Down jackets have always been a popular type of jacket, especially in cold seasons and in places where the temperature is low most of the time. These jackets have a reputation for their good insulation ability, light weight, and durability. However, the quality of a down jacket needs to be good if its advantage is to be enjoyed to the maximum. In this guide, five tips are given to the female buyer to use when shopping for a down jacket to help her make a good purchase that will deliver the all the benefits of these jackets.
What is a Down Jacket?
A down jacket is a warm jacket that is filled with the soft feathers of a duck or goose, and the outer layer is usually made of materials like nylon or polyester. Down, the soft feathers mentioned, are usually taken from the breasts and wings of the duck or goose. Down is the material which provides the insulation that makes down jackets so warm, as they retain heat inside the jacket. Generally, the more fluffy the down is inside the jacket, the more air gets trapped inside the jacket, and the higher the ability of the jacket to keep out the cold. However, today, most down jackets are not made of pure down, and are often mixed with other materials, such as feathers.
Now that the buyer knows what a down jacket really is, she can proceed to learn tips for buying the best down jacket.
Tips for Buying Down Jackets
It’s not enough to just buy any down jacket; one must choose a good one or otherwise be disappointed when the down jacket does not offer the type of insulation that the wearer wants. The tips below can teach the buyer the several aspects that should be looked into before purchasing the down jacket.
Tip 1: Take Note of the Jacket’s Fill Power
A down jacket’s fill power is a number that represents the fluffiness of the jacket. In more accurate terms, it is the number of cubic inches of the jacket that one ounce of down fills up. A bigger number usually represents better insulation. Fill power depends on several things, including the type of down used (such as more feathers, duck, or goose). Generally, a down jacket with a fill power of 550and above is a good buy, and anything above 750 will provide excellent insulation. A down jacket with a higher fill power is also usually more compressible.
Beside the jacket’s fill power, another number that is usually listed in a down jacket’s information is the percentage of down in comparison with regular small feathers in the jacket. The number may look something like this: 80/20, 90/10, and so on. The first number is the percentage of down in the jacket, while the second number is the percentage of feathers. The higher the first number, the better the quality of the down jacket.
Tip 2: Check the Weight of the Down Jacket
The buyer should purchase a down jacket according to his or her needs. If she is purchasing the jacket for use on backpacking journeys or travel outdoors, then a lighter down jacket would be a better buy since in this case the jacket will not weigh down on the wearer and slow down her speed. For general use though, a bulkier jacket may be all right. A down jacket with a 500 fill power will have to be bulkier and heavier than a down jacket of 800 fill power to offer the same kind of warmth. So for the lightest weight, it is preferable to buy jackets with higher fill powers.
Tip 3: Mind the Material
The two commonly used materials to form the outer layer of a down jacket is nylon as well as polyster, since they are durable and can withstand harsh conditions better. However, when purchasing a jacket, be sure to inspect the material to ensure that no feathers or down is poking out of it, as this means that the material is not sturdy enough to support the down material inside. To be very sure, compress the jacket and check again. If the material passes both these tests, then it is likely strong enough and will not degrade with wear. Also, try and buy a down jacket that has an extra layer laminated onto the fabric as this will increase the jacket’s ability to keep out water and keep the wearer dry and warm.
Tip 4: Construction Check Down jackets are constructed in a number of different designs, including the tube wall design which has smaller baffles or compartments, or the box wall design where the jacket is constructed of two outer layers, as well as many others. There is dispute over which types of designs are better, but it does make sense that down jackets with larger compartments allow the down inside to bunch up with use, creating bald areas inside the jacket that allow cold air to pass through. It’s not just the stitching that the buyer must pay attention to; the buyer must ensure that the down jacket is made for use by a woman, as women’s down jackets have a different construction than men’s ones. Therefore, do not attempt to purchase jackets that are made for men when the wearer is going to be a woman.
Tip 5: Check for Other Features
Many down jackets come with other features that should be examined like hoods, zips, pockets, adjustable hems, and so on. The buyer should think carefully if it is worth paying extra for such features. For example, a hood may not be convenient in situations where the buyer has to wear helmets or other kinds of headgear, but at the same time it may be useful to keep one’s ears and head warm and dry in the event of rain or heavy winds. As for zips, front zips should ideally have overlap panels so that the heat is not lost at the zipper area. A two-way zip may be helpful for better insulation as well.
Most down jackets have pockets either on the outside or inside, but some have pockets on both sides. The type of pockets that the jacket contains is what is important, not the number of pockets. If the buyer likes to keep things in her pockets, then perhaps zippedpocket would be a secure option. For women with hands that often get cold, on the other hand, having handwarmer pockets on the outside of the jacket will certainly be helpful. On another note, adjustable hems on a jacket can provide more control to the wearer when it comes to heat regulation, as do drawcords and hook and loop straps. So when it comes to features, usually more is better, but be sure to know first whether it is worth paying extra for such features.
The five tips above should give the buyer a good idea of what to look for when shopping for down jackets, which can be purchased from winter apparel stores, some departmental stores, .
IN Nepal thamel is one of the best places to shop for clothing of any type, as thousands of listings can be found for any particular kind of clothing. This holds true even for down jackets. If you have to shop in cold weather, what can be better than not having to leave your warm home and instead having the jacket shipped to you after you buy it online?
Conclusion
In short, down jackets are some of the best types of jackets one can own if staying warm is the main advantage that the buyer is looking for. To buy a good jacket, the buyer must look at several aspects including the material, construction, fill power, and other features of the down jacket. Using the tips given in this guide, the buyer can have the confidence that she will purchase a quality jacket for her use.
