PrimaLoft® vs. Down: Outerwear Insulation Explained

Insulation is a crucial part of an effective winter layering system, and when it comes to choosing warm winter layers for skiing and snowboarding, two popular options are PrimaLoft® vs. down. In this guide, Burton's outerwear experts break down the PrimaLoft vs. down debate, review how these insulated layers keep you warm, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.

• Types of Outerwear Insulation
• How Insulated Layers Keep You Warm
• PrimaLoft® vs. Down: Advantages & Disadvantages

Types of Outerwear Insulation

There are two main types of outerwear insulation: down and synthetic fill. Both have unique qualities that make them excel in different conditions. Understanding the differences between them will help you choose the right outerwear when you grab your snowboard and head to the mountains.

Down Insulation

Down is a natural form of insulation that comes from birds, primarily ducks and geese. Down fill is a mix of very fine feathers as well as down clusters (which don't look much like conventional feathers). If you examine it under a microscope, one can see that down is comprised of many, very fine and delicate fibers.

Pro tip: Seek out responsibly sourced materials when shopping for down. At Burton, we use responsibly sourced down. This means that a third-party certification process ensures our supply of down fill comes from ducks and geese that were treated ethically.

Synthetic Insulation

Synthetic insulation is quite similar in structure to down and is comprised of many fine, inter-tangled fibers. Synthetic insulation is made from a variety of plastics, and by many different manufacturers. Here at Burton, we use two primary types of synthetic insulation: PrimaLoft, which is made from both post-consumer recycled and virgin polyester fibers, as well as our own Thermacore synthetic polyester insulation, which is offered in virgin and Eco blends.

How Down & Synthetic Insulation Keeps You Warm

The best days in the mountains are the ones where you can completely focus on the joy of riding, and one of the best ways to make sure this happens is to have a dialed outerwear system. An effective outerwear system typically includes a base layer for moisture wicking, a midlayer for insulation, and a shell layer for wind/rain/snow protection. And since most of the warmth that your body generates is retained by the insulated midlayer, it’s very important to get the right type for your needs. This is where the PrimaLoft vs. down discussion comes into play, since these types of outerwear insulation are two of the most common. So, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering about the science behind synthetic insulation and down insulation and how to get the right warmth level, you’re in the right place.

The secret is dead air space. Dead air space refers to all the small pockets of air within a clothing layer that are warmed up with body heat. Insulated outerwear or midlayers that contain PrimaLoft, Thermacore, or down are specifically designed with lots of dead air space around the body. Additionally, most high-quality insulated outerwear also features a breathable barrier on the inside that helps trap warm air while allowing moisture (sweat) to escape. This combination of body heat management and moisture wicking is what keeps you warm.

But as you may have guessed, not all insulated layers are created equal. When it comes time to select down or PrimaLoft outerwear or midlayers for snowboarding, there are a few things to consider, including down fill-power, PrimaLoft weight, and construction (baffling).

Down Fill-Power Explained

Down fill-power is a measure of the efficiency of the down feathers used in outerwear like snowboarding jackets. Down fill-power is typically indicated as a number (for example, Burton utilizes 700 and 800 fill-power) and these numbers are determined through standardized laboratory testing.

To establish a down fill-power rating, one ounce (28 grams) of down is placed into a glass cylinder and a 94.25-gram weight is placed on top, compressing the down. The fill-power is then determined by measuring the height of the compressed down within the cylinder. A higher fill-power ultimately means that a specific sample of down has a higher insulating ability per weight, which translates to an increased ability to trap more air. Because higher fill-power down has more dead air space within its fibers, it is also naturally more compressible.

Additionally, you may see another number listed for down garments, for instance, 90/10. These numbers refer to the feather-to-quill ratio, respectively. A higher percentage of feathers generally corresponds to a higher quality down fill.

Pro tip: Higher fill-power down is more efficient at insulating, meaning that less is needed to construct a warm garment. Because of this, high fill-power down is often used in premium snowboarding outerwear, making these garments lighter and more packable.

PrimaLoft® & Thermacore Insulation Weight Explained

Synthetic polyester insulations, like PrimaLoft and Thermacore, are measured in grams per square-meter (g/sm), such as 40g/sm or 200g/sm. While there are slight differences from one brand of synthetic insulation to another, it’s generally safe to assume that when considering two outerwear items, like snowboarding jackets or snow pants, the item with more insulation by weight will be warmer.

