As the cold weather is forecast to linger over Guangdong for a few more days, a quality down jacket is definitely a good choice to help you survive the chill. What are the determining factors for the warmth of a down jacket? Any tips for choosing a good down jacket? How should we care for our down jackets? Below are some practical tips you should know.
3 factors affecting the warmth of down jackets
(1) Percentage of Down cluster
It is the down that creates thousands of tiny air pockets which trap warm air and retain heat, thus helping to keep the wearer warm. The higher the percentage of down, the warmer the jacket.
(2) Fill weight
Fill weight means the actual weight of the down filling, determining how soft or firm a product is and how well the product compresses.
Recommendations:
Above 0℃: 100g and below
Above -5℃: 140g and below
Above -10℃: 180g or so
Above -20℃: about 200g
(3) Fill Power
Fill power measures the loft of a down product, which is essentially the quality of the down. Maximum loft occurs when the down clusters are fully expanded.
4 steps to choose a down jacket
(1) Spread the down jacket flat, gently press it, and see if it quickly rebounds to its original state.
(2) Pat the clothes to make sure no dust overflows.
(3) Rub it with both hands to see if any down comes out.
(4) Smell to check for odors.
3 mistaken beliefsin choosing down jackets
(x) Goose down is better than duck down in terms of warmth.
For the same species, the higher the maturity of the bird, the better the quality of the down it produces. Goose down is generally better than duck down if they are of the same maturity.
(x) The heavier it is, the warmer it is.
The quality of down depends on the density of the inner structure of the down and the fineness of the down fibers.
(x) White down is of higher quality than gray down.
The only difference between white and gray down is the color. White duck down is suitable for many fabrics because of its light color, while gray duck down is a better fit for dark fabrics.
4 tips for caring for down jackets
(1) Wash them less and use neutral laundry detergent.
(2) Avoid sun exposure and dry them in a ventilated place.
(3) Never hang damp down jackets in your wardrobe. Make sure they're always dry before storing.
(4) Instead of folding your down jackets, it's better to hang them for storage.
Reporter | Abby, Alice
Editor | Steven, James
