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Home / Gear / Jackets / Insulated Jackets / Synthetic Insulated Jackets

Primaloft vs Coreloft vs Down: Quick CLO Cheatsheet

Last updated: September 28, 2023 by Canberk Koksal

  • This article is revised after Arc'teryx FW24 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
Insulatorclo/oz/yd2
850+ Fill Down2.53
800 Fill Down1.68
650 Fill Down1.00
Primaloft Gold aka0.92
â € Primaloft Gold Insulation Eco0.92
â € Primaloft One0.92
550 Fill Down0.85
â € Primaloft Black aka0.85
â € ThermoPlume0.85
â € ThermoBall0.85
PlumaFill0.85
Coreloft aka0.82
â € Climashield Apex0.82
Primaloft Sport0.79
Primaloft Synergy0.79
Climashield Prism aka0.76
â € ThermaTek0.76
Exceloft0.68
Primaloft Eco0.68
Primaloft Silver0.68
Primaloft Black0.65

Sources: Richard Nisley's "A Revised Paradigm for Understanding Garment Comfort Limits" paper, Hohenstein Institute's Primaloft Thermal Performance paper and Primaloft's own fact sheets (Gold, Silver, Black). 

Takeaway: CLO differences between synthetic insulators per unit mass are almost non-existent. 

Read more: 

  • https://outdoorcrunch.com/synthetic-insulated-jackets/
  • https://outdoorcrunch.com/jackets/

Other factors, especially insulation amount, is a much more decisive in determining the end warmth. 

This is not to say that these values are completely useless. It's just that looking at the clo/oz/yd^2 value of a garment (in our case, jackets) alone won't give you the conclusion you need.

There are other things you need to take into account. Such as insulation amount, insulation distribution, insulation thickness, the fit and length of the jacket, etc. 

  • Primaloft Gold (aka Primaloft One) is developed by Primaloft and partnered by many brands such as Patagonia, Moncler, and Adidas. 
  • ThermoBall is developed by The North Face.
  • PlumaFill is developed by Patagonia.
  • Coreloft is developed by Arc'teryx.

You can find the table below pretty useful. 

