Which Is Better - Down Jacket Or Synthetic Jacket

A common question we get here at the GOHUNT Office is, which jacket is better a down jacket or a synthetic jacket?
In this video Trail Kritzer goes over the pros and cons of both to hopefully help answer the question, which is better.
GOHUNT products in this video -
GOHUNT PCA Pullover -
shop.gohunt.com/products/gohu...
Stone Glacier Cirque Synthetic Jacket -
shop.gohunt.com/products/ston...
Stone Glacier Grumman Goose Down Jacket -
shop.gohunt.com/products/ston...
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[@perryknetter8577]

Thank Trail I really like both and I do use both Great video God's Blessings on all your adventures

[@sinepari9160]

Another great video from Trail. It's always the right tool for the job. Will you be hiking long distance? Will it be wet/dry or combo? How long will you be in the field? How strong are you? What will the temp ranges be? So many variables. I love a really tough gore-tex pro rain gear which keeps me plenty warm alone (at it's weight) with merino bases and a mid like a sitka ambient or sg cirque. That covers me in 100% of situations that might arise. My feet/footwear, head/ears and hands are always more of my concern. Those are what make you miserable when cold (

[@michaeltubbs2493]

Great video you did a great job expaining and sharing thank you!

[@GOHUNT]

Glad it was helpful!

[@joncavallo4391]

Seems to me I could have the best of both with a down vest under a synthetic jacket!👍

[@harrymills2770]

Only a back-packer needs to worry. If you're operating out of a house or a vehicle, you have both.

[@dennislavelle6909]

This video was great because it was so thorough. Just your opinion, would you recommend synthetic for someone who tends to sweat more so that it handles the moisture better?

[@itrofim7054]

One down jacket with goretex lining on the outside works best for me. Thus combining the benefits of both into one piece of gear

[@NigelNaughton]

Maybe a combination of the two is best...layering with a 'down sweater' which is just a light down jacket and then a more durable synthetic over that.

[@kingston4313]

Thanks!😊

[@jordanbrooks2857]

What one do you find yourself using more?

[@yankeetraveler1118]

Best bet then is a three in one with a down coat liner and a waterproof shell.

[@it_is_what_it_is_brotha]

How do you compare warmth factor between the two. Down has fill rates like 650 to 900 on average but how can you compare primaloft, primaloft gold, and other synthetics to pick the best weight and bulk to your needs? Thanks for the info!

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Hi there, it's somewhat dependent on fill rate and fill weight. Personally, I think down is superior in terms of warmth and certainly the warmth to weight ratio for down gear is quite a bit better.

[@it_is_what_it_is_brotha]

@@trailkreitzer9163 thanks trail, it's an easy choice then here in Utah where it barely rains ha...going down

[@mrawesomnable]

wool down is a better option. Handles moisture and retains many of the benefits of down.

[@rtoguidver3651]

PrimaLoft is a brand of patented synthetic microfiber thermal insulation material that was developed for the United States Army in the 1980s to relpace Down.

[@Bizkaboom]

What about down with a waterproof shell, like a Marmot rain jacket? Will the shell wind up compressing the down too much, thus compromising the insulation ability?

[@Servelegend]

I run a lightweight wool, lightweight fleece, a down vest, a down jacket, and a rain jacket in my backcountry kit. That combo covers me down to about 25 degrees.

[@Bizkaboom]

@@Servelegend I appreciate the insight. Thanks.

[@Servelegend]

Glad to help!

[@HoocH1130]

Personally I opt for synthetic. While I understand the benefits of down especially for backcountry hunters who are humping out slabs of meat, I have a military background. Spending weeks on end in filth, dirt, grime, rain, mud etc; Shit happens! Your gear gets wet for whatever reason, you space and leave a pack open or forget that your gear is laying out in the open, you take a fall crossing a creek etc;..... it just happens! I bring that life experience to my present outdoor activities. Durability and non-maintenance is important for me and I'm willing to sacrifice weight for that piece of mind. With all the fatigue and things that we experience in the outdoors... the last thing I need to worry about is wether my down jacket or sleeping bag is safe!

