Insulator | clo/oz/yd2 |
---|---|
850+ Fill Down | 2.53 |
800 Fill Down | 1.68 |
650 Fill Down | 1.00 |
Primaloft Gold aka | 0.92 |
â € Primaloft Gold Insulation Eco | 0.92 |
â € Primaloft One | 0.92 |
550 Fill Down | 0.85 |
â € Primaloft Black aka | 0.85 |
â € ThermoPlume | 0.85 |
â € ThermoBall | 0.85 |
PlumaFill | 0.85 |
Coreloft aka | 0.82 |
â € Climashield Apex | 0.82 |
Primaloft Sport | 0.79 |
Primaloft Synergy | 0.79 |
Climashield Prism aka | 0.76 |
â € ThermaTek | 0.76 |
Exceloft | 0.68 |
Primaloft Eco | 0.68 |
Primaloft Silver | 0.68 |
Primaloft Black | 0.65 |
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 Eco, Silver, Black).
Takeaway: CLO differences between synthetic insulators per unit mass are almost non-existent.
Read more:
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.
Name Est. Temp (F/C) Review Type Fill Power (in3/oz) Fill Weight (g) Fill Volume (in3) Synthetic Fill Synth. Fill Weight Face Fabric Pit venting? Two way zipper? Stuffs into itself? Activity Fit Weight Length (CB) Arc'teryx Alpha (Men's - Women's) -18/-28 Review Down 850 296 8,875 Coreloft 90 g/m² N30r 2L GoreTex Infinium No Yes Yes Climbing Regular 805 g / 1 lb 12.4 oz 86 cm / 34 in No Feathered Friends Khumbu -17/-27 Down 900 378 12,000 Primaloft Gold 200 g Pretex Shield XT No No Yes All Round Regular 960 g / 2 lb 2 oz ? No Arc'teryx Ceres SV (Men's - Women's) -15/-26 Review Down 850 240 7,196 Coreloft ? Arato 30 No Yes Yes All Round Regular 880 g / 1 lb 15 oz 86 cm / 34 in Yes Mountain Equipment K7 (Men's) -13/-25 Down 800 300 8,466 N/A N/A 30D Drilite No Yes Yes All Round Regular 820 g / 1 lb 13 oz 76 cm / 30 in No Rab Positron Pro (Men's) -13/-25 Down 800 300 8,466 N/A N/A 40D Pertex Quantum Pro No Yes Yes All Round Regular 740 g / 1 lb 10 oz 85 cm / 33.5 in No Arc'teryx Therme SV (Men's) -11/-24 Review Parka 750 211 5,582 Coreloft 60 g/m² 2L Gore-Tex No Yes No Around Town Regular 1.072 kg / 2 lb 5.8 oz 96 cm / 37.75 in No Patagonia Grade VII -11/-24 Down 800 335 9,453 N/A N/A 1.2 oz 15 & 20D Pertex Quantum No Yes No Around Town Regular 743 g / 1 lb 10.1 oz 83 cm / 32.5 in Yes Patagonia AlpLoft (Men's - Women's) -10/-23 Down 800 295 8,325 N/A N/A Pertex Quantom No Yes Yes All Round Regular 680 g / 1 lb 8 oz 81 cm / 31.8 in No Arc'teryx Firebee AR (Men's - Women's) -10/-23 Review Down 800 225 6,349 N/A N/A Arato 7 & 10 No Yes Yes All Round Regular 680 g / 1 lb 8 oz 79 cm / 31 in Yes Mountain Equipment Exo (Men's) -10/-23 Down 800 265 7,478 N/A N/A Nylon No Yes Yes All Round Regular 770 g / 1 lb 11.2 oz 79 cm / 31 in No Arc'teryx Thorsen (Men's) -7/-22 Review Parka 750 192 5,079 Coreloft 60 g/m² 90D 2L Gore-Tex No Yes No Around Town Regular 1.1 kg / 2 lb 5.4 oz 91 cm / 36 in Yes Patagonia Frozen Range (Men's - Women's) -6/-21 Review Parka 700 268 6,617 N/A N/A 4 oz 75-denier polyester No No No Around Town Regular 1.253 kg / 2 lb 12.2 oz 84 cm / 33 in Yes Mountain Equipment Li. Ec. (Men's - Women's) -5/-20 Down 700 295 7,284 N/A N/A 50D Drilite No Yes No All Round Regular 822 g / 1 lb 13 oz 72 cm / 28 in Yes Arc'teryx Thorium Parka (Women's) -2/-19 Review Down 750 209 5,529 Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² Arato 20 No Yes No Around Town Regular 610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz 115.8 cm / 45.6 in No Rab Neutrino Pro (Men's - Women's) -2/-19 Down 800 212 5,982 N/A N/A 20D Pertex Quantum Pro No Yes Yes All Round Regular 585 g / 1 lb 8.6 oz 77 cm / 30.3 in No Arc'teryx Patera Long (Women's) 0/-18 Parka 750 204 5,397 Coreloft 60 + 80 g/m² 2L Gore-Tex No Yes No Around Town Regular 1.1 kg / 2 lb 6.8 oz 117.5 cm / 46.25 in No Patagonia Stormshadow (Men's) 0/-18 Parka 700 259 6,395 N/A N/A 75D Polyester No No No Around Town Regular 1.182 kg / 2 lb 9.7 oz ? No Arc'teryx Beta Down Insulated (Men's) 0/-18 Parka 850 126 3,778 Coreloft 80 g/m² 2L 40D Gore-Tex Yes Yes No All Round Regular 760 g / 1 lb 10.8 oz 79 cm / 31 in No Arc'teryx Dually Belay (Men's) 0/-18 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A ThermaTek 92 g/m² 30D Nylon No Yes Yes Around Town Regular 705 g / 1 lb 9 oz 84 cm / 33 in Yes Arc'teryx Centrale (Women's) 0/-18 Review Parka 750 157 4,154 Coreloft 60 g/m² N90p Nylon No Yes No Around Town Regular 885 g / 1 lb 15.2 oz 95 cm / 37.5 in Yes Arc'teryx Thorium SV Parka (Men's) 0/-18 Down 750 195 5,159 Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² Arato 30 & 2L Gore-Tex Infinium No Yes No Around Town Regular 685 g / 1 lb 8.2 oz 85 cm / 33.5 in No Arc'teryx Camosun (Men's) 0/-18 Review Parka 750 105 2,778 Coreloft 140 g/m² N150p-X Gore-Tex No No No Around Town Trim 960 g / 2 lb 1.9 oz 80 cm / 31.5 in Yes Arc'teryx Cerium SV (Men's - Women's) 0/-18 Review Down 850 162 4,857 Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² Arato 7 & 10 No No Yes All Round Regular 415 g / 14.6 oz 69.5 cm / 27.4 in Yes Arc'teryx Liatris Parka (Women's) 2/-17 Parka 850 136 4,078 Climashield 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 70D 3L Gore-Tex No No No Around Town Regular 1.093 kg / 2 lb 6.6 oz 109 cm / 43 in No Arc'teryx Revet (Men's) 2/-17 Parka 750 ? N/A N/A N/A 20d nylon/spandex double weave No Yes No Around Town Regular 755 g / 1 lb 10.6 oz 91 cm / 36 in Yes Arc'teryx Thorium SV (Men's) 3/-16 Down 750 169 4,471 Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² Arato 30 & 2L Gore-Tex Infinium No Yes Yes Around Town Regular 645 g / 1 lb 6.8 oz 73 cm / 28.75 in No Arc'teryx Piedmont (Men's) 3/-16 Parka 750 218 5,767 N/A N/A Arato 10 No Yes Yes Around Town Regular 515 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz 82 cm / 32.25 in Yes Outdoor Research Sup. Alp. (Men's - Women's) 3/-16 Down 800 182 5,136 N/A N/A 30D Pertex Quantum Pro No Yes No All Round Regular 825 g / 1 lb 13.1 oz 85 cm / 33.5 in No Arc'teryx Fission SV (Men's - Women's) 3/-16 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 90 + 65 g/m² N80p-X Gore-Tex 2L No Yes No All Round Regular 890 g / 1 lb 15.4 oz 81 cm / 31.8 in Yes Arc'teryx Alessa Long 3/-16 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft 80 + 120 g/m² N90p 2L Gore-Tex No No No Around Town Regular 1.015 kg / 2 lb 3.8 oz 123 cm / 48.5 in Yes Arc'teryx Radsten Parka (Men's) 3/-16 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 120 