  • Temperature Ratings of Insulated Jackets

NameEst. Temp (F/C)ReviewPit venting?Two way zipper?Stuffs into itself?TypeFill PowerFill Weight (grams)Fill Volume (FP x FW)Synthetic Insulator (SI)SI AmountFace FabricActivityFitWeightLength (CB)Discontinued?
Arc'teryx Alpha (Men's - Women's)-18/-28ReviewNoYesYesDown850296251,600Coreloft90 g/m²N30r 2L GoreTex InfiniumClimbingRegular805 g / 1 lb 12.4 oz86 cm / 34 inNo
Feathered Friends Khumbu-17/-27NoNoYesDown900378340,200Primaloft Gold200 gPretex Shield XTAll RoundRegular960 g / 2 lb 2 oz?No
Arc'teryx Ceres SV (Men's - Women's)-15/-26ReviewNoYesYesDown850240204,000Coreloft?Arato 30All RoundRegular880 g / 1 lb 15 oz86 cm / 34 inYes
Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's)-13/-25NoYesYesDown800300240,000N/AN/A30D DriliteAll RoundRegular820 g / 1 lb 13 oz76 cm / 30 inNo
Rab Positron Pro (Men's)-13/-25NoYesYesDown800300240,000N/AN/A40D Pertex Quantum ProAll RoundRegular740 g / 1 lb 10 oz85 cm / 33.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Therme SV (Men's)-11/-24ReviewNoYesNoParka750211158,250Coreloft60 g/m²2L Gore-TexAround TownRegular1.072 kg / 2 lb 5.8 oz96 cm / 37.75 inNo
Patagonia Grade VII (Men's)-11/-24NoYesNoDown800335268,000N/AN/A1.2 oz 15 & 20D Perfex QuantumAround TownRegular743 g / 1 lb 10.1 oz83 cm / 32.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Firebee AR (Men's - Women's)-10/-23ReviewNoYesYesDown800225180,000N/AN/AArato 7 & 10All RoundRegular680 g / 1 lb 8 oz79 cm / 31 inYes
Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's)-10/-23NoYesYesDown800265212,000N/AN/ANylonAll RoundRegular770 g / 1 lb 11.2 oz79 cm / 31 inNo
Arc'teryx Thorsen (Men's)-7/-22ReviewNoYesNoParka750192144,000Coreloft60 g/m²90D 2L Gore-TexAround TownRegular1.1 kg / 2 lb 5.4 oz91 cm / 36 inYes
Patagonia Frozen Range (Men's - Women's)-6/-21ReviewNoNoNoParka700268187,600N/AN/A4 oz 75-denier polyesterAround TownRegular1.253 kg / 2 lb 12.2 oz84 cm / 33 inNo
Mountain Equipment Li. Ec. (Men's - Women's)-5/-20NoYesNoDown700295206,500N/AN/A50D DriliteAll RoundRegular822 g / 1 lb 13 oz72 cm / 28 inNo
Arc'teryx Thorium Parka (Women's)-2/-19ReviewNoYesNoParka750209156,750Coreloft80 + 140 g/m²Arato 20Around TownRegular610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz115.8 cm/ 45.6 inNo
Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's)-2/-19NoYesYesDown800212169,600N/AN/A20D Pertex Quantum ProAll RoundRegular585 g / 1 lb 8.6 oz77 cm / 30.3 inNo
Arc'teryx Patera Long (Women's)0/-18NoYesNoParka750204153,000Coreloft60 + 80 g/m²2L Gore-TexAround TownRegular1.1 kg / 2 lb 6.8 oz117.5 cm / 46.25 inNo
Arc'teryx Beta Down Insulated (Men's)0/-18YesYesNoParka850126107,100Coreloft80 g/m²2L 40D Gore-TexAll RoundRegular760 g / 1 lb 10.8 oz?No
Arc'teryx Dually Belay (Men's)0/-18ReviewNoYesYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/AThermaTek92 g/m²30D NylonAround TownRegular705 g / 1 lb 9 oz84 cm / 33 inYes
Arc'teryx Centrale (Women's)0/-18ReviewNoYesNoParka750157117,750Coreloft60 g/m²N90p NylonAround TownRegular885 g / 1 lb 15.2 oz95 cm / 37.5 inYes
Arc'teryx Camosun (Men's)0/-18ReviewNoNoNoParka75010578,750Coreloft140 g/m²N150p-X Gore-TexAround TownTrim960 g / 2 lb 1.9 oz80 cm / 31.5 inYes
Arc'teryx Cerium SV (Men's)0/-18ReviewNoNoYesDown850162137,700Coreloft80 + 140 g/m²Arato 7 & 10All RoundRegular415 g / 14.6 oz69.5 cm / 27.4 inYes
Arc'teryx Revet (Men's)2/-17NoYesNoParka750?N/AN/A20d nylon/spandex double weaveAround TownRegular755 g / 1 lb 10.6 oz91 cm / 36 inYes
Arc'teryx Piedmont (Men's)3/-16NoYesYesParka750218163,500N/AN/AArato 10Around TownRegular515 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz82 cm / 32.25 inYes
Arc'teryx Fission SV (Men's - Women's)3/-16ReviewNoYesNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous90 + 65 g/m²N80p-X Gore-Tex 2LAll RoundRegular890 g / 1 lb 15.4 oz81 cm / 31.8 inYes
Arc'teryx Alpha Lightweight (Men's)3/-16NoYesYesDown85011799,450Coreloft Compact40 g/m²Hadron 2L Gore-Tex InfiniumClimbingRegular540 g / 1 lb 3 oz?No
Outdoor Research Sup. Alp. (Men's - Women's)3/-16NoYesNoDown800182145,600N/AN/A30D Pertex Quantum ProAll RoundRegular825 g / 1 lb 13.1 oz85 cm / 33.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Alessa Long (Women's)3/-16NoNoNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft80 + 120 g/m²N90p 2L Gore-TexAround TownRegular1.015 kg / 2 lb 3.8 oz123 cm / 48.5 inYes
Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's)3/-16ReviewNoNoNoParka70011882,600N/AN/A5.5 oz polyesterAround TownRegular1.307 kg / 2 lb 14.1 oz85 cm / 33.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Radsten Parka (Men's)3/-16NoNoNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact120 g/m²NP100d Gore-Tex 2LAround TownRegular745 g / 1 lb 10.3 oz82 cm / 32.25 inYes
Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's)5/-15NoYesYesDown800180144,000N/AN/A20D Pertex Quantum ProAll RoundRegular525 g / 1 lb 2.5 oz74 cm / 29 inNo