[@bent7406]

One thing you forgot to mention (maybe I missed it) is that synthetics lose their loft (And warmth) through loft degradation. I've seen as much as 40% loss.

[@trailkreitzer9163]

Indeed, I believe I noted it but you are right. Down rebounds better over time and is more durable over time. Synthetic materials do not seem to maintain their loft after being compressed over and over again like down does. Good feedback!

[@bent7406]

@@trailkreitzer9163 Right, I missed you saying it. That's what I get for trying to work and listen to a KZbin video. Great video. Love you guys' stuff!

[@Ridgerunner_802]

Thanks for that info, I had always been under the impression I could leave synthetic layers compressed. My down is always removed and left uncompressed

[@usaintltrade]

🥇

[@greghertzberg6220]

I would never have down in northwest. I suggest testing gear before you need it. I tested gear in freezing rain once and had an epoche fail at 12,000’ missing not one but two giant 6x6’s because i was shivering from cold and wet everything and could not aim

[@whiteyfisk9769]

You didnt have rain gear to put on over it??

[@10flyingdutchman]

Big synthetic guy

[@thistledewoutdoors3331]

I have multiples of each.... Synthetic takes the cake... I don't care how "hydrophobic" they sell you on down - it all wets out..... Only synthetics will insulate after that point ..... It never fluffs up the same / clumps up. My synthetic is hanging out on my apple tree limb right now getting rained on - it'll be fine...... My down jacket in the back of my truck - it's forever dead...... Goretex isn't water proof neither... It all wets out.

[@jesselost05420]

Down is better. You are not going to be super active in a puffy just saying. I have a synthetic and wish I got the down. I picked synthetic due to being an archery hunter and wanting something more quiet, but if I had to pick one right now it would be down. Mainly due to the weight and compressibility. Look at Kings Camo down as well, another affordable option.

[@dustinstucky491]

Agree! Down is far superior for warmth, weight, and compressibility.. only reason I can imagine anyone would purposely avoid down would be cost or wet environment.

[@carlosweaver6763]

Love down but here in the south with briars it will get torn hunting in a single morning. You would have to wear something over it

[@whiteyfisk9769]

​@@carlosweaver6763 you only wear it when sitting still for extended periods. At least the pants. Ill wear my down jacket walking around through the brush, but ill always have an outer layer. I grew up in the south, and id never wear down down there. I always ran good wool. I only use down for backpacking where weight is a huge factor

[@memphisreines4058]

Synthetic

[@wasatchninja6292]

Lol like you'd by both with out that employee discounts you receive 🤣 😉

[@AirTran6]

Does that weight difference really matter for someone that’s strong lol

[@gsnicholas8522]

Neither. Wool is still the best. It’s not even close.

[@Ridgerunner_802]

I’m personally not going to lug my Johnson Woolens jacket into the backcountry. These insulating pieces with the right layers are soooo much better

[@gsnicholas8522]

@@Ridgerunner_802 maybe, until it gets wet. Then it's useless.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

​@@gsnicholas8522 i agree, but when youre going backpacking 9 miles from the truck and 5000ft elevation gain, youre not using the wool. If you do youre gonna be miserable, ask me how i know. I keep good rain gear always in my pack to put over my down.

[@gsnicholas8522]

@@whiteyfisk9769 9 miles is an easy day for the new england trackers and they all wear wool. I can't speak for the elevation changes. This is just a guess, but I'd say it would be up to a couple thousand feet.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

@@gsnicholas8522 as someone who grew up in the southeast, yes 9 miles there is considerably easier due to lack of elevation gain/loss and not packing out a horse sized animal on your back. Id never use down when i was hunting down there. But now i live in the NW and its much much different. And Im talking 9 miles one way, so 18 miles round trip, and you may have to do 3 round trips with 70 to 85lbs of meat on your back. So 54 miles total, with 3000ft of elevation gain and loss per round trip which is what it took to get my last elk out. You dont want 12lbs of clothes when you have to do that. Not everyones situation, hunting style, and region are the same and one type of gear isnt right for everyone. Not everyone is you