If you love to be outdoors in the winter snow gliding down the slopes or making your way across the ice, then chances are high that you know the best ways to stay warm.
In fact, wearing professional down jackets is one of the best methods to ensure that you stay warm once the winter frost sets in.
However, if it has been a few years since you last updated yours, you may notice that the feathers have begun to leak and the warmth is slowly escaping.
Sporting Down Jackets
This is especially true for persons that are serious athletes on the slopes or into extreme sports such as snowboarding because a few falls and some rough skiing out on the slopes can easily tear up a jacket regardless of how high quality it is.
The good news is that you can actually get the best down jackets for less than what the stores want if you approach the matter correctly because as most people know, you will always pay more in retail if you head out to buy something without a clear approach and tactic in your mind.
The first thing you need to think about is the material that you want for your outdoor jacket because there are many options on the market that make use of everything from cotton to fabric to professional down jackets.
By choosing the type of material that you are comfortable wearing you will eliminate a lot of your options making it easier to focus on the real types of jackets that you want.
Quality of Down Jackets
At the same time, you should also think about the length of jacket that you want: short or long because this is going to help you cut down your options as well and narrow down your choices.
At this point, you are going to want to think about the brands and styles that you like to help narrow down your choices a bit more.
There are dozens of different brands out there, In order to achieve that effect, consumers should choose the down jackets manufacturer which is made by famous fabric, such as Wool, Faux Fur, and Nylon, because of the higher factor as for the fabric.
- It should be flawless, which means without jump yarn and stains etc, nor can it fade after washing.
- Then how to identify the quality of sewing. First, the sewed thread should be straight and the stitch length should be 10 needles per inch or more.
- The clothes should be sewed firmly and without excess thread, the key junctions of the down jacket should be reinforced in order to make it as fastened as possible and the line should be neat without the excess thread.
- When you are parching the down jacket, the color is also one fact that you should consider.
- You should also smell when you are picking a down jacket. The one that is smelly is never your choice.
But your best bet is going to be a sporting or professional choice instead of a fashion label in most cases because you will end up with a warmer coat that is actually designed to keep you warm while on the slopes.
Plus, most brands offer their own fashionable choices making it possible to get both if you shop wisely.
Choosing a Down Jacket
Finally, before actually purchasing any quality down jackets make sure that you head online to look at pricing options because most likely you can find any jacket online that you could at the retail stores, but in many cases, you will end up paying much less.
For this reason, you want to take a close look at what is available at the stores so that you can try on the jackets to make sure the fit is right, but you always want to head home and sleep on it first so that you give yourself time to find a much better deal.
Care and Cleaning Tips For Down Jackets
Down jackets and coats have some very difficult cleaning requirements.
Due to the materials used in the manufacture of jackets and coats, many have specific cleaning requirements.
Leather is an example of this. Even synthetic blends and wool can be damaged by improper cleaning.
Add a waterproof cover (many harsh-climate designs have an outside cover that is waterproof), and you have real problems.
Many jackets and coats will be damaged by heat, strong detergents and cleaning fluids. These conditions are especially dangerous for down jackets material.
Washing Tips For Down Jackets
The first thing to do before any cleaning exercise is to read the label with the recommended cleaning instructions.
The second is to avoid any stain removers since they can damage materials due to their caustic nature.
If the jacket or coat has liners or outside covers, separate and deal with each item accordingly.
Dry cleaning is the best choice if the garment specifies that it must be dried cleaned. The label may indicate dry cleaning is preferable, but it also mentions other methods that can be used with care.
Dry cleaning is for materials that are not suitable for water exposure. Water can cause garments to stretch or lose their shape.
These are the steps to follow if mention on label you can wash with care. Be sure to remove any foreign or dirt before you wash the garment.
Use a cloth-like material such as cotton or linen to remove any dirt and other foreign materials.
Different Materials and Colors of Jackets
To determine how much effort it will take to clean the garment, inspect it carefully. If soiling isn’t too severe, you can use plain water to clean it.
If it takes more effort to clean, you can use Woolite or a delicate cleaner like Woolite. There are many versions of Woolite for different materials and colors.
Do not wash any down jacket or coat in a normal washing machine cycle. A commercial washing machine, which is available at most laundromats, does not have a center agitator.
This could cause down material to stick together and move. You can also use the washing machine to soak your jacket or down coat for the recommended time. For the same reasons, don’t spin dry the jacket.
After you have thoroughly soaked your jacket or coat, remove it and dry with towels.
To prevent the down material from clumping, you can gently fluff it by hand and then spread it evenly across the area.
How to dry down jackets
You can now decide whether you want to dry the coat with towels, turning every 30 minutes, or drying it in a quick-drying cycle using very low or room temperature air for about 10-15 minutes.
Next, take the coat out and fluff it again with your hands to spread it out. You can repeat the 10-minute fluff cycle if your jacket or coat still looks damp.
Once you are satisfied that the jacket or coat is dry enough, fold it again and hang it where it can dry completely. This is the key to the whole process.
This can lead to damage and cause your garment to lose its shape and insulation ability.
Extreme washing can cause damage to a jacket or down coat faster than normal wear and tear. You can get a clean jacket or down coat with a little effort and care.
Now you know how to choose a down jacket. Follow these tips. You won’t miss the right one.