g/m² NP100d Gore-Tex 2L No No No Around Town Regular 745 g / 1 lb 10.3 oz 82 cm / 32.25 in Yes Rab Electron Pro (Men's - Women's) 5/-15 Down 800 180 5,079 N/A N/A 20D Pertex Quantum Pro No Yes Yes All Round Regular 525 g / 1 lb 2.5 oz 74 cm / 29 in No Rab Infinity Alpine (Men's) 5/-15 Down 800 175 4,938 N/A N/A 30D & 13D Gore-Tex Infinium No Yes Yes All Round Regular 551 g / 1 lb 3.4 oz 76.5 cm / 30.1 in No Arc'teryx Alpha Lightweight (Men's - Women's) 5/-15 Down 850 117 3,508 Coreloft Compact 40 g/m² Hadron 2L Gore-Tex Infinium No Yes Yes Climbing Regular 540 g / 1 lb 3 oz 79.5 cm / 31.25 in No Arc'teryx Therme Parka (Men's) 5/-15 Review Parka 750 120 3,175 Coreloft 60 + 80 g/m² P75d Polyester No Yes No Around Town Regular 991 g / 2 lb 3 oz 85 cm / 33.5 in No Arc'teryx Liatris (Women's) 5/-15 Parka 850 93 2,788 Climashield 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 70D 3L Gore-Tex No No No Around Town Regular 890 g / 1 lb 15.4 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in No Arc'teryx Macai (Men's) 5/-15 Review Shell 750 69 1,825 Coreloft Compact 60 + 100 g/m² N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex Yes, zips No No Ski/Snowboard Regular 1 kg / 2 lb 4 oz 76 cm / 30 in No Arc'teryx Nuclei SV (Men's - Women's) 5/-15 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 190 g/m2 + 90 g/m2 Arato 15 No Yes Yes All Round Regular 600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz 81 cm / 31.8 in No Black Diamond Access Down (Men's - Women's) 7/-14 Down 700 155 3,827 N/A N/A 30D ripstop nylon No Yes Yes All Round Regular 442 g / 15.6 oz 76 cm / 29.75 in No Arc'teryx Kappa (Men's) 7/-14 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 140 g/m² N70p Gore Thermium No Yes No All Round Regular 755 g / 1 lb 10.6 oz 80 cm / 31.5 in Yes Patagonia Jackson Glacier Parka (Men's - Women's) 7/-14 Parka 700 218 5,383 N/A N/A 50D Polyester No No No Around Town Regular 1.142 kg / 2 lb 8.3 oz ? No Arc'teryx Prema Down Coat (Women's) 7/-14 Parka 750 92 2,434 N/A N/A Nylon No Yes No Around Town Regular 794 g / 1 lb 12 oz 117 cm / 46.1 in Yes Arc'teryx Radsten Insulated (Men's) 7/-14 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 120 g/m² NP100d Gore-Tex 2L No No No Around Town Regular 715 g / 1 lb 9.2 oz 73 cm / 28.75 in Yes Rab Microlight Alpine (Men's - Women's) 7/-14 Down 700 153 3,778 N/A N/A 30D Pertex Quantum No No Yes All Round Regular 466 g / 1 lb 0.5 oz 72 cm / 28.5 in No Feathered Friends Eos 8/-13 Down 900 105 3,333 N/A N/A Pertex Quantum No No Yes All Round Regular 306 g / 10.8 oz ? No Patagonia Macro Puff (Men's - Women's) 8/-13 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A PlumaFill 135 + 90 g 10D Recycled nylon ripstop No No No All Round Regular 435 g / 15.3 oz 79 cm / 31 in Yes Arc'teryx Macai Lightweight (aka LT) (Men's) 8/-13 Shell 750 49 1,296 Coreloft Compact 60 g/m² N40p-X 3L Gore-Tex Yes, zips No No Ski/Snowboard Regular 855 g / 1 lb 14.2 oz 74 cm / 29.1 in No Patagonia Tres 3-in-1 (Men's - Women's) 8/-13 Review Parka 700 118 2,914 N/A N/A 5.5 oz polyester No No No Around Town Regular 1.307 kg / 2 lb 14.1 oz 85 cm / 