Down vs. Synthetic Insulation for Skiing: Which Should You Choose?

Every winter someone asks us: "Should I get a down jacket or a synthetic one?" The honest answer is: it depends on how you ski, and on what the weather does. Here's the difference in plain words.

Down: maximum warmth for minimum weight

Down is the fluffy under-layer of feathers. It traps a huge amount of air for its weight, which is why nothing beats it for warmth-to-weight. Quality is measured in fill power: the higher the number, the more loft (and warmth) per gram.

The good: incredibly light, very warm, packs tiny.
The trade-off: it doesn't love moisture. When down gets wet (sweat or wet snow), it loses loft and warmth, and it dries slowly.

Best for: summits, lunch breaks, cold chairlifts and dry, very cold days, worn over your other layers when you stop moving.

Our Levity hoodie uses 1000 fill-power Diamond Down with welded baffles instead of stitched seams, and a nearly weightless stretch nylon with a water-repellent finish. It packs into its own internal pocket, so it can come along on every tour.

Synthetic: warmth that keeps working

Synthetic insulation is made of polyester fibers designed to mimic down. It's a bit heavier for the same warmth, but it keeps insulating when damp and dries faster.

The good: keeps you warm when it's wet, dries fast, generally easier to care for.
The trade-off: heavier and bulkier than the best down for the same warmth.

Best for: active days, wet snow, sweaty climbs, and layering under a shell.

A few of ours, depending on what you need:

• Dream Flow: Toray Elastic Padding inside a soft, completely stretchy fabric. No crinkly nylon, so it moves like a fleece and breathes on the go.
• Electra: 130 g Primaloft Gold in a windproof, water-repellent rip-stop, with a cozy Polartec Alpha-lined hood. Packs into its own pocket.
• Inspire: Primaloft Gold Active insulation with a waterproof 20k mm Dermizax outer, for storms and alpine days.
• Wonder Magic insulated jacket: down-like synthetic insulation under 20-denier Pertex Quantum, with our all-over prints.

So which one?

• You tour, sweat and want one jacket to wear on the move: synthetic, ideally stretchy (Dream Flow).
• You want the warmest, lightest layer for stops and cold lifts: down (Levity).
• You ski in wet, coastal snow or stormy weather: synthetic, or a waterproof insulated jacket (Inspire).
• You want warmth for skiing and for town: a printed synthetic like the Wonder Magic does both.

Many of us end up owning one of each: a light down for the summit and a synthetic for active, damp days. If you're stuck between two, ask us in the live chat and tell us how you ski. We'll give you a straight answer, even if it's "you don't need a new jacket."

More on putting it all together: How to layer for ski touring.