particular, those who want the best, turn to jackets that are made of special fabrics.

Gore-Tex is one of these fabrics, which are often referred to as fabric technologies as well. It is the leading fabric technology and has been so for a long time, as it provides the best protection against the elements, while also being breathable and comfortable to wear.

We have looked at Gore-Tex’s qualities and performance in some of our past articles and if you would like to learn more about it and how it compares to other fabric technologies on the market, do check them out.

Today we have picked 8 jackets that are made of Gore-Tex® technology, which will keep you dry, warm and cozy in the unpredictable weather that fall and winter bring.

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