Arc'teryx Therme Parka (Men's)5/-15ReviewNoYesNoParka75012090,000Coreloft60 + 80 g/m²P75d PolyesterAround TownRegular991 g / 2 lb 3 oz85 cm / 33.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Macai (Men's)5/-15ReviewYes, zipsNoNoDown7506951,750Coreloft Compact60 + 100 g/m²N40p-X 3L Gore-TexSki/SnowboardRegular1 kg / 2 lb 4 oz76 cm / 30 inYes
Arc'teryx Nuclei SV (Men's)5/-15ReviewNoYesYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous180 g/m2 + 90 g/m2Arato 15ClimbingRegular600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz81 cm / 31.8 inNo
Patagonia DAS Parka (Men's)5/-15NoYesYesParkaN/AN/AN/APrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco133 + 40 gPertex Quantum ProAround TownRegular555 g / 1lb 3.6 oz84 cm / 33 inNo
Arc'teryx Patera (Women's)5/-15ReviewNoYesNoParka7505843,500Coreloft60 + 80 g/m²2L Gore-TexAround TownTrim867 g / 1 lb 14.6 oz99 cm / 39 inNo
Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's)7/-14NoYesYesDown700155108,500N/AN/A30D ripstop nylonAll RoundRegular442 g / 15.6 oz76 cm / 29.75 inNo
Arc'teryx Kappa (Men's)7/-14ReviewNoYesNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous140 g/m²N70p Gore ThermiumAll RoundRegular755 g / 1 lb 10.6 oz80 cm / 31.5 inYes
Arc'teryx Prema Down Coat (Women's)7/-14NoYesNoParka7509269,000N/AN/ANylonAround TownRegular794 g / 1 lb 12 oz117 cm / 46.1 inYes
Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated (Men's)7/-14NoNoNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact120 g/m²NP100d Gore-Tex 2LAround TownRegular715 g / 1 lb 9.2 oz73 cm / 28.75 inYes
Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's)7/-14NoNoYesDown700153107,100N/AN/A30D Pertex QuantumAll RoundRegular466 g / 1 lb 0.5 oz72 cm / 28.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Thorium (Men's - Women's)7/-14ReviewNoYesYesDown750140105,000Coreloft80 + 140 g/m²Arato 30All RoundRegular517 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz71.5 cm / 28.1 inNo
Feathered Friends Eos8/-13NoNoYesDown90010594,500N/AN/APertex QuantumAll RoundRegular306 g / 10.8 oz?No
Arc'teryx Thorium AR 2020 (Men's - Women's)8/-13ReviewNoNoYesDown75013097,500Coreloft80 + 140 g/m²Arato 30All RoundRegular490 g / 1 lb 1.3 oz72 cm / 28.3 inYes
Patagonia Macro Puff (Men's - Women's)8/-13ReviewNoNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/APlumaFill135 + 90 g10D Recycled nylon ripstopAll RoundRegular435 g / 15.3 oz79 cm / 31 inNo
Arc'teryx Macai LT (Men's)8/-13Yes, zipsNoNoDown7504936,750Coreloft Compact60 g/m²N40p-X 3L Gore-TexSki/SnowboardRegular855 g / 1 lb 14.2 oz74 cm / 29.1 inYes
Arc'teryx Seyla (Women's)8/-13NoYesNoParka7509269,000N/AN/AArato 10Around TownRegular507 g / 1 lb. 1.9 oz.87 cm / 34.4 inYes
Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's)8/-13NoNoYesDown800128102,400N/AN/A20D NylonAll RoundRegular632 g / 1lb 6.3 oz74 cm / 29 inNo
Arc'teryx Koda (Men's)8/-13NoNoNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft80 + 140 g/m²N80p-X Gore-TexAround TownRegular720 g / 1 lb 9.4 oz75 cm / 29.5 inYes
Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's)10/-12ReviewNoNoNoParkaN/AN/AN/AThermoLite100 g65% nylon, 35% polyesterAround TownRegular1.360 kg / 3 lb90 cm / 35.5 inNo
Patagonia City Storm Down (Men's - Women's)12/-11NoNoYesParka700191133,700N/AN/A4.2 oz polyesterAll RoundRegular468 g / 16.5 oz91 cm / 36 inNo
Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's)12/-11ReviewNoYesNoParka70014198,700N/AN/A3.6 oz 50D polyesterAround TownRegular880 g / 1 lb 15 oz79 cm / 31 inNo
Arc'teryx Sensa (Women's)14/-10NoYesNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact120 g/m²NP100d Gore-Tex 2LAround TownRelaxed785 g / 1 lb 11.7 oz86 cm / 34 inYes
Patagonia Hi Loft Down (Men's - Women's)14/-10ReviewNoNoYesDown600177106,200N/AN/A1.4 oz 30D polyesterAll RoundRegular540 g / 1 lb 3 oz76 cm / 30 inNo
REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's)14/-10NoNoYesDown850120102,000N/AN/APertex mini ripstop nylonAll RoundRegular340 g / 13.75 oz74 cm / 29.25 inNo
Arc'teryx Beta Insulated Coat (Women's)16/-9ReviewNoYesNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft 80 g/m² + 120 g/m²2L 40D Gore-TexAround TownRegular600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz?No
Arc'teryx Atom Hw. (aka AR) (Men's - Women's)18/-8ReviewYes, meshNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous120 g/m2 + 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m230D TyonoAll RoundRegular475 g / 1 lb 74 cm / 29.1 inNo
Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's)18/-8NoNoNoDown600279167,400N/AN/A4.2 oz polyesterAround TownRegular1.014 kg / 2 lb 3.8 oz?No
Arc'teryx Magnus (Men's)19/-7NoNoNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft80 gN60p Gore-Tex 2LAround TownRegular690 g / 1 lb 8.3 oz83 cm / 32.5 inYes
Arc'teryx Proton Hw. (Men's - Women's)21/-6ReviewNoNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft100 g/m2 + 60 g/m2Fortius Air 50ClimbingRegular540 g / 1 lb 3 oz77 cm / 30.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Agrium (Men's - Women's)21/-6NoNoYesDown85011799,450N/AN/AAratoAll RoundRegular365 g / 12.9 oz75 cm / 29.5 inYes
