{"id":38770,"date":"2023-02-03T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-01.bergfreunde.de\/blog\/primaloft-a-real-alternative-to-down\/"},"modified":"2023-02-03T12:00:36","modified_gmt":"2023-02-03T11:00:36","slug":"primaloft-a-real-alternative-to-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alpinetrek.co.uk\/blog\/primaloft-a-real-alternative-to-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Primaloft: a real alternative to down?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

High-quality down is the very best when it comes to providing reliable protection in cold and dry conditions. But, what if it\u2019s bucketing down and your clothes are getting all wet? Or what if your insulating layer gets all sweaty from a really tough uphill climb? Well, this is where down reaches its limits. If it gets wet or even damp, it will lose a large proportion of its fill power and insulating properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The solution? Synthetic insulation! A very popular and well-known name in the synthetic insulation industry is PrimaLoft<\/strong>. But what is Primaloft exactly? Well, keep reading and we\u2019ll tell you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The need for a solution<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Primaloft:<\/a>
Primaloft – an alternative for down? Photo: Black Diamond<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The problem of deteriorating insulating properties as a result of exposure to moisture is not only something amateur outdoor enthusiasts have to deal with. For a long time now, even professional outdoor athletes<\/strong> have been struggling to compensate for the downsides of down, but to no avail. Until now! Enter Primaloft, the real alternative to down! It is a synthetic material that is just as light and insulates just as well as down<\/strong> with the added bonus of being water resistant! Wow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did it all begin? Well, at the beginning of the 1980s, the United States Army was in search of precisely this kind of synthetic fibre. Over the course of this search, down and its excellent thermal and physical properties were thoroughly examined in order to develop a material that could perfectly mimic these properties. The result was Primaloft: a synthetic fibre consisting of polyester that perfectly mimics the properties of down. The material not only has a high <\/strong>fill power and excellent thermal efficiency<\/strong>, but it\u2019s also strong and resistant to moisture. Plus, it is very compressible as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What makes PrimaLoft better than other synthetic fibres?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The developers managed to create a synthetic material that has millions of air pockets to trap your body heat, thereby insulating in a way that only down had been able to. What\u2019s more, the PrimaLoft fibres<\/strong> are also treated so that they don\u2019t absorb or retain water. As a result, PrimaLoft has marched its way to victory – first in the U.S. Army, then in the outdoor and bedding industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three different kinds of PrimaLoft insulation, which are then divided up into additional subgroups. For this post, we\u2019re going to stick with the most common and most important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primaloft Gold<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Primaloft:<\/a>
An alternative to down?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This is the flagship of the PrimaLoft fibres, the best of the best and most likely the standard<\/strong> all other synthetic materials have to live up to. More than 25 years of experience have gone into perfecting this material. It is not only extremely compressible, but also incredibly lightweight and breathable, making it an excellent choice for more challenging outdoor pursuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Down Blend version is definitely worth mentioning in this context. This hybrid has the best of both worlds, combining the best properties of each material. There is 30% Primaloft and 70% high-quality goose down<\/strong> with a fill power of 750 cuin. The down is also treated with a fluorocarbon-free treatment<\/strong>, making it water repellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The combination of down and the ultra-fine PrimaLoft Gold fibres results in an excellent product that is capable of retaining its insulating properties even in damp or wet conditions. Plus, the down used here dries four times as quickly as untreated down. The result is an astoundingly efficient insulating material that is both lightweight and resistant to moisture. It can even insulate when you’re really sweaty or you get caught in the rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primaloft Silver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This fibre is perfect for all sorts of outdoor activities. Not only is it robust, but the fibre is also breathable and compressible. Plus, it is incredibly soft and comfortable to wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For improved thermal properties, there is also a Down Blend version. This blend consists of 40% PrimaLoft Silver fibres and 60% goose down with a fill power of 650 cuin. Thanks to the fluorocarbon-free water-repellent treatment, the down is resistant to water as well. It dries four times as quickly as conventional down and retains 94% of its thermal efficiency when wet. Plus, for this blend, they use less duck and goose down, since 40% of the blend consists of PrimaLoft Silver fibres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Gold and Silver<\/strong> insulation is available in an Eco version<\/strong> as well, which is engineered from 70% recycled materials<\/strong> to make it more environmentally friendly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PrimaLoft Black<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is the more basic, no-frills option among the different types of Primaloft insulation. The Eco version is made using 60% recycled materials. It is extremely soft, very breathable and durable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warmth<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Primaloft:<\/a>
Insulating, tough and fluffy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When trying to figure out how warm a jacket, or a pair of trousers or gloves are, you can look at the weight per square metre. This is usually indicated on the product tag. The typical values you\u2019ll see are, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n