• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

OutdoorCrunch

  • BASICS
  • PRO TIPS
  • GEAR
    • JACKETS
      • INSULATED JACKETS
        • DOWN JACKETS
        • SYNTHETIC INSULATED JACKETS
      • SHELL JACKETS
        • HARDSHELL JACKETS
        • SOFTSHELL JACKETS
      • SKI JACKETS
      • PARKAS
      • RAIN JACKETS
      • WIND JACKETS
      • FLEECE JACKETS
    • BACKPACKS
    • COOKING
      • BACKPACKING STOVES
      • COOKWARE
    • FOOTWEAR
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT ME
    • CONTACT
  • PRIVACY POLICY
Home / Gear / Jackets / Insulated Jackets / Synthetic Insulated Jackets

CLO Values Explained: Primaloft, Coreloft, Thermatek & More

Last updated: November 14, 2022 by Canberk Koksal

  • This article is revised after Arc'teryx FW23 update. 
  • Don't miss out on REI's current sale - shop now and save on all your outdoor gear needs!
    • https://www.rei.com/h/deals

In summary, the CLO value of synthetic insulation shows you how warm your jacket is. Sure, it’s not the only parameter affecting your warmth. But, almost the most important one and, unfortunately, the hardest to achieve... Because producers rarely share CLO values for their items. And trying to find them on the Internet is really time-consuming. So I decided to create a detailed table with publicly available CLO values of synthetic insulations. Also, I calculated these values for insulated jackets made of them.

If you need more info about synthetic insulations’ CLO values and other characteristics, keep reading it.

  • Data Set: CLO Values of Synthetic Insulated Jackets 

Important note:  CLO values of synthetic insulators are based on several forums and manufacturers' technical data sheets. And they aren't the results of scientific studies.

Remember that jacket's other features like shell fabric, bagginess, and length might also affect your warmth. Plus, your thermal comfort can vary on your metabolic rate, activity level, and weather conditions. 

For more information, see my other article.