It's interesting to note that certain parts of our bodies, like our core, need more warmth than our extremities. Because of this, some outerwear is designed with varying weights of synthetic fill in different parts of the garment (sleeves vs. chest, for example).

Outerwear Construction: Sewn-through Baffling vs. Boxed Baffling

Baffling is the method by which insulation is secured in place between the layers of snowboarding pants and jackets. Baffling ensures an even distribution of insulation throughout a garment and attempts to prevent cold spots. The two most common types of baffling are sewn-through construction, and boxed construction, and both have unique advantages.

Sewn-through Baffling: Snowboarding jackets that use sewn-through baffling are often less expensive (because of the simpler sewing process) but have areas with slightly less insulation. These types of garments can provide great value in milder climates where extreme warmth is not necessary.

Boxed Baffling: Snowboarding jackets like the [ak] Expedition Down Jacket, which uses boxed baffling, tend to be higher-priced because of their more complex construction. However, jackets and garments with boxed baffling provide a more continuous layer of insulation, which helps prevent cold spots, keeping you warmer in the most extreme conditions.

Note: Down is a collection of many loose feathers, so baffling is needed to keep them from clumping (or migrating) and leaving cold spots. However, PrimaLoft insulation is produced in continuous sheets and doesn’t migrate like down. Therefore, PrimaLoft garments don’t need conventional baffling.

PrimaLoft® vs. Down: Advantages & Disadvantages

If you are shopping for insulated down or PrimaLoft snowboarding outerwear, there are some advantages and disadvantages you should consider before making a purchase. Basically, certain types of insulation perform better in specific climates, and for certain purposes.

PrimaLoft Advantages & Disadvantages

PrimaLoft insulation has many advantages that make it a viable alternative to down. PrimaLoft snowboarding jackets and pants are generally less expensive than down, making them a great option for riders on a budget and for growing kids who will likely need a larger size next season. PrimaLoft is also a great option for riders who prefer insulation that is vegan. Yes, that means PrimaLoft is petroleum-based, but the good news is that it is offered in a variety of blends that are produced from post-consumer recycled content, and those options have been steadily increasing.

Unlike down, synthetic insulation like PrimaLoft, keeps you warm even when it gets wet. This makes it a favorite choice of riders who frequent wetter areas, like the Pacific Northwest of the United States. This quality also makes synthetic insulation a great choice for those who are heading out on multi-day winter trips, where getting wet is likely.

Alternatively, synthetic insulation is generally heavier in weight than comparable down pieces.

Advantages of PrimaLoft & Burton Thermacore

• Warm when wet
• Generally less expensive than down
• Easier to care for than down
• Not harvested from animals (vegan)
• Often made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) content

Disadvantages of PrimaLoft & Burton Thermacore

• Heavier than down
• Narrower comfort range than down
• Less compressible than down

Down Advantages & Disadvantages

Down insulation offers a handful of advantages when compared to synthetic insulation, starting with its weight. High fill-power down snowboarding jackets can be significantly lighter in weight than synthetic insulation while providing more warmth. Down is also significantly more packable, making it a great choice when space is at a premium (think backcountry trips and international travel).

Down also provides a greater range of comfort, meaning that a single jacket often has a broader range of temperatures where it will feel comfortable, versus a jacket with synthetic insulation. And when a down jacket reaches the end of its usable life, the fill can be composted (whereas most synthetic jackets must be recycled).

Alternatively, down outerwear is typically more expensive than comparable synthetic pieces and provides much less insulation if it gets wet.

Advantages of Down

• More packable
• Lighter weight than synthetic insulation
• Greater range of comfort
• Down feathers are compostable

Disadvantages of Down

• Generally more expensive than synthetic insulation
• Less effective when wet
• Not vegan

Pro tip: Build a quiver of jackets across insulation types and weights. This will allow you to fine-tune your warmth and allow you to stay comfortable in a wide range of environments.

PrimaLoft vs. Down: Bottom Line, It's All Good

The good news is that when choosing between PrimaLoft and down snowboarding jackets and pants, there is no right or wrong answer. Whether you want a giant puffy fortress for the coldest riding days, or a minimal synthetic jacket for sunny spring days, we've got you covered. In the end, the PrimaLoft vs. down decision is a personal one that depends on your unique needs for warmth, comfort, and style.