Insulation
Down vs. Synthetic Insulation: Which Actually Keeps You Warmer
Fill power decoded, the wet-weather truth about down, and a decision table for choosing between down and synthetic for your climate and budget.
Results for “down vs synthetic”
From our guides
Layering
Base Layers: Merino vs. Synthetic vs. Cotton (One of These Can Hurt You)
The layer that touches your skin decides whether you're warm. Merino and synthetic compared honestly — weights, blends, and why cotton is a safety issue.
Layering
Fleece Weights Explained: What 100, 200 and 300 Actually Mean
What fleece weight numbers mean in g/m², how fleece insulates and why wind defeats it, grid vs. classic fleece, and when a €15 fleece is genuinely fine.
Care & Repair
How to Wash a Down Jacket Without Ruining It
The safe machine method — down soap, gentle cycle, dryer balls, full drying — plus DWR re-proofing and the mistakes that permanently kill loft.
Care & Repair
How to Repair a Torn Down Jacket (and When to Send It In)
Fix a torn down jacket in ten minutes with gear tape — rounded corners, alcohol prep, proper cure — plus zipper slider fixes and when a pro repair is worth it.
Accessories
Gloves vs. Mittens: Keeping Your Hands Warm When It Actually Matters
Why mittens are warmer, when gloves still win, the liner system that beats both, and how to fix chronically cold hands at the wrists instead of the fingers.
Layering
"What to Wear Running in Winter: A Temperature-by-Temperature Guide"
The dress-for-10-degrees-warmer rule, a layer table from 5 °C down to -20 °C, and how to protect hands, ears and face without overheating mid-run.
Buying Guides
Jacket Temperature Ratings Are (Mostly) Made Up — Here's How to Judge Warmth
Why "comfort rated to -20 °C" means almost nothing, the specs that actually predict warmth, and a checklist for judging any winter jacket from its listing.
Insulation
Fill Power Explained: Why 650 vs 850 Matters Less Than You Think
What fill power actually measures, why fill weight is the spec brands hide, and a worked example showing how a 650-fill parka can out-warm an 850-fill jacket.
Buying Guides
How to Choose a Winter Parka: The Specs That Matter (and the Ones That Don't)
Fill weight over fill power, why temperature ratings are marketing, shell fabrics, fit rules and the features worth paying for in a serious parka.