We live in a happy time, when modern technologies are developing by leaps and bounds and what was previously available only to the elite is becoming available and firmly entering the everyday life of ordinary people. The same, of course, applies to modern materials which are used in sportswear. Now you can choose clothes for any type of activity that will meet all the requirements necessary for classes, and, accordingly, provide maximum comfort and safety.
During activity in cold weather conditions, it is very important to properly warm up - as the body not only needs to warm up, but also not to overheat and breathe during activities - whether it's just walking on fresh air or cross-country skiing. In this article, we will talk about modern heaters - what manufacturers offer, what they focus on and what is better to choose. Now on the market there is a huge number of heaters, which are often not so easy to understand.
All heaters can be divided into two classes - natural (fluff, wool) and artificial (primaloft, thinsulate and so on).
Natural heaters
fluff always considered the most the best insulation, and manufacturers of artificial insulation consider down to be the reference material, a benchmark in the production of artificial fillers.
The main characteristics of fluff:
- A light weight
- High heat retention
- Good breathability
- Elasticity (recovery to original volume)
- up to 400 - poor quality down
- 400 - 450 - medium quality down
- 500-750 - excellent quality fluff
- 750 and above - extra class down
Many manufacturers, taking care of product quality and the environment, adhere to the standard RDS, which indicates that the fluff is collected from healthy animals grown in comfortable conditions without causing any significant harm to the animals. For all positive characteristics, the downy filler has its drawbacks. So, for example, downy products are quite difficult to care for and store. As a rule, they are expensive, and an allergic reaction is also possible.
Artificial insulation
A good alternative to down are artificial insulation. Since initially a heater appeared on the market Sintepon, which was not a particularly high-quality insulation, an opinion was formed that all non-natural heaters do not work well. But on this moment technology has gone far ahead and manufacturers can offer a great alternative to down to satisfy the most demanding consumer. Now on the market a large number of manufacturers who specialize only in the production of such materials. But sportswear manufacturers often use their own designs. At the moment, the leaders of the market of artificial insulation in sportswear have been determined - these are Primaloft from company Albany International and thinsulate from company 3M.
- high ratio of heat-shielding properties to weight (no need for a thick layer of clothing for good thermal insulation). That is, the material is light and warm.
- breathes well (lets vapors out)
- waterproof
- soft
Three series of insulation are now presented - gold; Silver; Black, each of which contains 5 to 10 types of insulation.
Primaloft® Fill - Designed to be warm when wet or dry, it also absorbs less water than analog fills. If you compare Primaloft® with down, then in terms of softness and comfort it is in no way inferior to it. At the same time, Primaloft® has fewer technical limitations when used in wet conditions.
PrimaLoft® One
Primaloft One is one of the best insulating (insulating) materials.
The ultra-thin fibers are specially processed using patented technologies and then woven to form an incredibly soft, lightweight and water-resistant insulation.
PrimaLoft absorbs 3 times less water, 14% warmer dry and 24% warmer wet than other materials.
The human body has a normal temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius, but often cold weather cause a decrease in normal body temperature! PrimaLoft insulates your body to keep you warm and comfortable even in extreme cold.
PrimaLoft® Sport
PrimaLoft® Sport is a high quality insulation.
The technology behind PrimaLoft® Sport combines ultra-fine and variable diameter fibers to achieve specific performance. Specially processed ultra-fine fibers provide a water-repellent structure, while variable diameter fibers help shape the material.
If you're spending the weekend outdoors, PrimaLoft Sport will keep you comfortable like you're at home, even when it gets wet.
PrimaLoft® Silver Insulation
A high performance synthetic insulation with all the qualities to withstand the elements.
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Material characteristics
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High ratio of heat-shielding properties to weight: in order to keep warm, |
 WATER RESISTANT |
Absorbs less moisture initially, keeping you dry and warm. |
 VAPOR PERMEABLE |
Passes water vapor, protecting from cold and dampness. |
 EASY TO FOLD |
Easily folds for storage in tight spaces and for layering. |
 LIGHT |
Keeps warm without extra weight. |
 INCREDIBLY SOFT |
Unsurpassed softness will give a pleasant feeling and will allow you to look attractive. |
PRIMALOFT® GOLD INSULATION DOWN BLEND
PRIMALOFT® GOLD is an extremely warm synthetic insulation whose main advantage is its ability to retain heat even when wet.
