The padded jackets, insulation jackets and gloves you find in our range use various types of insulation. Not only different materials such as down, polyester or wool, but also different techniques. On this page, we will go through almost all of these materials and techniques (sorted in alphabetical order of the manufacturer of the filling).
Thinsulate is a synthetic insulation from 3M. It is commonly used in winter jackets and gloves, but can also be found in winter shoes, for example. The name Thinsulate is an amalgamation of the English words "thin" and "insulate" and it lives up to that. Indeed, relative to its thermal capacity, Thinsulate is very thin.
Ajungilak is a former Norwegian textile company originally founded as Fuglesangs Sønner AS on the Akerselva River in Oslo. It was founded in 1855 and produced insulation and building materials. From 1890, the insulation material produced was also used to make sleeping bags. In 2001, Ajungilak was acquired by Mammut Sports Group Ltd. You will therefore only come across this form of insulation in Mammut clothing and sleeping bags.
The insulation material is synthetic and enjoys an excellent reputation in the outdoor world. You can come across the following variants in this respect: Ajungilak OTI Element, Ajungilak OTI Stretch, Ajungilak MTI Endurance
ExpeDRY is a new down technology from Allied Feather + Down. ExpeDRY works by (PFC- and) chemical-free bonding of non-toxic gold particles to the down cluster. These particles promote the evaporation of water molecules, allowing the down to dry faster on the one hand and stay dry longer in high humidity conditions on the other. Evaporation is caused by the vibration of the water molecule, which usually happens through the application of heat. The gold particles in the ExpeDRY treatment generate a similar "excitation", without actually adding heat, but with similar results.
HyperDRY is an advanced waterproof insulation developed by Allied Feather + Down. It is designed to prevent moisture from penetrating and affecting the insulating properties of the down. Traditional down tends to retain moisture for a long time when it gets wet, significantly reducing thermal insulation. HyperDRY, on the other hand, is treated with a special PFC-free DWR impregnation. Firstly, this makes the down some 30-40x more hydrophobic (more water-repellent) than untreated down. In addition, it also dries faster (around 4x) once it is wet/moist. Compared to other types of treated down on the market, HyperDRY uses significantly less water and chemicals in its production.
Coreloft is the name of a synthetic insulation developed by Arc'teryx. Read more about it on the page about Arc'teryx.
Hydroloft is a synthetic insulation developed by clothing brand Berghaus. Read more about it on our page about Berghaus.
Dexfill is a synthetic insulation frequently used by Leki in its gloves. The material, which consists of 100% polyester, is known for its excellent insulating properties and ability to retain heat even in humid conditions.
ECOLoft is the result of a collaboration between DuPont, Unifi and Youngone. Youngone, a leading manufacturer of outdoor and sportswear from South Korea uses DuPont's sustainable Sorona fibres and Unifi's Repreve fibres. Sorona is derived from renewable plant materials, making it extremely sustainable. Repreve fibres are made entirely from recycled materials. Several insulation materials have been developed under the ECOLoft brand name through the unique partnership. One of these is the Flex SR.It consists of 60% Sorona and 35% Repreve fibres and is the most elastic option. Another variant, the ActiVe SR, won the award for best product in the fibres & insulations category at the Fall/Winter 2023/2024 ISPO Textrends.
With G-Loft Supreme and Supreme Microloft, Fjällräven uses two of its own synthetic insulation materials. For more information on these fillings, please visit the information page of Fjällräven.
With Texatherm Core and Texatherm Pro, Jack Wolfskin has an insulation material they developed themselves, which you can find in some of their lined or insulation jackets. For more information about this insulation material, please visit our page about Jack Wolfskin
Leki has several insulation materials that they develop themselves. Check out our Leki brand page for more information on their Fiberloft, Hyperloft and Superloft fillings.
Thermal R is the name of the insulation material that Marmot develops themselves and uses in part of their insulation jacket range. More information can be found on Marmot's page.
OCTA Loft is a synthetic insulation material made by US company Teijin Frontier Inc. You can encounter the high-quality insulation material in Arc'teryx. clothing, among others. It is known for its excellent thermal insulation and compression resistance, making it ideal for use in colder environments. OCTA Loft uses an innovative design consisting of hollow fibres that hold a large amount of air, creating an effective barrier against the cold. At the same time, the material is lightweight and resilient, allowing it to be easily compressed for possible storage during your adventures.
De Fullrange, Plumafill and Thermogreen are synthetic insulations developed by Patagonia itself, which the brand uses in some of its synthetic insulated clothing. Read more about these fillings on our information page about Patagonia.
Primaloft is one of the biggest players when it comes to synthetic insulation material. We have therefore dedicated a special page to Primaloft. There you will also find more information about the three best-known Primaloft variants: Primaloft Black, Primaloft Gold and Primaloft Silver.
Swisswool is a natural insulating material made from sheep's wool, originating from Switzerland. It is used in outdoor clothing and equipment because of its excellent insulating properties, breathability and durability. In addition, it is known for its ability to retain heat even when wet, making it a popular choice among outdoor athletes and nature lovers. Ortovox frequently uses Swisswool as padding in its insulation jackets or as lining in some gloves.
Ecodown from Italian Thermore is a synthetic alternative to down. Of all synthetic insulation materials, it has one of the highest warmth-to-weight ratios. It thus comes close to down. In addition, it benefits from all the advantages of synthetic materials over down. Ecodown is made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. This makes it animal-friendly and a very sustainable choice. It therefore meets the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and the Global Recycled Standard. Thermore is also a Bluesign System Partner.