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The Outsider: Keeping warm in the woods |
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Written by Greyson Howard/Tahoe World
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Tuesday, 16 October 2007 |
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Winter is coming and the weather is getting colder, so if you are still getting into the backcountry, it’s time to look at the right clothes to keep you warm.
Thermal underwear made out of synthetics, wool, or silk are a good place to start, and fleece clothing has its place, but for major warmth your wardrobe has to get puffy. Down and synthetic-filled insulated clothing is the way to get serious warmth when the temperature drops.
But the decision between the different types of insulations taps into a long-running debate for clothing and sleeping bags — goose feathers versus man-made imitators?
And the answer is … it depends.
 Both keep you toasty by trapping warm air in a dead-air layer, and in that regard, nature’s version is still the king.
Down is lighter for its warmth, more compressible (good for when it warms up and you have to stuff your jacket in the bottom of your pack), more durable (it retains its ability to insulate longer), and is more breathable, meaning you stay comfortable over a wider temperature range.
But advocates of synthetic insulation are quick to point out the man-made fill’s one major advantage — it keeps insulating when wet, something that down doesn’t do.
And keep in mind, moisture doesn’t just get into your insulation from rain, snow, or an unexpected swim — your body is constantly expelling moisture as well.
But just because synthetics keep you somewhat warm when wet doesn’t mean life is rosy. Being wet in either down or synthetic is an unpleasant experience, it’s just a little better in the fake fibers.
 An added bonus with synthetics is the price tag, which is often less than down-filled equivalents.
Here in the Tahoe-Truckee area, where it snows more than it rains, getting down wet is less of a threat, and if you pick a high-quality, breathable jacket or vest, your self-generated moisture will be more likely to escape than accumulate inside.
Add a little extra care in keeping your kit dry, and the extra money is probably worth it for down up here in the mountains.
Photos by Paul Raymore: The Outsider, Greyson Howard, models his synthetic jacket and down vest.
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thanks for the help
Written by Djakes513 on 2007-10-18 02:49:19
This is really going to save me some time and trouble before I start my winter hikes... Whose the model??? |
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