FILL POWER 750 - high-quality, light, goose down. Provides excellent heat retention. But, as you know, in humid conditions, down loses its ability to retain heat. Just this significant drawback, which scares so many people, is eliminated by synthetic fibers. PRIMALOFT fibers are distributed as evenly as possible in the new insulation. They are not located separately. They are part of the fluff. Due to this, the down receives maximum protection from moisture and retains its traditional qualities - lightness and softness. 
PRIMALOFT® GOLD INSULATION DOWN BLEND dries 4x faster and absorbs moisture 10x slower than pure down. 
Synthetic insulation was developed by Albany International by order of the US Army as a quality replacement for down for workwear and. To date, PrimaLoft insulation has reliably conquered the market not only for army clothing, but also for the outdoor market.
First of all, PrimaLoft© insulation is lightweight and durable, and also has excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition, PrimaLoft is highly breathable, and its hygienic properties far superior to regular goose down. Such excellent results were obtained due to the thermal properties of the new PrimaLoft microfibers, whose structure was copied from goose down microfibers. Thus, the thermal resistance of goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft insulation - 2.15, which indicates better thermal insulation of synthetic insulation compared to down. So far, not a single widely used synthetic insulation has come close to such indicators.
PrimaLoft insulation is great as a filler for outerwear or a sleeping bag, as it is lightweight and has a volume comparable to that of down. Compared to goose down, PrimaLoft insulation is water-repellent and hypoallergenic.
Researchers at Albany International have also achieved excellent breathability properties of the insulation due to microscopic air gaps. On the surface of PrimaLoft microfibers, due to their very small size, air molecules accumulate, which provide high thermal insulation properties of the insulation with a relatively thin insulating layer. Thanks to these hollow fibers of large diameter, the so-called "Loft" is maintained during prolonged use, washing, compressing and drying.
Two types of PrimaLoft insulation are used in the outdoor industry:
- PrimaLoft© One;
- PrimaLoft® Sport.
PrimaLoft© One
PrimaLoft© One insulation is most often used as insulation, both for urban clothing and for outdoor activities. In the production of PrimaLoft© One insulation, ultra-thin microfibers are used, which allow maintaining the thermal insulation properties of the insulation with low weight and volume. The thermal insulation properties of PrimaLoft© One dry are 0.92 clo/oz/yd2 and wet are 0.9 clo/oz/yd2 (the thermal insulation value is higher, the higher the thermal insulation characteristic of the material is). It is PrimaLoft© One that retains the greatest thermal insulation and practically does not lose it when wet. It protects against wind and dries faster than goose down.
Application of PrimaLoft© One:
- Outerwear
- Gloves
- Accessories
- Sleeping bags
- Overalls
- Shoes
PrimaLoft® Sport
PrimaLoft® Sport insulation is used in clothing and products for extreme conditions, as this type of insulation is thinner and lighter. The thermal insulation properties of PrimaLoft© Sport are 0.79 clo/oz/yd2 dry and 0.72 clo/oz/yd2 wet.
Application of PrimaLoft® Sport:
- Outerwear
- Hats
- Sleeping bags
- Military clothing
Care instructions for products with PrimaLoft© insulation:
Follow these care instructions for garments made with PrimaLoft insulation. Machine wash and rinsing in cold water in delicate mode. Dry in washing machine at medium temperature in a delicate spin cycle. Dry cleaning, bleaching, ironing or steaming is prohibited.
PrimaLoft is a synthetic material that has high thermal insulation properties. When it was created, Albany Interional studied the structure of goose down very meticulously and put it into the basis of PrimaLoft material. fibers this insulation very fine and goose-down-like more than the fibers of any other synthetic material. It is this similarity that gives it the thermal properties of down. The coefficient of thermal resistance for goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft it is 2.15. This is a very high figure, because other synthetic fibers do not even come close to this value. 
PrimaLoft fill has a long-fibre structure, thanks to which it restores its volume better and faster than similar materials. Even after a huge number of washes and dryers, the material does not deform. The fibers are endowed with water-repellent properties that help any liquid drain or evaporate. This ensures that PrimaLoft insulation products are always dry. 
PrimaLoft has been tested in the lab to have exactly the same softness as goose down and is much softer than similar thermal insulation materials. Thanks to this characteristic of the material, all products made from it take the necessary shape: clothes sit on the figure, and the blanket exclusively fits the body of a sleeping person.
Another great advantage of this material is that it breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Its air gaps are very small for moisture to penetrate, but large in order to allow the moisture formed inside to evaporate. To keep a person warm, a small volume of PrimaLoft is enough.
