Not hot and not cold: what is the best insulation for clothes?

Today, there are dozens of types of insulation that are in no way inferior to sheepskin and even better in all respects. Let's look at the types of insulation and find out how to choose the right outerwear for different weather conditions.

Types of insulation for clothing

Over 20 different types of materials are used to insulate clothing. However, all varieties can be divided into three categories:

• natural;
• mixed;
• synthetic.

Each category has its own advantages and disadvantages. We suggest you take them apart.

Natural

They have long been used for insulation. Our distant ancestors used animal skins in cold weather.

Today clothes are insulated:

• Pooh, fluff + feather. Very warm, lightweight, comfortable to wear insulation, suitable for cold weather down to -20 and even down to -40 degrees. The downside is that it is difficult to care for: when washed, the fluff gets lost and ceases to perform its functions. In addition, down is expensive, is a strong allergen, and dust mites can grow in it. Price – from 15,000 rubles per down jacket.
• Wool (camel, sheepskin and others). Resistant to wear, does not accumulate germs and protects against cold at -15–20 degrees. But at the same time it accumulates moisture, is heavy and restricts movement. Relatively difficult to care for and can cause allergies. The cost of a jacket with wool insulation starts from 3,000 rubles.

Mixed

To improve the characteristics of natural insulation materials, as well as reduce the cost of the product, they began to be combined with synthetics. This is how they saw the light:

• Batting. The famous “quilted jackets” were made from it. The batting contains a mixture of wool, cotton, viscose, synthetic fibers and production waste. It is inexpensive, but heavy, accumulates moisture and has relatively low thermal insulation properties. Today it is practically not used.
• Sherstepon. Modern Russian insulation made of natural wool and polyester fibers. It has high heat-saving properties, is lightweight, elastic and plastic. Mainly used for sewing coats and fitted outerwear.
• Alpolux. Light and warm material is made from natural merino wool and high-quality microfiber. It combines the best properties of synthetic and natural fibers. It is used to make blankets and outerwear for adults and children. Temperature range – up to -35 degrees.

Synthetic

The first synthetic insulation that became widespread was synthetic winterizer. They have learned to glue synthetic fibers in a special way, creating an air layer in outerwear. Simple technology made the material accessible. Synthetic winterizer is relatively soft, lightweight and warms in cold weather down to -15 degrees. However, due to the uniformity of the fibers and the use of glue, it shrinks very quickly.Today the synthetic winterizer has been improved: no glue is used in production. But its performance characteristics remain not too high. To protect against severe frosts, a large amount of material is required. But the price matches – from 1500 rubles. Today, synthetic winterizer is the most budget-friendly type of insulation.

Holofiber insulation for clothing

Holofiber is a well-known and widespread synthetic material. They are often used to fill pillows and blankets, and are also used to sew warm clothes. "Hollofiber" means "hollow fiber". The fibers of this material are very airy and resemble spirals. Holofiber is produced in the form of granules or sheets in rolls. It is also sometimes called fibertek, fiberskin and polyfiber. In fact, these are the same insulation. However, it is worth noting that the quality of the material may vary.

The maximum temperature is -25 degrees. The cost of clothing with holofiber is from 3,000 rubles.

Polyester as clothing insulation

About 80% of outerwear is insulated with polyester. However, not everyone knows that polyester is a collective name. It can mean any synthetic material.

If the label indicates 100% polyester, there could be anything inside - from antediluvian synthetic padding to modern Thinsulate, shelter, isosoft and other non-woven materials.

Modern insulation for clothes

In recent years, many new types of insulation for clothing have appeared. Modern technologies make it possible to create very thin, light, but at the same time warm material. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Isosoft

It belongs to the same group of insulation with holofiber, or rather, it is its improved analogue. Isosoft is manufactured using special technology in Belgium.Despite its low weight and density, it retains heat well. In addition, this material does not absorb moisture and allows air to pass through. Absolutely hypoallergenic and often used in the manufacture of children's clothing, including for newborns. Temperature range – up to -25 degrees. Cost – from 4500 rubles per jacket.

Termofin

This insulation is produced in Russia. It consists of a core and a shell in fiber, very porous, so light and warm. Jackets with thermofrin are very soft. In terms of warmth, they exceed the GOST requirements for winter clothing by a factor of two. This filler is often used when sewing workwear, as well as babywearing jackets and jackets for pregnant women. A jacket with 400 g of thermofrin is not cold at a temperature of -50 degrees. The cost of such outerwear starts at 4,000 rubles.

Polyfill

Lightweight, hypoallergenic, warm and soft material. It is often used to insulate classic American Alaskan jackets, as well as clothing for pilots. Polyfill is also used by the popular Canadian brand of children's winter suits, Deux par Deux.

