We all know that there is a wide variety of weather when we go on adventures. Taking only one thing with you on a hike or climb is quite risky - you may not guess the weather, even with the most accurate forecast. A thick puff will lie in your backpack like dead weight during the period when it is quiet and sunny. A thin windbreaker will be useless in strong winds and temperatures around 0C.
In order to feel comfortable in any weather, the rule of layering is applied, which allows you to flexibly adapt to changing weather during adventures. And perhaps one of the most versatile items in a layered outdoor outfit is a lightweight, insulated jacket with a small amount of down or synthetic filling, the so-called. "insulation". Such jackets are usually very simple in design, do not have membranes, and are not burdened with an abundance of technological solutions that are inherent in 100% outerwear. “Insulation pad”, despite its simplicity, is a thing with a very wide range of applications. It can be worn all year round - separately as independent clothing on cool autumn-spring-summer days, as a middle layer complete with a waterproof jacket in rainy, windy weather and in the off-season, or worn under a thick down jacket on a frosty winter day or on a high-altitude mountaineering climb. .
The outer fabric of such jackets is usually treated with moisture-resistant DWR impregnation, such as, for example, jackets with down insulation Salewa Ortles Light 2 Down: a men's model in two colors - gray and gray with black, and a women's model in blue and green colors .
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Outdoor Jacket Salewa 2021 ortles light 2 down m hooded jkt grisaille
9 995 19 990
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(*) Outdoor Jacket Salewa 2019 ortles light 2 down m jkt black out
8 795 17 590
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Outdoor Jacket Salewa 2021 ortles hybrid tw clt w jkt flint stone
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Outdoor Jacket Salewa 2021 ortles light 2 down w hooded jkt greenlake
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Vitaly Lazo – Salewa ambassador, wearing an Ortles Light 2 Down jacket
Thanks to this treatment, the jacket, of course, cannot completely protect you from the rain, but it does not immediately get wet. In humid weather, under drizzling rain, or if light snowflakes settle on it, it will not get wet quickly. “Insulated jackets” are not completely waterproof, and in heavy rain it is necessary to wear clothing made of membrane materials on top.
The thickness of the insulation varies from a thin, breathable layer to a heavier and more voluminous one. The first option is better suited for sports such as climbing, trekking, hiking or for use on warm autumn days. The second is for winter walks with dogs, outdoor recreation, or as additional warm clothing for hiking.
A lightweight insulated jacket can be filled with down, synthetic or hybrid. Which one should you choose?
The pioneer among “insulations” with down filling was the so-called “down sweater”. Structurally, it is in no way reminiscent of classic sweaters, and received this name as a contrast to voluminous and heavy down jackets, since it became a replacement for the intermediate layer in the form of a woolen sweater or fleece jacket. Down sweaters were distinguished by a shortened design, two-layer technology with “cold” seams, the absence of a hood and thinner breathable fabric compared to classic down jackets. They did not replace a full-fledged down jacket, as they were blown by the wind, but they were very small in volume and weight and “breathed” well. Next came down shirts, which were not only conventionally, but also structurally similar to an ordinary shirt - button closure, turn-down collar with a placket. Only instead of cotton, flannel or fleece, the classic two-layer quilted technology of down products was used.
Modern lightweight jackets, which we call “insulated”, use the same two-layer technology of “cold” seams with end-to-end quilted stitching and a shortened pattern. But a hood was added to them, and the cut became more anatomical in order to avoid the entry of cold air and, as a result, heat loss.
Modern synthetic insulation is quickly catching up with down in its ability to retain heat, although it is still inferior to it. With the same filler weight, down has higher thermal insulation properties. But the advantage of synthetic insulation is that it dries faster and keeps you warm even when wet.
Let's take a closer look, because the type of filling directly affects warmth, weight, waterproofness, compressibility and price. Both natural down and its synthetic counterparts have their pros and cons, so choosing the best insulation for your goals and objectives can turn a trip in cold or even extreme weather into a pleasant outdoor adventure.
What else should you pay attention to when choosing “insulation”?
Zip pockets and a well-fitting hood with rear adjustment are useful features. There is also a convenient feature when the jacket is packed into its own pocket, which eliminates the need to be careful not to lose the small compression pouch.
Salewa Ortles Hybrid Awr M with TirolWool® Celliant® insulation is a functional jacket designed for active and extreme sports and recreation. Inclined horizontal stitching and a fitted cut provide an anatomical fit, eliminating the formation of “cold” spaces. The sleeves and side inserts from the armpits to the bottom of the product are made of elastic “breathable” material, which gives freedom of movement, as well as good thermoregulation at high pace and intense aerobic exercise.