It can be highly compressed, and this will not affect the quality and structure of the material. In a short period of time, the material completely returns to its original volume. According to the above parameters, PrimaLoft surpasses all its synthetic and natural counterparts. Of all the world-famous heaters, only PrimaLoft has the ability to retain moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. Such insulation, in comparison with similar materials, absorbs 3 times less moisture, it is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet.
There are several types of PrimaLoft insulation
PrimaLoft Sport- a heater created by combining ultra-thin fibers and fibers with a variable diameter, which makes it possible to make thermal insulation even more effective. Ultra-thin fibers guarantee the material's water-resistance, while variable-diameter fibers provide volume shaping.
PrimaLoft One- This is a material that is created from microfiber, as close as possible to goose down in all parameters and characteristics. This is a filler in which each individual fiber has a moisture resistant treatment. It is one of the best heat-insulating materials. The main properties of this type of insulation is to retain 14% more heat when dry and 24% more when wet. 
PrimaLoft Eco- a heater created for lovers of environmental materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultra-fine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. In combination, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will keep its wearers dry, warm and comfortable.
PrimaLoft Infinity are heat-insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure the uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washes and dryers. 
PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep's wool. This combination is most suitable for the manufacture of outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are half the size of cashmere fibers for a softer feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.
PrimaLoft SYNERGY is an advanced thermal insulation material, which is created on the basis of weaving thin and ultra-thin fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture resistant material used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.
Update 01/21/2013
PrimaLoft continues to innovate with the announcement of two new technologies, PrimaLoft 4Flex and Grip Technology.
PrimaLoft 4Flex is an innovative technology for creating insulation that can stretch in all four directions and immediately recover without losing its warming and water-repellent properties. This insulation is ideal for use in outerwear and gloves - items where maximum stretch for free movement is important. Including winter sportswear. 
PrimaLoft Grip Technology provides maximum grip for gloves and shoes. It is designed to prevent slipping of gloves and shoes where needed for a secure and stable hold. This technology is especially relevant for climbers, cross-country skiers, motorcyclists or golfers and anyone who needs warm, comfortable, waterproof clothing or shoes with additional opportunity firmly hold the handle of the desired projectile or tool.
Update 12/26/2013
PrimaLoft will bring to market in 2014 new series hybrid insulation called PrimaLoft Performance Down Blend. Performance Down Blend is a mixture of synthetic insulation with natural down and the addition of a water-repellent impregnation. 
Performance Down Blend insulation will have the same insulating properties as 750 FP natural down, while the hybrid insulation dries 4 times faster and will continue to hold up after 10 washes. The developers managed to effectively weave natural down with hydrophobic impregnation and high-quality synthetic fibers PrimaLoft Ultra-Fine. 
The Performance Down Blend series will include three types of insulation that will differ in cost and characteristics: Gold (70% natural down, 30% synthetics), Silver (60% down, 40% synthetics) and Black (50% -50% down and synthetics) ).
Update 03/10/2015
PrimaLoft Aerogel - the insulation is based on a soft, flexible, vapor-permeable, hydrophobic and wear-resistant Cryogel gel with a thickness of about 5 mm, which is able to work effectively in temperature regime from -260 to +90C degrees. Synthetic thermal insulating insulation effectively blocks high and low temperatures. 
Update 07.12.2016
PrimaLoft has announced the launch of a brand new insulation called PrimaLoft Black Insulation ThermoPlume. The first products with a new synthetic filling will appear closer to the autumn-winter season of 2017-2018. The new insulation more accurately inherits the fiber structure of natural goose down. The developers managed to achieve almost the same weight in relation to the density, volume and general thermal insulation properties, which are similar to the natural insulation of the 550th packing density. At the same time, the insulation is completely hydrophobic, does not lose its properties upon contact with water and does not require any additional impregnations. 
In terms of its structure, ThermoPlume repeats natural raw materials so much that it requires practically the same production cycles, as when creating traditional down jackets, including blowing out a heat-insulating filler in sections. Thus, soon it will be possible to distinguish a jacket with ThermoPlume from a down jacket with goose down 550FP only by the tag.
Update 10.07.2018
Announced the release of new brands of insulation, including a series PrimaLoft PCR(Post-Consumer Recycled), namely PrimaLoft Silver Insulation - 100% PCR and relatively budget insulation PrimaLoft Black Insulation - 100% PCR. New heaters are distinguished by the fact that they are made entirely from recycled raw materials, which are based on used plastic bottles. Insulations will be lower cost and have all the necessary characteristics of modern synthetic insulation, and will be part of the PrimaLoft Silver and PrimaLoft Black series. 