Patagonia AlpLight Down (Men's - Women's)21/-6NoNoYesDown80010080,000N/AN/A0.8 oz 10D polyesterAll RoundSlim270 g / 9.5 oz74 cm / 29 inNo
Arc'teryx Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's)21/-6ReviewYes, zipsYesNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous80 g/m²2L 40D Gore-TexAll RoundRegular680 g / 1 lb 8 oz78.5 cm / 31 inNo
Patagonia Topley (Men's)23/-5NoYesNoDown700172120,400N/AN/A6 oz polyesterAll RoundRegular1.133 kg / 2 lb 8 oz77 cm / 30.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Alpha IS (Men's)23/-5NoYesYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous65 g/m²N40p-X 2L Gore-TexClimbingRegular610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz78 cm / 30.75 inYes
Rab Xenon 2.0 (Men's - Women's)23/-5NoYesYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/APrimaLoft Silver60 g30D Pertex QuantumAll RoundRegular385 g / 13.6 oz71.5 cm / 28.1 inNo
Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's)23/-5ReviewNoNoYesDown800150120,000N/AN/A1.4 oz 20x30D polyesterAll RoundRegular428 g / 15.1 oz67 cm / 26.25 inNo
Arc'teryx Ralle Parka (Men's)25/-4NoYesNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft 80 g/m²2L 40D Gore-TexAround TownRegular735 g / 1 lb 9.9 oz83 cm / 32.5 inNo
Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's)26/-3ReviewNoNoNoDown70010976,300N/AN/A2.2 oz polyesterAround TownRegular585 g / 1 lb 4.7 oz74 cm / 29 inNo
Arc'teryx Therme Insulated (Men's)26/-3ReviewNoNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact40 g/m²2L Gore-TexAround TownRegular960 g / 2 lb 1.9 oz73 cm / 28.75 inYes
Arc'teryx Cerium (aka LT) (Men's - Women's)26/-3NoNoYesDown85011396,050Coreloft 80 + 100 g/m²Arato 15All RoundTrim335 g / 11.8 oz72 cm / 28.3 inNo
Mountain Hardwear GW/2 (Men's - Women's)28/-2NoNoYesDown8008568,000N/AN/A10D Ripstop NylonAll RoundTrim250 g / 8.8 oz70 cm / 27.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Cerium LT 2020 (Men's - Women's)28/-2ReviewNoNoYesDown85010286,700Coreloft 80 + 100 g/m²Arato 10All RoundTrim305 g / 10.8 oz72 cm / 28.3 inYes
Arc'teryx Nuclei (aka FL) (Men's - Women's)32/0ReviewNoNoYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous65 g/m²Arato 10rClimbingTrim325 g / 11.5 oz75 cm / 29.5 inNo
Patagonia DAS Light (Men's - Women's)34/1NoYesYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/APlumaFill65 g0.8-oz 10-denier Pertex Quantum ProClimbingRegular320 g / 11.3 oz77 cm / 30.5 inNo
Patagonia Isthmus (Men's)36/2NoNoNoParkaN/AN/AN/AThermoGreen60 g4.2 oz polyesterAround TownRegular895 g / 1 lb 15.6 oz70 cm / 27.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Proton (aka LT) (Men's - Women's)37/3ReviewNoNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2Fortius Air 20ClimbingTrim375 g / 13.2 oz75 cm / 29.4 inNo
Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's)37/3ReviewNoNoYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/APrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco60 g22D PolyesterAll RoundRegular363 g / 12.8 oz71.5 cm / 28 inNo
Arc'teryx Norvan SL Ins. (Men's - Women's)39/4NoNoYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact40 g/m²Gore-Tex ShakeDryRunningTrim270 g / 9.5 oz71.5 cm / 28.1 inYes
Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's)41/5ReviewNoNoYesSyntheticN/AN/AN/APlumaFill65 gPertex QuantumAll RoundRegular298 g / 10.5 oz75 cm / 29.5 inNo
Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's)41/5ReviewNoNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/AFullRange60 g33D Nylon ripstopAll RoundTrim318 g / 11.2 oz?No
Arc'teryx Atom (aka LT) (Men's - Women's)43/6ReviewYes, meshNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Continuous60 g/m²20D TyonoAll RoundTrim375 g / 13.2 oz74 cm / 29.1 inNo
Arc'teryx Cerium Lw. (aka SL) (Men's - Women's)43/6ReviewNoNoYesDown8505849,300Coreloft 40 + 100 g/m²Arato 7All RoundTrim215 g / 7.6 oz69 cm / 27.2 in No
Arc'teryx Cerium Hybrid (Men's)44/7NoNoYesDown8504437,400Coreloft 40 + 100 g/m²Arato 15 + Fortius Air 50All RoundTrim260 g / 9.2 oz70 cm / 27.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Proton Hybrid (Men's - Women's)46/8ReviewNoNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact40 g/m²Fortius Air 50All RoundTrim365 g / 12.9 oz76 cm / 30 inNo
Arc'teryx Proton Lw. (aka FL) (Men's - Women's)48/9ReviewNoNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/AOcta Loft94 g/m²Fortius Air 20ClimbingTrim343 g / 12.1 oz75 cm / 29.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Atom Lw. (aka SL) (Men's - Women's)52/11ReviewYes, meshNoNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/ACoreloft Compact40 g/m²20D TyonoAll RoundTrim270 g / 9.5 oz72 cm / 28.3 inNo
REI Stormhenge Hybrid (Men's - Women's)TestingYes, zipsNoNoDown850?N/AN/A40D + 80DAll RoundRegular900 g / 1 lb 15.75 oz80 cm / 31.5 inNo
Arc'teryx Coelle Parka (Women's)TestingNoYesNoParkaN/AN/AN/ACoreloft80 + 140 g/m²40D 2L Gore-TexAround TownRegular460 g / 1 lb 0.2 oz95 cm / 37.4 inNo
Sabre Insulated (Men's)TestingYes, zipsYesNoSyntheticN/AN/AN/AN/ACoreloft60 + 80 g/m²Fortius Air 50Regular535g / 1 lb 2.9 oz?No