The outer pockets - two side and one chest - are closed with a zipper, so small items will not fall out of them or get lost. A voluminous adjustable hood in combination with a high collar will protect against wind and cold in the most vulnerable places. Before being put into a backpack, the jacket is packed in an internal pocket. There is also a model in blue and a women's Salewa Ortles Hybrid Awr W.
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Outdoor Jacket Salewa 2021 ortles hybrid tw clt w jkt flint stone
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Synthetic filler
It is popular due to its performance characteristics - it dries quickly and warms even when wet. In addition, it is cheaper than down, more unpretentious to use, quite durable and hypoallergenic.
There are several types of synthetic insulation, the oldest of which is synthetic winterizer. Since the creation of padding polyester, production technologies have advanced significantly. Various types of materials have been developed based on hollow fibers (Hollow Fibers), imitating the wool of polar animals, or spiral-shaped (Coil-shaped Fibers). But the main difference between modern insulation is that they can be short-fiber or continuous fiber.
Short-fiber insulation (Microfibers Insulation) consists of short strands of thin fibers that are tightly connected to each other, ensuring minimal heat loss and high compressibility. The principle of operation is similar to down and is based on the ability of light microparticles in the straightened state to create air spaces, thus retaining heat. After all, it is the air between the fluffs or fibers that provides the necessary thermal insulation, in other words, “warms”. Products using short-fiber insulation are soft, like down. However, short fibers can move and shear, creating cold spots and etching through seams and thin fabric. Therefore, it is necessary to stitch the product more often to avoid shifting of the insulation layers, and also to use “down-holding” fabrics, which in turn affects the weight and vapor permeability of the product. Also, short-fiber insulation is less durable than continuous fiber insulation: they lose their properties when subjected to frequent compression, when the product is compressed, twisted and packed in a compression bag.
Continuous Filaments insulation materials use a thicker continuous filament, making them more durable. They do not move or shift as short fiber fills do, reducing the likelihood of cold spots forming in the product. Also, long-fiber insulation materials do not cake under compression loads and, accordingly, retain their thermal insulation properties longer than materials with short fibers, most of which, with intensive use, begin to retain heat less and less effectively. But even here, not everything is so rosy. Continuous fiber insulation, as a rule, is stiffer to the touch, and most importantly, it compresses poorly and takes up more volume in the package.
Advantages of synthetic insulation:
- high water resistance and preservation of thermal insulation properties even in a wet state;
- hypoallergenic;
- lower price than natural insulation.
Disadvantages of synthetic insulation:
- heavier and bulkier than down insulation with the same thermal characteristics;
- less durable than down; the insulation capacity is reduced every time the jacket is wrinkled and packed into a compression bag.
Modern hybrid synthetic insulation
In order to improve the properties of insulation, manufacturers began to create mixed materials. For example, synthetic ones, which simultaneously use short and long fibers. This type includes CORELOFT, developed by Arc'teryx, consisting of staple fiber with threads of different sizes. Short strands create air space more effectively, thus providing greater insulation with less weight, imparting softness and allowing the material to be compressed more compactly. Long ones - provide stability, as if holding them together, and increase the service life of the insulation.
The Arc'teryx Atom LT jacket, which uses CORELOFT insulation - a universal lightweight insulation jacket weighing only 375 grams, is suitable for all types of outdoor activities. It is lightweight, has good breathability and compression properties, holds its shape for a long time and provides heat retention.
Hybrid insulation made of synthetic and natural fibers - TirolWool® Celliant®, an innovative development by Salewa - is based on thermoregulating Celliant® microfiber with the addition of Tyrolean mountain sheep wool, which makes it possible to retain heat much longer and remove moisture more effectively. After shearing, wool is processed using a patented oxygen-based cleaning process called Oxy Wash, which eliminates the unpleasant odor of sheep wool and makes the resulting material soft. Celliant® is a polyester fiber that responds to temperature changes and reflects infrared radiation. In other words, this material absorbs your body heat through thermosetting minerals and converts it into infrared waves. Heat accumulates even when you are in a static state for a long time. TirolWool® Celliant® insulation breathes well, does not wear out, does not lose its properties after washing and warms even when wet.
TirolWool® Celliant® filler is used in Salewa Puez TirolWool Celliant jackets - men's and women's models. The superior insulation of the insulation and the breathability of the Ripstop Light Air upper fabric make this jacket a versatile layer for a wide range of cold weather activities.
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Outdoor Jacket Salewa 2019-20 puez 2 awc m hood jkt ombre blue/0910
12 090 20 090
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Outdoor Jacket Salewa 2019-20 puez 2 tirolwool® celliant® women's blue fog
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