For winter camping outerwear, this time I will talk about the outermost layer.
There are roughly three types of outerwear.
Choices by Material
Let's look at the pros and cons of each.
| Pros | Cons | |
| Down | Light, high insulation | Weak to getting wet |
| Synthetic | Strong against wetness, easy to wash/maintain | Less insulation than down, bulky |
| Fleece | Good breathability, easy temperature adjustment | Too breathable, weak against strong winds. Bulky |
Down
It has high insulation capabilities by trapping air in the gaps between the feathers.
The chest feathers of waterfowl are considered high quality, and imagining birds living in cold places helps you understand their warmth.
However, when it gets wet, the feathers shrink like cotton candy, making it impossible to trap air and losing their insulation capabilities.
Synthetic
While its absolute warmth is inferior to down, it is less prone to functional deterioration due to sudden rain or sweat during activity.
Just as I compared down to cotton candy earlier, synthetic can be compared to a sponge.
A sponge cannot trap as much air as feathers, but its volume does not change even when it absorbs water.
This means its air retention capacity does not change even when wet.
However, while feathers shrink tightly, sponges do not get smaller. This can be said to be a disadvantage of synthetics.
Fleece
The strength of fleece is its versatility. If it's very cold, it can be used as a mid-layer for layering, and if it's sunny and warm, its breathability makes it suitable as an outer layer.
However, in terms of insulation capacity, it is still a step below the other two.
Recommended Cold Weather Gear
Based on this, we will introduce recommended products for warmth and cost performance.
The Best Item for Warmth
(The North Face) THE NORTH FACE Men's Himalayan Parka M'S HIMALAYAN PARKA Down Jacket
Material
Outer Fabric: 100% Nylon
Lining 1: 100% Nylon
Lining 2: 85% Polyester, 15% Polyurethane
Lining 3: 86% Nylon, 14% Polyurethane Side Gusset: 100% Polyester
Pocket Lining: 100% Polyester
Filling 1: 90% Goose Down, 10% Goose Feathers
Filling 2: 100% Polyester Product Category: Goose Down Product
It maintains body temperature in blizzards and extreme cold, while quickly expelling internal sweat and moisture.
This is the flagship model down jacket of the SUMMIT SERIES, designed for the harsh environments of mountains and extreme expeditions.
It uses GOOSE DOWN with extremely high recovery power to maximize insulation, and applies WINDSTOPPER 2L fabric, which exhibits excellent windproof and breathable functions, allowing you to maintain optimal condition even in freezing environments.
WINDSTOPPER 2L fabric is applied to maintain the best condition even in freezing environments
The Best Item for Cost Performance
Material: Outer fabric: Polyester/Nylon. Lining: Duck Down
It has excellent insulation, is abrasion-resistant, and can handle all weather conditions.
This product offers excellent cost performance, providing warmth beyond its price, with a voluminous collar that prevents wind intrusion and keeps out cold air.
The lining is well-filled with voluminous padding, improving its cold-weather protection.
