Insulation and Layers

Layers are the best way to stay warm, Start with your chosen baselayer, next to your skin. This could be a synthetic base for performance and sweat management or a merino blend for added warmth. Next we look at a fleece. These vary in weight depending on how you feel the cold, we're all different. Some people prefer a light or mid weight whilst some need the thermal properties of a heavier weight fleece. Over that we would suggest an insulation piece, either synthetic or down. Down is known for it's lofting properties and will undoubtedly keep you warm by trapping air. The higher the fill power, the more air is trapped so the warmer that down is. Also, take a look at what weight of down is used in a piece as this effects the overall warmth too. Synthetics now offer an excellent alternative to down and often it is hard to tell from a distance which is which. Synthetic filled jackets come into their own in wet weather where they are able to maintin their structure and continue to trap air keeping you warm. If down gets soaked, it will clump and won't be able to maintain it's loft causing the wearer to chill down. So, the choice is yours!