The price for clothes with polyfill is from 12,000 rubles. Temperature range – up to -30 degrees.

Shelter clothing insulation

New from a domestic manufacturer. A distinctive feature of the shelter is the use of silver ions in the manufacture of insulation. Microfibers have excellent air permeability, do not accumulate static electricity, and are flame retardant.

Clothing with a shelter was tested during an expedition to Elbrus. In extreme conditions it retains heat. The material can protect against cold of -50 degrees. It is used to sew clothes for the military, firefighters, security guards, installers, as well as for ordinary city residents. The average price of a jacket with a shelter is 7,000 rubles.

Dupont

Mainly used for insulating men's jackets. Dupont is durable and has excellent heat-saving properties. Although it is positioned as a modern type of insulation, similar material was used back in the 70s for sewing pilot jackets.

Down jackets with dupont are often additionally insulated with camel hair and combined with a membrane top. The price of the products is quite high - from 20,000 rubles. The lowest temperature is -30 degrees.

Thinsulate

The insulation consists of fibers that are 10 times thinner than a human hair. Thanks to this, Thinsulate is very light and can withstand extremely low temperatures (down to -40 degrees). It is often used for sewing workwear for oil workers, astronauts, skiers, and climbers. The wear resistance of Thinsulate is very high. Prices for clothes with it start from 7,000 rubles.

Hollophan

Russian polyfill prototype. The insulation is airy, soft and retains heat well. Sewn on with fabric, repeating the shape of the jacket.

Holofan does not come off when washing and has excellent performance characteristics. Clothes with it are sewn for children, women, men, fishermen, and hunters. Hollophan is also used in the tailoring of luxury clothing from Russian manufacturers.

A jacket with 300 g of filler can be worn in cold temperatures down to -30 degrees. Approximate price – 4000 rubles.

The best insulation for children's clothing

For several years now, the most popular and in demand insulation for children's clothing has been isosoft. This is a mid-priced polyester. It is quite affordable, very light, warm and does not restrict the baby’s movements. It is used by many popular children's clothing brands:

• Lenne;
• Donilo;

Budget overalls and jackets use holofiber, while expensive ones use Thinsulate and Thermofrin. Some famous brands, such as Huppa, Gusti, Reima, use proprietary types of insulation, created using individual technology. However, they are all prototypes of polyester.

What is the warmest clothing insulation?

Just 10 years ago, down jackets with a down content of 85% were considered the warmest clothing. They are able to protect from frost down to -40 degrees and are lightweight and do not restrict movement. However, thanks to innovative technologies, scientists were able to create synthetic insulation materials that are significantly superior to down and previously known insulation materials in all respects. They are warmer, lighter, more wear-resistant, do not get lost, and are undemanding in maintenance.

The warmest insulation materials are:

• Thinsulate;
• shelter;
• thermofin.

But a lot depends on the quantity and density of the material.

How much insulation should clothing have?

The amount of insulation is a very important criterion. It can be used to determine at what temperature to wear outerwear.

Please note the grams:

• 80 g is suitable for warm weather, approximately +10–15 degrees;
• 100–120 g – ideal for off-season and warm winters with temperatures from -5 to +10 degrees
• 140–180 g – clothing for late autumn, early spring and winter with slight frosts, temperature range – from -15 to +5 degrees;
• 200 g – option exclusively for winter clothing, suitable for cold weather from 0 to -25 degrees;
• 250–300 g – winter warm clothing, intended for wear in frosts from -10 to -30 degrees;
• over 350 g of insulation means that the clothes can be worn at extremely low temperatures (-25–50 degrees).

When choosing a jacket or overalls for the weather, it is important to consider the presence of a wool or fleece lining. It additionally insulates clothes.

The above indicators are approximately the same for all types of polyester, as well as down.

Density of clothing insulation

The warmest type of insulation is the one that best retains still air. The more it is retained in clothing, the less the human body cools. The air gap is the best thermal insulator. An excellent option is lightweight fibers with cavities to retain air, that is, low-density insulation.

Thus, modern polyester fibers are currently considered the best category of insulation. They are the warmest, most wear-resistant, and lightest. Depending on the amount of insulation, the product can be worn in different weather - damp autumn, sunny spring, frosty winter. Polyester does not accumulate moisture, is easy to wash, and retains heat well.

However, do not forget that the overall characteristics of the clothing are important: water-repellent properties, upper material, lining and much more. So, when using a membrane, the amount of insulation can be reduced, and this will not affect heat conservation. Therefore, when choosing a jacket, overalls or coat, it will be correct to focus not on the quantity and density of the seal, but on the manufacturer’s rating and its recommendations for thermal conditions. They are always indicated in the product passport, which can be requested from the seller.