SYNTHETIC
- These materials maintain good levels of warmth even when wet.
- Garments using synthetic insulation dry out quicker than those using down.
- They offer great value relative to down clothing.
- Easier to maintain than down.
- Synthetic insulation is perfect for damp, cold winters and will ensure an excellent temperature even when exercising.
Heat generated by the body is radiated into the atmosphere, through our breathable fabrics. This process is called “vasodilation” and works by causing blood to flow close to the skins surface, however in cold weather it can carry too much and will, therefore, make you feel cold.
The synthetic insulation that is used here at Equisafety is designed to replicate the qualities of down, but retain those qualities even when it’s wet. Made from polyester fibres that are arranged in different sized filaments and intertwined it mimics the lofty clusters of natural down by trapping warmth in its air pockets. The upside to synthetic insulation is that it is much more resistant to moisture, and when it does get wet it dries faster and offers increased breathability and moisture transfer. It is naturally hypoallergenic, is 75% recyclable, is not cruel to animals and also tends to be friendlier on the wallet.
Were you aware that your body will lose heat 25 times quicker when you are wet? This is because air flowing past the skin pulls heat away from the body. That is why the insulating garments designed by Equisafety have waterproof and/or a windproof outer which will prevent air from travelling through the garment.
DOWN....
We all know down is warm but, were you aware that it doesn’t do well in wet or humid conditions. Down insulation is much better suited for dry, cold, high alpine environments. This is because moisture is an enemy to down as when wet, down loses all its insulating properties.
Acquiring natural down can also be extremely cruel when harvested from the duck or goose. Most down is a by-product of the food industry? Birds killed for consumption only live to around 4 months meaning their down is relatively low-quality. Higher quality down only comes from older breeding birds. This down is either collected when naturally shed, or sadly plucked out of their breasts whilst they are still alive! It is then allowed to re-grow and the process to be repeated. However, many companies using down are now aware of this and are attempting to source