Find the estimated average lowest temperature ratings you can wear each jacket above, assuming: 

  • you only have a shirt under and no shell over, 
  • you're walking, 
  • it's a bit windy and there's no precipitation. 

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

Also,

  • Always opt for the warmer option when in doubt. 
  • Ratings will best respond to men's physiology. As most women tend to run colder than men, for women, bumping each rating by 10 - 20 deg F (5 - 10 deg C) is recommended. 
  • Ratings are applicable to your torso and arms only. In colder weather (below, say, 20 deg F (-6 deg C)), it becomes much harder to keep your hands, feet and head warm rather than your torso and arms. 
    • This is why getting beanies, gloves and socks are game changers in this regard. 
  • Further reading: 
    • CLO values of synthetic insulators: https://outdoorcrunch.com/clo-values/
    • Guide to Arc'teryx Jackets: https://outdoorcrunch.com/best-arcteryx-jacket/
    • Guide to Patagonia Jackets: https://outdoorcrunch.com/best-patagonia-jackets/
  • Also see:
    • Arc'teryx Jacket Finder: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/jacket-finder

As you see, there's a strong correlation between FP x FW and temperature ratings, but not more than, say, 80%. I explained why this happens here in this post of mine. 

Table of Contents
Synthetic Insulations
How Warm Are Synthetic Insulated Jackets?
What is a CLO?
Synthetic Insulation Types
Non-woven 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.

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.

Non-woven 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.

What Kind of Synthetic Insulation is Best for You?

This might come self serving but I think the best place to look at for this is the Typical Buyer Profiles section of this guide: https://outdoorcrunch.com/synthetic-insulated-jackets/.

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 Insulated Jackets: My Top Picks
  • Temperature Ratings of Best Insulated Jackets
  • 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

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

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