snow skiing clothes for women:Down/Synthetic Blends

Some manufacturers make sleeping bags and jackets with a combination of water-resistant down and synthetic insulation. This hybrid construction can provide the benefits of both materials while limiting each material’s imperfections.

In some cases, the two types of insulations are blended together throughout the sleeping bag. In others, the insulation may be in different locations, for example, durable synthetic on the bottom of a sleeping bag and lofty down on top.

Pros

Lighter weight and more compressible than synthetic alone

More water-resistant than down alone

Less expensive than down alone

Cons

Heavier and bulkier than down alone

Less water-resistant than synthetic alone

More expensive than synthetic alone

So what’ll it be, down, synthetic or a combination of the two? Think about where you’ll be going, how much weight you want to carry, the weather you’re likely to encounter and how much money you’re willing to spend. But, most importantly, once you find the right sleeping bag or insulated jacket for you, get out in the mountains and have some fun.

Need more information on choose the right sleeping bag?

Sleeping Bags for Camping: How to Choose

Sleeping Bags for Backpacking: How to Choose

Editor’s note:

Regarding responsible sourcing, we (REI) share your concerns and have been looking into this topic for some time. We work closely with our industry partners through the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) to understand the issues and develop solutions that can meet our values.  To honor this commitment, we have adopted the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) for 100% of our REI private label down and feathers.  Many other leading outdoor brands have also adopted the RDS standard.

This standard ensures the down used in our product will come from ethically treated fowl.  Independent, professional certification bodies inspect each part of the down supply chain. Every time products with RDS down change ownership, a certificate (called a Transaction Certificate) is required to track the material from the source to the final product. The RDS ensures that any final product (for example, a jacket or sleeping bag) that comes with an RDS certification claim was made with RDS down.