NameInsulation MaterialClaimed CLO (clo/oz/yd2)Insulation Amount (oz/yd2)Calculated CLOM-WDiscontinued
Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Eco0.921.771.63M WNo
Mountain Hardwear Kor Strataâ„¢ Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Active0.811.771.43M WNo
Rab Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Active +M WNo
Rab Generator Alpine Jacket (Men's)Primaloft Gold Active + with Cross Core Techn.MNo
Ternua Belay Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Luxe0.993.543.50M WNo
Mountain Equipment Citadel Jacket (Men's)PrimaLoft Gold Hi-Loft Ultra with Cross Core Techn.0.934.253.95MNo
L.L. Bean PrimaLoft Packaway Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold with Cross Core Techn.1.401.772.48M WNo
Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Eco with Cross Core Techn.1.403.655.11M WNo
Rab Xenon 2.0 Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver0.791.771.40M WNo
REI Co-op Flash Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Eco0.681.771.20M WNo
Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Active0.821.771.45M WNo
Houdini Fall-in Parka (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra0.813.362.72M WNo
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Shadowâ„¢ Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra0.812.361.91M WNo
Montane Ground Control Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Thermoplume with Cross Core Techn. + PL Silver0.954.894.65M WNo
Marmot Variant Hybrid Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Black Eco0.651.771.15M WNo
Montane Icarus Jacket (Men's)PrimaLoft Black Thermoplume0.856.055.14MNo
Montane Phoenix Jacket (Women's)PrimaLoft Black Thermoplume0.853.833.26WNo
UBR Regulator Parka (Men's)Primaloft InnovationMNo
Helly Hansen Lifaloft Air Insulator Jacket (Men's - Women's)Lifaloft (Primaloft & Helly Hansen)M WNo
The North Face ThermoBall Eco Jacket 2.0 (Men's - Women's)ThermoBall Eco (Primaloft & The North Face)M WNo
Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket (Men's - Women's)Climashield APEX0.822.001.64M WNo
Arc'teryx Nuclei FL Jacket (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Continuous (a.k.a. Climashield APEX)0.821.921.57M WNo
Arc'teryx Axis Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Continuous (a.k.a. Climashield APEX)0.821.921.57MNo
Arc'teryx Dually Belay Parka (Men's)Thermatek (a.k.a. Climashield PRISM)0.765.434.13MNo
Arc'teryx LEAF Cold WX Hoody LT Gen 2 (Men's)Climashield PRISM0.763.002.28MNo
Arc'teryx LEAF Atom LT Hoody Gen 2 (Men's)Climashield COMBAT + Pontetorto Hardface FleeceMNo
Direct Alpine Foraker 3.0 Insulated Jacket (Men's)Climashield HL0.733.612.64MNo
Hypen Sports Riffel Hybrid Jacket (Men's)Climashield CONTUR1.572.654.16MNo
Arc'teryx Atom SL Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)0.651.180.77M WNo
Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)0.651.771.15M WNo
Arc'teryx Proton LT Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)0.652.271.48M WNo
Arc'teryx Therme Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)0.652.361.53MNo
Arc'teryx Atom AR Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)0.652.951.92M WNo
Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)0.653.542.30MNo
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody (Men's - Women's)FullRange (a.k.a. Toray 3DeFX+)0.831.771.47M WNo
Dynafit Free Alpha Direct Jacket (Men's - Women's)Polartec Alpha Direct0.382.651.01M WNo
Mont-bell Thermawrap Pro (Men's - Women's)Exceloft0.682.361.60M WNo
Marmot Avant Featherless Hoody (Men's - Women's)3M Thinsulate Featherless (Type FL700)M WNo
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill0.901.921.73M WNo
Patagonia Macro Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill0.903.453.11M WNo
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill0.901.921.73M WNo
Outdoor Research Shadow Hoodie (Men's - Women's)VerticalX ECO SRM WNo
Arc'teryx Proton FL Hoody (Men's - Women's)Octa LoftM WNo
Arc'teryx Practicioner AR Hoody (Men's - Women's)Octa LoftM WNo
Fjallraven Keb Padded Hoodie (Men's - Women's)G-Loft SupremeM WNo
Haglofs V Series Mimic Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Mimic PLATINUM Ultracluster GrapheneM WNo
Norrøna Falketind Thermo60 Hood (Men's - Women's)thermo60M WNo
Mammut Rime IN Flex Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Ajungilak OTI Stretch0.832.091.73M WNo
Cotopaxi Teca CĂ¡lido Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Recycled polyesterM WNo
Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 Parka (Women's)Thermolite ECO92WNo
Patagonia Isthmus Jacket (Men's)Thermogreen polyesterMNo

Table of Contents
Synthetic Insulations
How Warm Are Synthetic Insulated Jackets?
What is a CLO?
Synthetic Insulation Types
Nonwoven Insulations
Short-staple insulation
Continuous filament insulation
Cluster fiber insulation
Knitted Insulations
What Kind of Synthetic Insulation is Best for You?
PrimaLoft
Climashield
Coreloft
FullRange & PlumaFill
Conclusion

Synthetic Insulations

Synthetic insulators are typically designed to mimic down's properties.

Ultra-fine fibers in their structure create heat-trapping air pockets, keeping your body heat... though not as good as natural fillings [1].

But, when it comes to water resistance, they don't collapse and lose their insulating power when wet, unlike down jackets. Also, their drying time is shorter.

So, I'd say synthetic insulated jackets might be good choices for damp conditions or high-output activities. And, you can clean them easier than those with down.

Plus, they're more affordable and hypoallergenic. But still, keep in mind that synthetic jackets are less packable and heavier than down ones.

