What is bio-down filler

More often, outerwear manufacturers are offering synthetic down instead of natural filler. This type of insulation is slightly different from the original, but has a certain, extremely important feature – it does not lose its thermal properties with moisture. It is also easier to care for and, importantly, much cheaper. Of course, this material also has its nuances, so buyers, especially wholesalers, are faced with the question: which is better: down or bio-down? Let’s try figuring this out.

Nature has endowed birds with the ability to preserve body heat even in very adverse conditions. This is due to the tiny hairs that grow closest to the skin. They are called down and are the first thermal layer before the actual feathers. People realized a long time ago that this down can be used as an extremely effective insulation in winter clothes.

Down is a very elastic material, and because of that it’s very light and fills space with air chambers – they are the ones that preserve the heat under the clothes..

The biggest disadvantage of natural down is its inability to withstand water. Under the moisture small fractions of fluff stick together, shrinking its volume. A wet down jacket does not keep you warm, besides, it takes a long time to dry. Even a tiny bit of moisture reduces the thermal protection properties of the jacket over time, so a down jacket made of natural down requires proper care, including regular ventilation, dry cleaning, and moisture protection.

Synthetic down is not down, but artificial insulation made of polyester fibers of a specific shape, with its main purpose to maintain elasticity and create lots of air chambers, which, like in the natural filler, provide thermal insulation. This type of material does not have as high a degree of compression as real down. This means that bio-down:

• takes up more volume when compressed
• and has more weight.

However, it poorly absorbs water and guarantees good thermal insulation even when it’s wet. And, importantly, it dries quickly, which makes it much easier to care for clothes that contain this material.

Which is warmer: bio down or natural down?

The most important question is – which is warmer, down or bio-down? The quality of natural down is related to its elasticity, which is defined by the cubic inch (in3 or CUIN). Most specialized mountaineering suits are designed up to 1000 CUIN, while jackets for harsh winter conditions have 700-800 CUIN padding. The best synthetic down currently reaches a maximum level of 550-600 CUIN. In this matter, scientists have not yet succeeded in catching up with nature. But even with such indicators, bio-down jackets ensure heat preservation even at -10 to -15°C, which is fairly enough for winter in the conditions of a modern city.

But the main problem is that obtaining high-quality natural down is associated with significant costs; and this, of course, is reflected in the price of products. Down jackets with synthetic bio down are much cheaper, and the problem of heat preservation is solved quite effectively.

Care for bio-down

Another side of the “down vs. synthetics” battle is the issue of care for natural and synthetic down. For the jacket to remain warm, its insulation should not lose its elasticity. Both synthetic fibers and down deteriorate from dirt. Fat or salts that contaminate the insulation cause them to lose the “fluffiness”. Another factor is mechanical damage.

Synthetic and down jackets require a different approach to washing and cleaning:

• A down jacket requires more attention, it is very easy to spoil it with the wrong detergent, washing mode, or cleaning method. During washing and drying, you need to make sure that the fluff chambers are not squeezed into lint balls. A special spin scheme, only hand washing, a careful selection of detergents, “hand-beating”, and the drying itself takes 2-3 days – all this significantly complicates the care of a down jacket.
• Synthetic jackets require less complicated care. If the jacket is filled with bio-down, what does it mean? It is enough to follow the instructions on the label and choose a delicate washing mode in an automatic washing machine.

Today, a bio-down jacket looks like a more attractive investment, as it costs significantly less and is much easier to care for.