A Puffer Jacket also called a “Puffy” is a light-weight jacket insulated with down or artificial insulation used as a heat layering garment by hikers and backpackers. It’s so-called as a result of the insulation is sewn into small pockets referred to as baffles that lure air physique warmth and puff up. Puffer jackets normally weigh lower than one pound.
Puffer jackets are greatest worn as a warming layer once you take a relaxation break on a hike or as an outer layer in camp once you’re much less energetic as a result of they’re designed to lure heat however not perspiration. In case you want an additional insulation layer whereas actively mountain climbing and perspiring, you’re higher off carrying a extremely breathable pullover or jacket produced from polyester fleece. Fleece is excellent at venting moisture and can dry if it will get damp from perspiration. In case you nonetheless want extra heat, it’s good to layer a extremely breathable windbreaker or windshirt over a fleece to dam the wind, lure your physique warmth, and launch moisture as a substitute of carrying a puffer jacket since it’ll make you sweat and soak your baselayers.
Down Insulated Puffy Jackets
Puffer Jackets are normally waist-length and sometimes have a really sparse characteristic set with a non-adjustable hood, elastic wrist cuffs, zippered handwarmer pockets, a zippered chest pocket, and hem adjustment to seal out drafts from under. They’re normally “sewn-thru” when it comes to building, the place the within and exterior material layers are stitched collectively to create pockets to carry the insulation. Whereas this leaks heat by way of the ensuing needle holes, it’s achieved to maintain the price of manufacture low.
Puffer jackets differ from Parkas, that are normally hip size, a lot heavier, and far hotter. Parkas normally have a greater characteristic set, too, with a one or two-way adjustable hoods, hook-and-loop wrist cuffs, and inner drop pockets. Parkas are sometimes made with field baffling to carry their insulation in place, which, although extra environment friendly and rather more costly to fabricate, gives a lot better heat than jackets with a sewn-thru building.
Artificial Insulated Puffy Jackets
Puffer jackets can be found with down or artificial insulation. Whereas the warmth retention traits of artificial insulation have improved lately, it’s nonetheless solely equal to 550-650 fill energy down, which isn’t that spectacular in comparison with puffy jackets insulated with 800, 850, 900, and even 1000 fill energy down. Regardless of the distinction in thermal effectivity, the load of down and artificial jackets is fairly shut. The heaviest part in each jacket sorts is the material used to make them, not the insulation itself.
Are there benefits to having a down-insulated puffy vs one made with artificial insulation? The largest distinction between the 2, moreover thermal effectivity, is compressibility. Down puffies are likely to compress higher when stuffed in a backpack, which is useful when packing. Additionally they have an extended lifespan as a result of artificial insulation loses its insulating energy over time when compressed repeatedly, whereas down-insulated clothes retain it with age. Whereas artificial insulation will keep hotter longer than down when it will get damp, should you ever saturate your puffy or soak it with perspiration, you’re most likely doing one thing fallacious. Very fallacious.
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