  • Comparison of Synthetic Insulated Jackets

NameInsulation MaterialPrice (USD)Jacket's Weight (oz)FitCenter Back Length (inch)Number of PocketsM-WDiscontinued
Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Eco24912.8Regular27.753M WNo
Mountain Hardwear Kor Strataâ„¢ Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Active22014.1Trim27.503M WNo
Rab Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Active +20010.3Regular28.103M WNo
Rab Generator Alpine Jacket (Men's)Primaloft Gold Active + with Cross Core Techn.32019.0Regular31.505MNo
Ternua Belay Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Luxe278.513.6RegularUnavail.2M WNo
Mountain Equipment Citadel Jacket (Men's)PrimaLoft Gold Hi-Loft Ultra with Cross Core Techn.45028.9Boxy30.306MNo
L.L. Bean PrimaLoft Packaway Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold with Cross Core Techn.16912.3Slightly Fitted28.004M WNo
Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Eco with Cross Core Techn.44919.6RegularUnavail.5M WNo
Rab Xenon 2.0 Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver18013.6Regular30.703M WNo
REI Co-op Flash Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Eco14911.3Regular28.754M WNo
Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Active26016.0Regular28.503M WNo
Houdini Fall-in Parka (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra65031.5Relaxed36.206M WNo
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Shadowâ„¢ Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra22011.9Standard27.502M WNo
Montane Ground Control Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Thermoplume with Cross Core Techn. + PL Silver23020.5Active MountainUnavail.3M WNo
Marmot Variant Hybrid Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Black Eco21513.4Athletic27.003M WNo
Montane Icarus Jacket (Men's)PrimaLoft Black Thermoplume19521.3Active MountainUnavail.3MNo
Montane Phoenix Jacket (Women's)PrimaLoft Black Thermoplume19516.9Active MountainUnavail.3WNo
UBR Regulator Parka (Men's)Primaloft Innovation89533.5Regular34.003MNo
Helly Hansen Lifaloft Air Insulator Jacket (Men's - Women's)Lifaloft (Primaloft & Helly Hansen)29515.9Trim28.755M WNo
The North Face ThermoBall Eco Jacket 2.0 (Men's - Women's)ThermoBall Eco (Primaloft & The North Face)1999.5Slim27.503M WNo
Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket (Men's - Women's)Climashield APEX1859.2Regular29.002M WNo
Arc'teryx Nuclei FL Jacket (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Continuous (a.k.a. Climashield APEX)29911.5Trim29.504M WNo
Arc'teryx Axis Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Continuous (a.k.a. Climashield APEX)65022.4Regular27.205MNo
Arc'teryx Dually Belay Parka (Men's)Thermatek (a.k.a. Climashield PRISM)62525.1Expedition33.104MNo
Arc'teryx LEAF Cold WX Hoody LT Gen 2 (Men's)Climashield PRISM42224.0Unavail.Unavail.5MNo
Arc'teryx LEAF Atom LT Hoody Gen 2 (Men's)Climashield COMBAT + Pontetorto Hardface Fleece27916.0Unavail.Unavail.3MNo
Direct Alpine Foraker 3.0 Insulated Jacket (Men's)Climashield HL349.9521.9RegularUnavail.6MNo
Hypen Sports Riffel Hybrid Jacket (Men's)Climashield CONTUR299.95€16.8Unavail.Unavail.3MNo
Arc'teryx Atom SL Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)2299.5Trim29.102M WNo
Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)25913.2Trim29.103M WNo
Arc'teryx Proton LT Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)29913.2Trim29.403M WNo
Arc'teryx Therme Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)59927.0Regular28.304MNo
Arc'teryx Atom AR Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)29916.8Regular29.103M WNo
Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)57525.2Regular28.754MNo
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody (Men's - Women's)FullRange (a.k.a. Toray 3DeFX+)29912.2SlimUnavail.3M WNo
Dynafit Free Alpha Direct Jacket (Men's - Women's)Polartec Alpha Direct199.9510.9Slim28.503M WNo
Mont-bell Thermawrap Pro (Men's - Women's)Exceloft21915.1Regular28.004M WNo
Marmot Avant Featherless Hoody (Men's - Women's)3M Thinsulate Featherless (Type FL700)22517.0Regular27.004M WNo
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill2999.3Regular30.004M WNo
Patagonia Macro Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill39915.0Regular31.005M WNo
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill32911.3Regular30.503M WNo
Outdoor Research Shadow Hoodie (Men's - Women's)VerticalX ECO SR19916.7Standard29.004M WNo
Arc'teryx Proton FL Hoody (Men's - Women's)Octa Loft26012.1Trim28.303M WNo
Arc'teryx Practicioner AR Hoody (Men's - Women's)Octa Loft29916.8Trim29.104M WNo
Fjallraven Keb Padded Hoodie (Men's - Women's)G-Loft Supreme25018.0Regular29.504M WNo
Haglofs V Series Mimic Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Mimic PLATINUM Ultracluster Graphene240€13.4Regular30.704M WNo
Norrøna Falketind Thermo60 Hood (Men's - Women's)thermo6026914.0Technical29.003M WNo
Mammut Rime IN Flex Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Ajungilak OTI Stretch26916.9Regular28.703M WNo
Cotopaxi Teca CĂ¡lido Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Recycled polyester15013.2Regular28.757M WNo
Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 Parka (Women's)Thermolite ECO9244948.0Slim35.5011WNo
Patagonia Isthmus Jacket (Men's)Thermogreen polyester19931.6Regular27.505MNo

