Sorona Agile Fabric for Breathable Insulation Sorona Agile by DuPont is a sustainable fabric and spandex replacement for designing high-performance exercise apparel that fits an active, eco-conscious lifestyle. The quality of the down is directly related to its fill power rating. DuPont, Unifi and YOUNGONE Launch ECOLoft Eco-Elite Insulation at Its hypoallergenic, machine-washable, and tumble-dryable. I wanted to know about the longevity and effectiveness of it vs. down feather alternatives. Synthetic insulation also tends to be friendly on the wallet and is naturally hypoallergenic. Sorona - Wikipedia Typically made of polyester, synthetic fill is quick-drying and insulates even if wet (something down struggles to do). Simply put, you need more synthetic insulation to achieve the same warmth, resulting in more weight. Thindown is the worlds first and only down fabric, which offers the coveted benefits of a versatile material. Down vs. In short, a good synthetic can keep you warm while still allowing enough air to escape. The Companys proprietary PROFIBER technologies offer increased performance, comfort and style advantages, enabling customers to develop products that perform, look and feel better. In order to shorten lead times, control quality and provide customers the best possible insulation options, Youngone has vertically integrated the manufacturing of components on site with garment manufacturing. Down feathers are used in clothing and comforters, but for geese and ducks, the down industrys methods are anything but comfortable. Can we declare a winner in the down vs. synthetic debate? Down vs Synthetic Insulation: Which is Best? Many other leading outdoor brands have also adopted the RDS standard. The higher the percentage of down, the better the warmth-to-weight ratio will be, and the higher the cost. http://biosciences.dupont.com/solutions/biomaterials/. [2] The fibers are soft and stain-resistant while exhibiting high strength and stiffness. high quality content. Some will even repel water. A more relevant distinction is knowing whether a synthetic insulator is short-staple or continuous filament. This technology offers protection against freezing temperatures, heat, and fire, while at the same time providing a high level of comfort. For sleeping bags in particular, its not a bad idea to use a simple silk liner to prevent your body oils from being in constant contact with the fibers throughout the night. Thindown by NIPI (Natural Insulation Products Inc.) is the worlds first and only down fabric. Further, you can rip the relatively thin shell fabric of these jackets and lose a lot of down quickly, and you can also damage the loft of your down if you leave it compressed for too long. And if you think birds used for down dont die for their feathers, think again. Fake fur. There are several reasons for this: down has great insulating properties, its light and compresses very well, making it easy to roll up and stuff into tight spaces when you dont need it. Thermal R is almost as light as Primaloft, provides excellent warmth and is very durable. Sorona and Repreve polyester combine for an environmentally renewable/recycled insulation that is extremely soft with excellent loft. This partnership brings together two forward-thinking leaders in the materials space to explore new, innovative materials that will combineDuPont Soronafibers andThindownto enhance the warmth, comfort and design flexibility of insulation. If you were to wear a down jacket when hiking or cross-country-skiing, however, you would overheat rather quickly. Some manufacturers make sleeping bags and jackets with a combination of water-resistant down and synthetic insulation. It has a high level of breathability, which disperses the excess heat generated during everyday workouts, and can trap an extremely large amount of air, preserving the bodys natural temperature. Primaloft: This patented synthetic microfiber thermal insulation was originally developed for the U.S. military in the 1980s for use in clothing and sleeping bags. 10+ million models from leading OEMs, compatible with all major CAD software systems. 3M Thinsulate is a unique insulation that works by trapping air molecules between you and the outside, providing a breathable and moisture-resistant experience, and its machine-washable. Deciding between down and synthetic really comes down to what environment youre venturing into and what activities youll be undertaking. The typical range is around 450 to 900, with 900 being the warmest and lightest but also the priciest. Down fill, and particularly premium goose down at 800-fill power and above, offers the ultimate in lightweight warmth. DuPont Sorona is a bio-based, high-performance polymer that contains 37% annual renewable plant-based ingredients. Throughout testing, we found that the Micro Puff was impressive overall but still not as warm as a down jacket of a similar price and weight. For example, a 90% goose down garment will consist of 90% down and 10% feathers (small parts of feathers that were not separated from the down during the manufacturing process). This technology can be found at Quartz Co. Thermolite is a synthetic form of insulation created by the innovative company Invista. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, building and construction, health and wellness, food and worker safety. For sleeping bags, its not even close: The loft of down puts it head and shoulders above synthetic fill in terms of comfort. Synthetic insulation is heavier and bulkier than down, requiring more weight and volume to keep you in the comfort zone. It's the insulation of choice in cold, dry conditions, or whenever reducing weight and saving space are top priorities. and our Anyone have information on the down feather alternative called DuPont Other people prefer synthetic insulation. Its used in the outdoors market as well as for home furnishings and bedding in over 500 brands. The special vertical lapped, maximized multi-layer, and integral ball fiber production technologies are all enhanced by the Repreve and Sorona fibers combined flexibility, high resilience and excellent volume to weight. In the end, many consumers (ourselves included) appreciate the added transparency. Patagonia also has an excellent range of jackets with Primaloft, ranging from the mens Das Parka to the Womens Micro Puff Hooded Jacket. Privacy Statement and While down is warm and compressible, its one major pitfall is that it doesnt do well in wet or humid conditions. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Compared to low- and medium-quality down (ranging from about 450- to 650-flll power), high-end synthetics arent that far behindespecially highly compressible insulations such as Patagonias PlumaFill and The North Faces ThermoBall Eco. The material is waterproof, buoyant, and extremely lightweight, and it repels water. WILMINGTON, Del. In fact, it loses many of its insulating properties when it gets wet and is often slow to dry. REPREVE is the earth-friendly solution to making consumers' favorite brands more environmentally responsible. Other people prefer synthetic insulation. In the end, synthetic still wins out. Like warmth, down is also known for its compressibility. Dupont Sorona is an eco-efficient performance fiber made in part from annually renewable plant-based ingredients. Duck down can achieve fill-power ratings no higher than 750 or 800. It is more ideal as an underlayer to a waterproof shell in a wet environment. The Magna is not only slightly warmer, but its considerably lighter, clocking in at 1 pound 12.2 ounces compared to the Mountain Hardwears 3-pound-3.7-ounce weight. ECOLoft FLEX SR (60 percent Sorona + 35 percent REPREVE) Maximized multi-layering of REPREVE and Sorona fibers in the padding web create a lightweight, warm insulation designed for breathability and movement. Although it works in the same way as downbody heat gets trapped by the fibers loftsynthetic insulation in general is less warm, heavier, and less compressible than down. If you're not sure which type of insulation to choose, don't worry. Down soaks up water, clumps together, and loses its loft, thereby losing its insulating properties. How to Choose Insulated Jackets & Layers | evo Fill power can vary from around 450 to over 900, with most high-quality down products featuring a fill power of 800 or above. For example, 600-fill-power down means that one ounce of that down fills 600 cubic inches of space. Show me your humane slaughter footage , See how, as an animal consuming climate activist, your actions really are meaningful . Ingeo is a unique bio-based material made completely from plants. You dont get quite as high of a warmth-to-weight ratio as down, but synthetic jackets resist moisture, can breathe better, and are more Patagonias Nano-Air took the active insulation market by storm, designed to be a synthetic jacket that truly can be worn all day through a variety of conditions and activities. Once theyre considered no longer profitable to the down feather industry, these birds are thrown into crates for a grueling journey to the slaughterhouse, where theyre hung upside down and killed for their flesh. Check out our international portal in order to check out with up to date currency and inventory, Find Your Country No thanks, Stay on this page. We measure this effectivenessfill powerby how many cubic inches one ounce of down can fill. The lower warmth and better breathability help indoors, and that makes them the more versatile piece for daily wear. More detailed company information can be found at http://www.youngonecorporation.com. My concern was that this would be the difference between buying a merino (down) vs. polyester (sorona) sweater but I can't be sure on that comparison. You ll find Climashield in sleeping bag . Enter synthetic insulation. For more information, please see our Synthetic insulation is designed to replicate the qualities of down, and retains heat even when wet. Weve tested a lot of outdoor gear and picked our favorites, including the best down jackets, synthetic jackets, and backpacking sleeping bags. That said, some synthetic fills can release micro pieces of plastic into the water during each wash, an issue that is becoming more and more of a global problem. Bio-based Sorona fabrics can be sorted into today's 100 percent polyester recycling streams without compatibility issues. Synthetic fill does not lose its loft when wet, continues to insulate even when soaked, and dries out quickly. Originally developed for the U.S. Army, it uses a proprietary microfiber structure to help retain warmth so that the body can conserve energy. . By using this site, you agree to our, Solar Lights are Lining Highline Canal Pathway in Tempe AZ, Metal Powder Transfer System Safeguards Particle Shape for Consistent Part Quality in 3D Printing, New Peptide Characterization Services for Development and Optimization of Novel Therapeutics, New PFCT Services for Chromatographic Analysis of Pharmaceutical Preparations, New DC-DC Converters with Efficiency of up to 97%, 4 Vortex Furnaces to Arrive at ASSAN ALMINYUM in Turkey, Top Obstacles Engineers Face in Custom Coils Projects, Quick Release & Spring Loaded Pins: Fast, Convenient and Secure, Four Ways to Retrofit Your Fluid Bed System (Without Replacing It! Down retains its shape and loft well. Ounce for ounce, down is warmer than nearly all synthetic insulations. Whatever you choose; remember that there is an abundance of synthetic, non-down insulation options that can not only meet your specific functional and aesthetic needs, but also your budget. These weatherproofing techniques resist water to a reasonable degree and are in many ways superior to non-treated shell fabrics or down. It is an undercoating, or a natural midlayer. As technology has improved, however, synthetic has made significant headway. The warmest, lightest down comes at a premium price because its sourced from mature geese. It offers all the benefits of down in a thin versatile material reducing cold spots and seepage associated with traditional quilted down and can be used in across apparel and footwear applications for the ultimate warmth and comfort. For example, consider the synthetic Mountain Hardwear Shasta 15 and down REI Co-op Magma 15 sleeping bags. Nature's best insulation, down creates high-loft clusters that keep air and body heat from escaping. Website Last Modified May 1, 2023. Thirty-seven percent of its polymer is made using annually renewable plant-based ingredients. With all that in mind, if youre faced with cold, dry conditions or if you dont expect to encounter wet weather, then down insulation is your ticket. DuPont Industrial Biosciences (DuPont) and Natural Insulation Products Inc. (NIPI) today announced a collaboration to create a new category of insulation. Skip to contentEnglish Apparel Agile Aura Luxe Profile Revive Sorona for Faux Fur Carpet Our Story News Certification Portal This insulation is 100 percent sustainable, utilizing a natural alternative without abandoning functionality. Sorona Common Thread: Trust, Traceability and Transparency Throughout Ecoloft ActiVe SR features more recycled + renewable content than industry peers, improved vapor management while maintaining warmth, and the compressibility and soft comfort that is ideal for active adventures. Only very mild detergents or down-specific cleaning products should be used. Its made with polyester fibers that are arranged in different sized filaments and intertwined, mimicking downs lofty clusters. The industry is now embracing pure bamboo for insulation in quilts, comforters, and pillows. It maintains its loft wash after wash, so you can look good and stay warm day after day. Longtime REI Expert Advice editor Joe Pasteris is now a freelance writer based in Vermont. Although synthetic insulation has come a long way, it still doesn't hold a candle to down's ultralight weight and amazing compressibility. Contrary to popular belief, down insulation is not made of feathers. Since the early 1900s, DuPont has been revolutionizing the world of fibers and polymers with fabrics and materials like Sorona. Just keep in mind that products with down insulation are typically more expensive than products with synthetic fill. For example, the popular Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Hoody has 3 ounces of 800-fill down, and the REI Co-op Magma 15 sleeping bag features 15.9 ouncesof 850-fill-power down. Thankfully, programs like the Responsible Down Standard and Patagonias Traceable Down Standard certify responsibly sourced down, making it possible for the consumer to shop ethically. Black Diamond, Patagonia, The North Face, and Adidas are among the retailers that offer PrimaLoft. Thomas Regional are part of Thomasnet.com. Less down equals a lighter product. But your search for a warm, comfortable and convenient jacket that will get you through your ski trip and the worst days of winter does not have to begin and end with down. It is an undercoating, or a natural midlayer. When it comes to staying warm in the great outdoors, some people prefer down insulation. The transparency and traceability of this program ensures that your choice to partner with Sorona is meaningful and impactful, today and in the future. It is hypoallergenic and mildew-resistant and retains most of its loft and insulating properties when wet. Down is the soft layer of fine feathers from the breast of a goose or duck that is closest to their skin and grows to form quill, but does not have the hard quill shaft found in the outer feathers of birds. We hope its helpful in choosing your next down jacket or sleeping bag. Some products use a blend of down and feathers, but by definition, down is different than feathers. We consider durability to be a tie, with each insulation having their advantages and disadvantages. In technical synthetic outerwear, we most often see insulations between 50and 130 gsm (generally expressed as 50-gram or 50g), with most performance-oriented jackets hovering around 60 gsm. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. It is oil- and animal-free and is known for maintaining its breathability. Duck down is less fine than goose down and thus is less expensive, but also maintains slightly less loft. ECOLoft ActiVe SR (35 percent Sorona + 55 percent REPREVE) A synthetic, vertically lapped insulation that combines the warmth-to-weight of down with breathability that is defining a new category of padding and garment design options. The Sorona polymer gives you the opportunity to offer a more eco-conscious product without compromising performance or increasing cost of production. We've been sharing our passion for the outdoors since 1938. Two decades ago, down was clearly the better overall option. Sorona Aura insulation provides long-lasting shape and warmth for any climate, from jackets and pants to gloves and hats. Sorona fabrics are tested for content and performance through our Common Thread Certification Program. Most sleeping bags are exclusively down or synthetic, but not all jacketsfall neatly into one category or the other: Keep an eye out for down/synthetic hybrids. Its used in running shoes, sleeping pads, snow pants, and spacesuits and is extremely effective as an insulator because the holes in it are only 1/10,000th the diameter of a human hair, blocking almost all airflow. If youre on a budget, synthetic insulation will usually keep you warm for less money. The Pertex Quantum with Diamond Fuse Technology protects the 800+ fill down with an exceptionally durable and abrasion-resistant shell without adding weight. A durable foam insulation board with shiplap edges, DuPont Styrofoam Brand Deckmate Plus Extruded Polystyrene Insulation is easy, fast and flexible to use. Patagonias Micro Puff Jacket (with synthetic PlumaFill insulation) is even advertised as having the best warmth for weight of any jacket in the companys lineup. With a lower basis weight than its peers, it offers flexibility, stretch and comfort ideal for the casual market. Its the insulation of choice in cold, dry conditions, or whenever reducing weight and saving space are top priorities. This means that synthetics have the clear advantage in damp climates or when theres a chance of rain or wet snow. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. It features more recycled and renewable content than industry peers, improved vapor management while maintaining warmth, and the compressibility and soft comfort that is ideal for active . Although the down may not cause an allergic reaction itself, lower quality down can harbor dust particles, debris or other non-down materials, causing a reaction in sensitive people. This bio-based fiber insulator is lightweight, breathable, warm, quick-drying, and resilient. Every Outdoor Research product is covered by our Infinite Guarantee, Stay up to date with our latest deals and products. Cleaning down gear requires special care. Proper storage is essential, including keeping your jacket or sleeping bag unstuffed in your gear closet. In recent years, advancements in technology have resulted in synthetic insulation that comes closer and closer to matching the packability and warmth-to-weight ratio of down. Found in products from many of the world's leading brands, REPREVE fibers can also be enhanced with Unifi's proprietary technologies for increased performance and comfort. So a sleeping bag rated +20F with 700-fill-power down will be lighter than a +20F bag using 600-fill-power down (assuming the fabrics and other features are comparable in weight). Down insulates by trapping air and is prized for being light, easy to compress, long-lasting and breathable. In addition to its ability to efficiently trap heat, down is also incredibly breathable, allowing it to wick unwanted moisture away from your body to evaporate. Unifi continually innovates technologies to meet consumer needs in moisture management, thermal regulation, antimicrobial, UV protection, stretch, water resistance and enhanced softness. Synthetic insulation is a popular man-made alternative to down and is most often comprised of sheets of polyester fibers that aim to mimic downs air-trapping abilities. Consumer demand for vegan . Many manufacturers have attempted to make their production more sustainable by using recycled materials, which is a great start. Sorona is a co-polymer of 1,3-propanediol(obtained by fermentation) and petroleum-derived terephthalic acid(TPA) or dimethyl terephthalate(DMT). Your email address will not be published. There is no good reason to continue buying down (or freeze next winter), and now you know why! Proprietary technologies have been developed over the years to treat down at a microscopic level with a water-resistant application. If you're a new email subscriber, your discount code will be waiting for you. But the largest benefit to choosing synthetic over downand why well always recommend it for certain environmentsis the added wet-weather assurance. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Read more about us. An insulated hardshell can be the right . ECOLoft AIR SR (60 percent Sorona + 40 percent REPREVE) Voluminous natural-down-like synthetic fiberfill for puffer jackets and similar products offers notable warmth, excellent washing performance and vapor management performance for enhanced comfort. Here are several thatll keep you cozy without hurting animals: PrimaLoft offers high-performance insulations and fabrics that are 100 percent vegan. ), 5 Common Liquid Injection Molding Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them), The Ultimate Guide to Steam and Water Ejectors, Additive Manufacturing / 3D Manufacturing, Health, Medical, & Dental Supplies and Equipment, Laboratory and Research Supplies and Equipment, Mining, Oil Drilling, Refining Products & Equipment, Waste Management & Waste Handling Equipment, Reduces cold spots and adds drape and stretch, Offers more sustainable insulated material than traditional down fabric, Eliminates drawbacks associated with use of traditional down filling. Through important collaborations such as this, we can drive textile innovation and help revolutionize the future of our industry., These textile leaders are committed to innovation, sustainability and performance and partnering with them will enable us to offer first-of-their-kind eco-conscious and high performing insulation products, said Rick Fowler, CTO at Youngone.