Winter Survival Insulated Outerwear
January 20, 2012, Submitted by: Ken Tweet
Winter survival involves keeping warm! When outdoors, we keep warm by adding a layer of insulation (in our coats and jackets) to trap body heat. Down is nature’s best insulator. Synthetic fibers are engineered to mimic down. Fleece is usually made from synthetic fibers although some wool still exists.
DOWN
The advantages of Down insulation are it’s light weight, it is compressible, has the most warmth for the weight, and is most durable.
The disadvantages of Down insulation are it’s insulation is lost if wet, it is slow to dry, and it is expensive.
Down garments make an excellent choice for dry, very cold conditions and are well-suited for moderate activity in dry weather.
SYNTHETIC
The advantages of Synthetic insulation are it’s water resistance, it is quick to dry, and less expensive.
The disadvantages of Synthetic insulation are its modest warmth and bulkiness.
Synthetics are a very good insulation choice if wet conditions are expected. It performs quite nicely in dry conditions too.
FLEECE
The advantages of Fleece insulation are it’s softness, it is breathable, stretchy, dries quickly and is less expensive.
The disadvantages of Fleece insulation are its modest warmth and most bulk.
Fleece is a good choice when insulation is needed during vigorous, highly aerobic activity. (Down and synthetic jackets/vests are best worn for moderate to sedentary activities.)
It sounds to me like having all three types of insulated outerwear is ideal, allowing for all weather conditions and levels of physical activity.
What is Down?
Down refers to the undercoating of waterfowl, including goose, duck or swan, consisting of light fluffy filaments (barbs) growing from a quill point but without a quill shaft. Goose down is larger, yet lighter than duck down making it the down of preference. Down is soft and three-dimensional, used to hold air at high altitudes and low temperatures with a minimum of weight.
Down gives approximately three times the warmth per ounce as synthetics. Far less down is needed by weight than other fillings, which means a much lighter, but warmer product.
Why do down products vary so much in price? An inexpensive product will be filled with immature down, which will provide little warmth, and will most likely collapse after relatively little use. Shortcuts in the cleaning and processing will have been taken, and this will often lead to odor problems. Overall, a “bargain” is usually a waste of money. A quality product will certainly cost more, but it will be warm and cozy and last for many years. Something that costs more but lasts 10 times as long is a better value.
If I lived anywhere in a northern climate, and was a prepper, I would definitely own a high quality down jacket for each of my family members. If you were ever without heat, something like this could save your life. Sounds like good insurance to me… There are plenty of outlets and retailers who sell quality jackets. Do your research and pick something good, that will last you a long time. As a side note, now that I have relocated and am living in a more northern climate, I will be looking for one of these too 
Be Prepared. If you enjoyed this, or topics of current events risk awareness and survival preparedness, click here to check out our current homepage articles…
Very good article this. I live in northern part of earth and atm theres -20c cold outside, (dunno what it is in fahrenheit but cold). I use both synthetic and fleece when i go outside, as a layer dressing. Many layers keep warmth inside, and Fleece is my favorite vs cold.
What Igor says is very true, layering is very important in cold places. You can buy one size above what you wear for the outer layer and it will be more comfortable and not so tight. On top of it being cold here it is also windy and sometimes the wind chill can drop to -35 to even -50 F, and many people layer their clothing so not to freeze when they go outside. Another item that is wonderful in a cold windy place is to have a wind breaker type jacket. A nice warm hat, ski cap, etc, is essential. One note about wearing gloves in winter that few people think about is that those gloves that keep your hands warm also need to be disinfected with hand sanitizer after visiting the store. Winter is flu season and few people actually remember that those gloves pick up germs just like hands without them.
Good information for people who are prepping but live in a milder climate.
For those considering moving to a colder climate, you may want to save some money to purchase clothes that the locals use upon arrival at your new home. I have noticed that gearing up for cold weather in Los Angeles, CA was MUCH more expensive than buying the same cold weather gear up in Seattle, WA or Portland, OR. (this was an item-by -item list made years ago prior to my own relocation out of the state of Kalifornia)
Preppers will generally have what they need but this advise was intended for those people considering the move in the near future. I have noticed that if one is moving to a different area of the country and is going from big city to small town, your dollar will have more purchasing power in the small towns and, the local town people will appreciate your business (It is nice to have more friendly faces in your hometown.)
The clothing I wear up here in Oregon is very different from the clothing I wore in Central California.