How Warm Are Synthetic Insulated Jackets?

Truth be told, it's pretty tough to tell how warm a synthetic insulated jacket is.

For a start, I'd say you'll need more synthetic insulation than natural down to achieve the same warmth. It means your ultra-warm synthetic jacket will likely be heavier than its down counterpart.

Of course, you'll want to wear lightweight synthetic jackets during high-intensity activities. To offset the weight, some brands use lighter insulations in their jackets, like 40 g/m². Or only in the jacket's sleeves, hood, and neck.

These active insulation jackets sacrifice a little warmth but still can work great trapping air. Also, they're remarkably breathable. My best picks in this category are Arc'teryx Proton LT and Patagonia Nano-Air. 

What is a CLO?

CLO value is an important factor in determining a synthetic jacket’s warmth. Metaphorically, like FP * FW value in down jackets…And the higher the value is, the warmer the insulation is.

Synthetic insulators provide more insulation per thickness. This is why any insulation can achieve desired CLO value after setting the right amount of thickness. But of course, your jacket will become heavier in the end.

Manufacturers rarely share the CLO values of their products. Let's say they disclosed these values; which standard did they use to measure them? To correctly be able to compare them, this info is also crucial.

Against all odds, I combed through the CLO values of synthetic insulators. And, to give you some ideas about jackets' warmth, I've prepared a detailed table.

But, I'd like to point out that I got the values from forums like Reddit and producers' technical data sheets and catalogs. That is, they aren't based on scientific investigations and aren't totally reliable.

In the table, you'll see some calculations related to synthetic insulated jackets. For example, the Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody contains the Primaloft Gold Eco having 0.92 clo/oz/yd². And the jacket's insulation amount is 1.77 oz/yd². So,

Calculated CLO of Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody = 0.92 x 1.77 = 1.63

As I said earlier, some jackets have different insulation weights on various parts. So, I calculated the CLO values considering the percentage of their body surface area covered [2].

Synthetic Insulation Types

There are three major categories of nonwoven insulations: Short-staple, continuous filament, and cluster fiber. Also, it's possible to knit synthetic insulations.

Nonwoven Insulations

Short-staple insulation

These insulators feature densely packed short fibers to trap air and keep your body heat. But, the fibers can move around and form cold spots.

Short-staple fillings provide a soft feeling. They're compressible and have good warmth-to-weight performance. But, they can lose their insulating ability faster than other synthetic ones. Meaning that you might need a new jacket after a while.

