Trendwatch: staying warm with a pinch of synthetic and a dab of down
Nature and science are joining forces to keep you warm this winter as Columbia Sportwsear releases its highly anticipated new jackets that combine natural down with synthetic fibers for what it's claiming to be the ultimate warmth.
Columbia claims to have tested its TurboDown technology against the leading brands in a competitor-controlled environmental chamber from which it emerged the winner, warming between eight and 22 percent better than the Marmot Zeus, North Face ThermoBall, Patagonia Down Sweater and the Patagonia Nano Puff.
"It's time that the outdoor industry embraced the use of PED," says Columbia's President and Chief Executive Officer, Tim Boyle. "Performance Enhanced Down offers unmatched performance and this winter, you can experience how science can enhance the limitations of nature, and it's legal."
The TurboDown technology layers synthetic Omni-Heat thermal insulation with natural down, and wraps it up with a layer of Omni-Heat reflective material that spreads the warmth throughout the body.
Jackets and vests are available in men's and women's styles, tiered in three price categories of Gold, Platinum and Diamond that start at $130 and finish at $325.
Boyle's wish is coming true, and other sportswear companies are starting to play the chemist when it comes to down thanks to a recipe that Prima Loft announced late in 2013 and introduced for fall 2014.
Leading brands to sport their proprietary Prima Loft Performance Down Blends include Adidas Outdoor, Black Diamond, The North Face, Dynafit and many more. Most of these brands plan to use Prima Loft's technology for lighter clothes and sleeping bags in their Spring 2015 collections.
But what could one possibly have against down, the luxurious natural insulator?
For starters, down is useless when wet, so that's why Arc'teryx has applied its Down Composite Mapping strategy to its new jackets that have everyone talking.
The brand is placing Coreloft synthetic insulation in areas where moisture may build up, protecting the 850 grey goose down.
This technology can be found in the Thorium and Cerium hoodies, vests and jackets, available in men's and women's styles in a variety of colors, with prices ranging from €250-€350.
Of course pure down insulation won't go away, but a slight variation on tradition could vastly improve your comfort for winter sports.