33.5 in No Arc'teryx Seyla (Women's) 8/-13 Parka 750 92 2,434 N/A N/A Arato 10 No Yes No Around Town Regular 507 g / 1 lb. 1.9 oz. 87 cm / 34.4 in Yes Arc'teryx Koda (Men's) 8/-13 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² N80p-X Gore-Tex No No No Around Town Regular 720 g / 1 lb 9.4 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in Yes Patagonia DAS (Men's - Women's) 10/-12 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco 133 + 40 g Pertex Quantum Pro No Yes Yes All Round Regular 555 g / 1 lb 3.6 oz 84 cm / 33 in No Patagonia Vosque 3-in-1 (Women's) 10/-12 Review Parka N/A N/A N/A ThermoLite 100 g 65% nylon, 35% polyester No No No Around Town Regular 1.360 kg / 3 lb 90 cm / 35.5 in No Arc'teryx Thorium (Men's - Women's) 12/-11 Review Down 750 140 3,704 Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² Arato 30 No Yes Yes All Round Regular 517 g / 1 lb 2.2 oz 71.5 cm / 28.1 in No Patagonia City Storm Down (Men's - Women's) 12/-11 Parka 700 191 4,716 N/A N/A 4.2 oz polyester No No Yes All Round Regular 468 g / 16.5 oz 91 cm / 36 in Yes Patagonia Jackson Glacier (Men's - Women's) 12/-11 Review Down 700 141 3,482 N/A N/A 3.6 oz 50D polyester No Yes No Around Town Regular 880 g / 1 lb 15 oz 79 cm / 31 in No Arc'teryx Thorium AR 2020 (Men's - Women's) 14/-10 Review Down 750 130 3,439 Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² Arato 30 No No Yes All Round Regular 490 g / 1 lb 1.3 oz 72 cm / 28.3 in Yes Patagonia Fitz Roy (Men's - Women's) 14/-10 Down 800 128 3,612 N/A N/A 20D Nylon No No Yes All Round Regular 632 g / 1lb 6.3 oz 74 cm / 29 in No Arc'teryx Sensa (Women's) 14/-10 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 120 g/m² NP100d Gore-Tex 2L No Yes No Around Town Relaxed 785 g / 1 lb 11.7 oz 86 cm / 34 in Yes Arc'teryx Ralle (Men's) 14/-10 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft 120 g/m² N80p-X 2L Gore-Tex No Yes No Around Town Regular 735 g / 1 lb 9.9 oz 83 cm / 32.5 in No Patagonia Hi-Loft (Men's - Women's) 14/-10 Review Down 600 177 3,746 N/A N/A 1.4 oz 30D polyester No No Yes All Round Regular 540 g / 1 lb 3 oz 76 cm / 30 in Yes Arc'teryx Coelle (Women's) 14/-10 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft 80 + 140 g/m² 40D 2L Gore-Tex No Yes No Around Town Regular ? 95 cm / 37.4 in No REI Magma 850 Hoodie 2.0 (Men's - Women's) 14/-10 Down 850 120 3,598 N/A N/A Pertex mini ripstop nylon No No Yes All Round Regular 340 g / 13.75 oz 74 cm / 29.25 in No Arc'teryx Beta Insulated Coat (Women's) 16/-9 Review Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft 80 g/m² + 120 g/m² 2L 40D Gore-Tex No Yes No Around Town Regular 600 g / 1 lb 5.2 oz 86 cm / 34 in No Arc'teryx Atom Heavyweight (aka AR) (Men's - Women's) 18/-8 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 120 g/m2 + 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 30D Tyono Yes, mesh No No All Round Regular 475 g / 1 lb 74 cm / 29.1 in No Patagonia Downdrift (Men's - Women's) 18/-8 Down 600 279 5,905 N/A N/A 4.2 oz polyester No No No Around Town Regular 1.014 kg / 2 lb 3.8 oz ? No Arc'teryx Magnus (Men's) 19/-7 Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft 80 g N60p Gore-Tex 2L No No No Around Town Regular 690 g / 1 lb 8.3 oz 83 cm / 32.5 in Yes Rab Infinity Microlight (Men's - Women's) 19/-7 Down 700 146 3,605 N/A N/A 13D Gore-Tex Infinium No No Yes All Round Regular 452 g / 15.9 oz 74 cm / 29.1 in No Arc'teryx Proton Heavyweight (Men's - Women's) 21/-6 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft 100 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 Fortius Air 50 No No No All Round Regular 540 g / 1 lb 3 oz 77 cm / 30.5 in No Arc'teryx Agrium (Men's - Women's) 21/-6 Down 850 117 3,508 N/A N/A Arato No No Yes All Round Regular 365 g / 12.9 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in Yes Arc'teryx Beta Insulated (Men's - Women's) 21/-6 Review Parka N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 80 g/m² 2L 40D Gore-Tex Yes, zips Yes No All Round Regular 680 g / 1 lb 8 oz 78.5 cm / 31 in No Arc'teryx Patera (Women's) 21/-6 Review Parka 750 67 1,773 Coreloft 60 + 80 g/m² 2L Gore-Tex No Yes No Around Town Trim 867 g / 1 lb 14.6 oz 99 cm / 39 in No Patagonia Topley (Men's) 23/-5 Down 700 172 4,247 N/A N/A 6 oz polyester No Yes No All Round Regular 1.133 kg / 2 lb 8 oz 77 cm / 30.5 in No Arc'teryx Alpha IS (Men's) 23/-5 Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 65 g/m² N40p-X 2L Gore-Tex No Yes Yes Climbing Regular 610 g / 1 lb 5.5 oz 78 cm / 30.75 in Yes Patagonia Down Sweater (Men's - Women's) 23/-5 Review Down 800 150 4,233 N/A N/A 1.4 oz 20x30D polyester No No Yes All Round Regular 428 g / 15.1 oz 67 cm / 26.25 in No Arc'teryx Epsilon (Men's) 26/-3 Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 80 g/m² Fortius 1.0 No No No Around Town Regular 644 g / 1 lb 6.7 oz ? No Patagonia Silent Down (Men's - Women's) 26/-3 Review Down 700 109 2,691 N/A N/A 2.2 oz polyester No No No Around Town Regular 585 g / 1 lb 4.7 oz 74 cm / 29 in No Arc'teryx Therme Insulated (Men's) 26/-3 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 40 g/m² 2L Gore-Tex No No No Around Town Regular 960 g / 2 lb 1.9 oz 73 cm / 28.75 in Yes Arc'teryx Cerium (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) 26/-3 Review Down 850 113 3,388 Coreloft 80 + 100 g/m² Arato 15 No No Yes All Round Trim 335 g / 11.8 oz 72 cm / 28.3 in No Mountain Hardwear GW/2 (Men's - Women's) 28/-2 Down 800 85 2,399 N/A N/A 10D Ripstop Nylon No No Yes All Round Trim 250 g / 8.8 oz 70 cm / 27.5 in No Arc'teryx Cerium LT 2020 (Men's - Women's) 28/-2 Review Down 850 102 3,058 Coreloft 80 + 100 g/m² Arato 10 No No Yes All Round Trim 305 g / 10.8 oz 72 cm / 28.3 in Yes Arc'teryx Nuclei (aka FL) (Men's - Women's) 32/0 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 65 g/m² Arato 10r No No Yes All Round Regular 325 g / 11.5 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in No Patagonia DAS Light (Men's - Women's) 34/1 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A PlumaFill 65 g 10D Pertex Quantum Pro No Yes Yes All Round Regular 320 g / 11.3 oz 77 cm / 30.5 in No Patagonia Isthmus (Men's) 36/2 Parka N/A N/A N/A ThermoGreen 60 g 4.2 oz polyester No No No Around Town Regular 895 