PrimaLoft, Coreloft Compact, and Thinsulate are examples of short-staple insulation.

Continuous filament insulation

These insulations are made from continuous filament fibers.

They’re stiffer and less packable than short-staple insulators. But, their web structure is more durable and retains loft longer.

Climashield, Coreloft Continuous, and PlumaFill are at the forefront of the market.

Cluster fiber insulation

There are small fiber tufts in this insulation type. They're designed for closely mimicking down to minimize heat loss.

The North Face ThermoBall Eco and Freudenberg comfortemp are examples.

The North Face ThermoBall [3]

Comfortemp® fiberball padding

Knitted Insulations

These insulations don't need to be quilted because they're self-supporting knitted structures. So, the jacket's outer layer doesn't have to be high-density to keep the insulation.

After all, the jackets with knitted insulators are highly breathable. That’s why they're convenient for high-output activities.

But, to put it bluntly, they won't offer excellent insulation performance.

Polartec, Octa Loft, and Pontetorto are well-known knit insulations.

  • Data Set: Temperature Ratings of Synthetic Insulated Jackets

Approximate lowest temperatures you can wear each down jacket in the market without feeling uncomfortably cold are... 


NameInsulation MaterialInsulation AmountEst. Temp. (°F/°C)ReviewM-WDiscontinued
Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Eco60 g37/3ReviewM WNo
Mountain Hardwear Kor Strataâ„¢ Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Active60 gUnknownM WNo
Rab Xenair Alpine Light Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Active +60 gsm + 40 gsmTestingM WNo
Rab Generator Alpine Jacket (Men's)Primaloft Gold Active + with Cross Core Techn.133 gsm + 80 gsmTestingMNo
Ternua Belay Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Luxe120 gUnknownM WNo
Mountain Equipment Citadel Jacket (Men's)PrimaLoft Gold Hi-Loft Ultra with Cross Core Techn.160 g + 80 gUnknownMNo
L.L. Bean PrimaLoft Packaway Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold with Cross Core Techn.60 gUnknownM WNo
Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Gold Eco with Cross Core Techn.133 g + 40 g5/-15M WNo
Rab Xenon 2.0 Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver60 gsm23/-5M WNo
REI Co-op Flash Insulated Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Eco60 gUnknownM WNo
Black Diamond First Light Stretch Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Active60 gsmUnknownM WNo
Houdini Fall-in Parka (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra120 gsm + 80 gsmUnknownM WNo
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Shadowâ„¢ Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra80 gUnknownM WNo
Montane Ground Control Jacket (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Silver Thermoplume with Cross Core Techn. + PL Silver180 g + 133 gUnknownM WNo
Marmot Variant Hybrid Hoody (Men's - Women's)PrimaLoft Black Eco60 gUnknownM WNo
Montane Icarus Jacket (Men's)PrimaLoft Black Thermoplume205 gUnknownMNo
Montane Phoenix Jacket (Women's)PrimaLoft Black Thermoplume130 gUnknownWNo
UBR Regulator Parka (Men's)Primaloft Innovation120TestingMNo
Helly Hansen Lifaloft Air Insulator Jacket (Men's - Women's)Lifaloft (Primaloft & Helly Hansen)100 gTestingM WNo
The North Face ThermoBall Eco Jacket 2.0 (Men's - Women's)ThermoBall Eco (Primaloft & The North Face)118.4 gsmUnknownM WNo
Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Jacket (Men's - Women's)Climashield APEX68 gsmUnknownM WNo
Arc'teryx Nuclei FL Jacket (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Continuous (a.k.a. Climashield APEX)65 gsm32/0ReviewM WNo
Arc'teryx Axis Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Continuous (a.k.a. Climashield APEX)65 gsmTestingMNo
Arc'teryx Dually Belay Parka (Men's)Thermatek (a.k.a. Climashield PRISM)184 gsm0/-18ReviewMNo
Arc'teryx LEAF Cold WX Hoody LT Gen 2 (Men's)Climashield PRISM102 gsmTestingMNo
Arc'teryx LEAF Atom LT Hoody Gen 2 (Men's)Climashield COMBAT + Pontetorto Hardface Fleece68 gsm + 213 gsmTestingMNo
Direct Alpine Foraker 3.0 Insulated Jacket (Men's)Climashield HL136 gsm + 102 gsmUnknownMNo
Hypen Sports Riffel Hybrid Jacket (Men's)Climashield CONTUR90 gsmUnknownMNo
Arc'teryx Atom SL Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)40 gsm52/11ReviewM WNo
Arc'teryx Atom LT Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)60 gsm36/2ReviewM WNo
Arc'teryx Proton LT Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)80 gsm + 60 gsm37/3ReviewM WNo
Arc'teryx Therme Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)80 gsmTestingReviewMNo
Arc'teryx Atom AR Hoody (Men's - Women's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)120 gsm + 80 gsm + 60 gsm18/-8ReviewM WNo
Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated Jacket (Men's)Coreloft Compact (a.k.a. Thermore Classic)120 gsm7/-14MNo
Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody (Men's - Women's)FullRange (a.k.a. Toray 3DeFX+)60 gsm41/5ReviewM WNo
Dynafit Free Alpha Direct Jacket (Men's - Women's)Polartec Alpha Direct90 gsmUnknownM WNo
Mont-bell Thermawrap Pro (Men's - Women's)Exceloft80 gsmUnknownM WNo
Marmot Avant Featherless Hoody (Men's - Women's)3M Thinsulate Featherless (Type FL700)254.2 gUnknownM WNo
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill65 g36/2ReviewM WNo
Patagonia Macro Puff Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill135 g + 90 g8/-13M WNo
Patagonia DAS Light Hoody (Men's - Women's)PlumaFill65 gTestingM WNo
Outdoor Research Shadow Hoodie (Men's - Women's)VerticalX ECO SR60 gsmUnknownM WNo
Arc'teryx Proton FL Hoody (Men's - Women's)Octa Loft94 gsm48/9ReviewM WNo
Arc'teryx Practicioner AR Hoody (Men's - Women's)Octa Loft98 gsmTestingM WNo
Fjallraven Keb Padded Hoodie (Men's - Women's)G-Loft Supreme60 gsmUnknownM WNo
Haglofs V Series Mimic Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Mimic PLATINUM Ultracluster Graphene166 gUnknownM WNo
Norrøna Falketind Thermo60 Hood (Men's - Women's)thermo6060 gsmUnknownM WNo
Mammut Rime IN Flex Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Ajungilak OTI Stretch80 gsm + 60 gsmUnknownM WNo
Cotopaxi Teca CĂ¡lido Hooded Jacket (Men's - Women's)Recycled polyester60 gsmUnknownM WNo
Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 Parka (Women's)Thermolite ECO92100 g10/-12ReviewWNo
Patagonia Isthmus Jacket (Men's)Thermogreen polyester100 g36/2MNo

These are only approximate values assuming:

  • you only have a shirt under and no shell over,
  • during daily use (strolls, power walks etc. at most - no high output activities), 
  • with enough wind to cause an umbrella to twist in your hand, 
  • and when it's dry out.

If you think you run warmer or colder than the average person, then shift temperature ranges accordingly.

What Kind of Synthetic Insulation is Best for You?

As I mentioned above, various synthetic insulation producers are on the market. And each brand features a lot of varieties in their product range.

Let’s look at the most widely used synthetic insulations in a little more detail.

After that, it is up to you to choose!

PrimaLoft

PrimaLoft is a well-known brand in short-staple insulation. It has three main categories: Gold, Silver, and Black.

And they've tons of subcategories...

PrimaLoft Gold insulators have the highest CLO values among others. And that way, they might maintain your warmth even in harsh weather.