g / 1 lb 15.6 oz 70 cm / 27.5 in No Patagonia AlpLight (Men's - Women's) 36/2 Down 800 100 2,822 N/A N/A 0.8 oz 10D polyester No No Yes All Round Slim 270 g / 9.5 oz 74 cm / 29 in No Arc'teryx Proton (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) 37/3 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 80 g/m2 + 60 g/m2 Fortius Air 20 No No No Climbing Trim 375 g / 13.2 oz 75 cm / 29.4 in No Patagonia Nano Puff (Men's - Women's) 37/3 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Eco 60 g 22D Polyester No No Yes All Round Regular 363 g / 12.8 oz 71.5 cm / 28 in No Arc'teryx Norvan SL Ins. (Men's - Women's) 39/4 Shell N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 40 g/m² Gore-Tex ShakeDry No No Yes Running Trim 270 g / 9.5 oz 71.5 cm / 28.1 in Yes Patagonia Micro Puff (Men's - Women's) 41/5 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A PlumaFill 65 g Pertex Quantum No No Yes All Round Regular 298 g / 10.5 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in No Patagonia Nano Air (Men's - Women's) 41/5 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A FullRange 60 g 33D nylon ripstop No No Yes All Round Trim 401 g / 14.14 oz ? No Arc'teryx Atom (aka LT) (Men's - Women's) 43/6 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Continuous 60 g/m² 20D Tyono Yes, mesh No No All Round Trim 375 g / 13.2 oz 74 cm / 29.1 in No Arc'teryx Cerium Lightweight (aka SL) (Women's) 43/6 Review Down 850 58 1,739 Coreloft 40 + 100 g/m² Arato 7 No No Yes All Round Trim 215 g / 7.6 oz 69 cm / 27.2 in No Arc'teryx Cerium Hybrid (Men's) 44/7 Down 850 44 1,319 Coreloft 40 + 100 g/m² Arato 15 + Fortius Air 50 No No Yes All Round Trim 260 g / 9.2 oz 70 cm / 27.5 in No Arc'teryx Proton Hybrid (Men's - Women's) 46/8 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 40 g/m² Fortius Air 50 No No No All Round Trim 365 g / 12.9 oz 76 cm / 30 in No Arc'teryx Proton Lightweight (aka FL) (Men's - Women's) 48/9 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Octa Loft 94 g/m² Fortius Air 20 No No No Climbing Trim 343 g / 12.1 oz 75 cm / 29.5 in No Patagonia Nano Air Light Hybrid (Men's - Women's) 50/10 Synthetic N/A N/A N/A FullRange 40 g 20D nylon ripstop No No No All Round Trim 335 g / 11.8 oz ? No Arc'teryx Atom Lightweight (aka SL) (Men's - Women's) 52/11 Review Synthetic N/A N/A N/A Coreloft Compact 40 g/m² 20D Tyono Yes, mesh No No All Round Trim 270 g / 9.5 oz 72 cm / 28.3 in No
Assumptions: Worn over a thin shirt, no output, no precipitation, light to no wind.
Specs are always for size M and for men's, except for women's-only items.
Primary use of this spectrum is for comparison, rather than figuring out absolute temp ratings. Still, estimated temp ratings best respond to the average male physiology. If you run warmer or colder, shift ratings accordingly.
Visit product pages to reveal hooded or hoodless recommendations. But general recommendation is hoodless down and hooded synthetic jackets.
- 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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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".