Generally speaking, PrimaLoft Silver ones display slightly worse insulation performance. So I'd say they'll be appropriate for wearing in a little warmer climates.

And the PrimaLoft Black is the most basic insulation. You can opt for a jacket with this insulation for everyday use.

PrimaLoft Black Insulation Eco Marmot WarmCube Novus Hoody   Men’s - Women’s 

PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco   Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody   Men’s - Women’s - my review

     PrimaLoft Silver Insulation                 Rab Xenon 2.0 Jacket           Men’s - Women’s 


PrimaLoft also designs insulators in collaboration with some outdoor clothing brands. LifaLoft (Helly Hansen) and ThermoBall Eco (The North Face) are some of them.

By the way, I'd like to say I have been impressed with PrimaLoft's cross-core technology. The aerogel used could enhance your warmth without increasing your jacket's weight. Patagonia DAS Parka and L.L. Bean Primaloft Packaway are examples.

Climashield

Climashield produces continuous fiber insulations made of long and hollow fibers.

Filaments in their structure allow recovery after applying forces during stretching or washing. So, they might help maintain the insulation performance of your jacket for a long time.

The company has a wide variety of insulations like Climashield Apex, Contur, Prism…

Each insulation has a prominent characteristic. For example, Climashield Apex is touted as lightweight warmth. And Climashield Prism is a high-performance insulation material produced using AquaBan technology. So, it can repel water effectively.

Speaking of which, Arc'teryx ThermaTek is thought to be a rebrand of Climashield Prism.

                   ThermaTek                    Arc’teryx Dually Belay Parka   Men’s - Women’s - my review

Climashield APEX   Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex Men’s - Women’s

               Climashield PRISM               Arc’teryx Cold WX Hoody LT Gen 2 Men’s - Women’s


Coreloft

Coreloft is synthetic insulation used exclusively by Arc'teryx. There are two kinds of this insulation: Coreloft Compact and Coreloft Continuous.

The Coreloft Compact is thought to be a rebrand of Thermore Classic. And the Coreloft Continuous is of Climashield APEX.

The Coreloft Compact is made of staple fibers in various sizes that are crimped to trap air for more warmth. It's compressible and soft but might lose loft faster because of short fibers.

As you might guess from its name, the Coreloft Continuous includes filament fibers in the structure. That’s why it features higher integrity and more durability. But you can compress it less. Also, I'd say this insulation has some limits on its weight.

You can compare Arc’teryx synthetic insulated jackets using its comparison page.

                Coreloft Continuous                          Arc’teryx Nuclei FL Jacket             Men’s - Women’s - my review

           Coreloft Compact               Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody       Men’s - Women’s - my review

FullRange & PlumaFill

Exclusive to Patagonia, FullRange is a product of Toray Mills, Japan. This is why it’s believed to be a rebrand of Toray 3DeFX+.

FullRange, which is quite stretchy and breathable, includes multi-denier polyester fibers. For now, Patagonia uses this insulator only in Nano-Air products.

PlumaFill is another innovative synthetic insulation of Patagonia. Microfilaments in this insulator spiral a central fiber to mimic down very well. It’s pretty warm and compressible. You might want to check out this page for more info.

                     PlumaFill                          Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody   Men’s - Women’s - my review

                    FullRange                         Patagonia Nano-Air Hoody   Men’s - Women’s - my review

Conclusion

Your synthetic insulated jacket's warmth is mainly related to its insulation's CLO value. And the higher the value is, the warmer you feel.

But, companies infrequently share their products' CLO values. And finding them is a bit challenging and time-consuming.

So, I prepared a table with publicly available CLO values of synthetic insulators. And I added the calculated CLOs for synthetic jackets to the table. Also, you can find some details in the post about the common synthetic insulations in the market, like Primaloft, Climashield, etc.

I hope this information will help you when choosing a synthetic insulated jacket.

I recommend you also check out my other post, "Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets".


I hope this post was helpful for you to learn more about the jacket(s) in your mind.


Feel free to ask me any questions or provide feedback and I'll be happy to respond in the comment section below.


Guide: Insulated & Shell Jackets

Start here:

  • Best Arc'teryx Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Best Patagonia Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Best Down Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Best Synthetic Insulated Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Temperature Ratings of Best Insulated Jackets
  • Arc'teryx Wiki: Complete Data Set
  • CLO values: Explained, compared & plotted
  • Ultimate Size Guide to Arc'teryx
  • StormHood vs DropHood

Complete list:

  • All Arc'teryx Shell Jackets sorted by performance
  • All Arc'teryx Ski Jackets sorted by performance
  • All Patagonia Ski Jackets sorted by performance
  • All Patagonia Winter Jackets compared
  • All Patagonia Fleeces compared
  • All Patagonia Rain Jackets compared
  • All Patagonia Down Jackets compared

Synthetic Insulated Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Proton LT
  • Patagonia Nano Air
  • Arc'teryx Atom LT
  • Arc'teryx Atom AR
  • Patagonia Nano Puff
  • Patagonia Micro Puff
  • Arc'teryx Atom SL
  • Arc'teryx Proton FL
  • Arc'teryx Proton Hybrid Hoody
  • Arc'teryx Fission SV
  • Arc'teryx Dually Belay Parka
  • Arc'teryx Atom SL Anorak
  • Arc'teryx Kappa

Down Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Cerium LT
  • Arc'teryx Cerium SV
  • Arc'teryx Cerium SL
  • Arc'teryx Thorium AR
  • Patagonia Down Sweater
  • Arc'teryx Firebee AR
  • Arc'teryx Ceres SV

Parkas

  • Arc'teryx Thorsen
  • Arc'teryx Therme
  • Arc'teryx Camosun
  • Arc'teryx Patera
  • Arc'teryx Centrale
  • Patagonia Tres
  • Patagonia Vosque

Shell Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Beta SV
  • Arc'teryx Beta FL
  • Arc'teryx Beta AR
  • Arc'teryx Alpha AR
  • Arc'teryx Alpha SV
  • Arc'teryx Gamma MX
  • Arc'teryx Gamma LT
  • Arc'teryx Gamma SL

Ski Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Rush
  • Arc'teryx Rush IS
  • Arc'teryx Sabre LT
  • Arc'teryx Sabre AR
  • Arc'teryx Cassiar
  • Arc'teryx Sidewinder
  • Arc'teryx Macai

Fleece Jackets

  • Patagonia R1
  • Patagonia R2
  • Patagonia Synchilla
  • Patagonia Better Sweater

Wind Jackets

  • Arc'teryx Solano
  • Arc'teryx Nuclei FL
  • Patagonia Houdini
  • Patagonia Houdini Air
  • Arc'teryx Squamish
  • Arc'teryx Incendo
  • Arc'teryx Norvan SL
  • Arc'teryx Trino SL

Rain Jackets

  • Patagonia Torrentshell
  • Patagonia Torrentshell Insulated
  • Arc'teryx Beta SL Hybrid
  • Arc'teryx Zeta FL

Also see:

  • Arc'teryx vs Patagonia
  • List of Manufacturing Facilities of all Arc'teryx Jackets

Thank you for reading!

Filed Under: Synthetic Insulated Jackets Tagged With: arcteryx, arcteryx jackets, jackets, synthetic insulated jackets

Primary Sidebar

Crunch Search

About me

Hey, what's up? Canberk here. I try to approach outdoor gear from a scientific point of view. Here's more about me.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Featured Posts

  • Temperature Ratings of Insulated Jackets
  • Best Arc’teryx Jackets
  • Best Patagonia Jackets

window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-GDD0YD30SK');

  • BASICS
  • PRO TIPS
  • GEAR
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • ABOUT
  • PRIVACY POLICY