Update 10/23/2018
A new line of heat-insulating heaters has been introduced PrimaLoft Bio. The new insulation is created exclusively using recycled synthetic fibers, while the new technological process allowed to create this insulation completely biodegradable. Tested to ASTM D5511, the new synthetic insulation is capable of biodegrading (by certain micro-organisms) by almost 80.3% in 394 days.
PrimaLoft- it is a synthetic material that has high thermal insulation properties. When it was created Albany International very meticulously studied the structure of goose down and put it into the basis of the material PrimaLoft. The fibers of this insulation are very thin and look like goose down more than the fibers of any other synthetic material. It is this similarity that gives it the thermal properties of down. The thermal resistance coefficient for goose down is 2.18 and for PrimaLoft it is 2.15. This is a very high figure, because other synthetic fibers do not even come close to this value.
PrimaLoft fill has a long-fibre structure, thanks to which it restores its volume better and faster than similar materials. Even after a huge number of washes and dryers, the material does not deform. The fibers are endowed with water-repellent properties that help any liquid drain or evaporate. This ensures that PrimaLoft insulation products are always dry.
Laboratory tests have shown that PrimaLoft has exactly the same softness as goose down, and is much softer than similar thermal insulation materials. Thanks to this characteristic of the material, all products made from it take the necessary shape: clothes sit on the figure, and the blanket exclusively fits the body of a sleeping person.
Another great advantage of this material is that it breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Its air gaps are very small for moisture to penetrate, but large in order to allow the moisture formed inside to evaporate. To keep a person warm, a small volume of PrimaLoft is enough.
It can be highly compressed, and this will not affect the quality and structure of the material. In a short period of time, the material completely returns to its original volume. According to the above parameters, PrimaLoft surpasses all its synthetic and natural counterparts. Of all the world-famous heaters, only PrimaLoft has the ability to retain moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. Such insulation, in comparison with similar materials, absorbs 3 times less moisture, it is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet.
Due to its long-fibre, down-like structure, the filling regains its volume better than other materials even after many washes and dries. The water-repellent properties of the microfibers help any liquid run off or evaporate, allowing the Primaloft® wearer to stay dry and warm at all times.
Scientific tests have shown that "Primaloft®" has the same softness as down and is significantly softer than other synthetic fibers. Due to the softness of this fiber, clothes made from it fit perfectly, and a blanket or sleeping bag hugs the body of the sleeper. Try the sample to the touch, and you yourself will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it is breathable, allowing moisture to escape. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture from the inside. A small amount of "Primaloft®" is quite enough to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.
Of the world brands - heaters, only PrimaLoft® has the property of not retaining moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. As the table shows, the greater the number of fibers, the more the insulation absorbs moisture:
PrimaLoft PL1 - 75%
PrimaLoft Sport - 400%
Polarguard 3D - 500%
Thinsulate LiteLoft - 995%
MicroLoft (DuPont)-1730
Other well-known synthetic materials do not even come close to such indicators. Due to its long-fibre, down-like structure, the filling regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dries. The water-repellent properties of the microfibers help any liquid run off or evaporate, allowing the Primaloft® wearer to stay dry and warm at all times.
Try the sample to the touch, and you yourself will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it is breathable, allowing moisture to escape. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture from the inside. A small volume of Primaloft® is enough to store human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.
The human body has a normal temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius, but is often found in places that make it noticeably colder! PrimaLoft® retains your body heat to keep you warm and comfortable even in extreme cold.
As such, this lightweight, highly insulating, and quick-drying insulation is one of the leading insulators in equipment and outerwear.
There are several types of PrimaLoft insulation: Primaloft® One- this is one of the best insulating (insulating) materials. It is created using microfibre technology, the closest in performance to natural down in terms of structural, thermal and tactile characteristics. It is the only fill in which each fiber has a permanent, water resistant treatment.Very thin fibers are specially processed using patented technologies and then woven to form an incredibly soft, lightweight and moisture-proof insulation.
PrimaLoft ®One absorbs 3x less water, is 14% warmer dry and 24% warmer wet than other materials.
PrimaLoft® Sport
PrimaLoft® Sport is a high quality insulation made with technologies that combine ultra-fine fibers and variable diameter fibers for maximum insulation performance. PrimaLoft® Sport - The technology behind PrimaLoft® Sport combines ultrafine and variable diameter fibers to achieve these characteristics. Specially processed ultra-fine fibers provide a water-repellent structure, while variable diameter fibers help shape the material.
If your desire for a great weekend is to spend it in nature, PrimaLoft ® Sport allows you to feel comfortable, like you are at home, even when it gets wet.
PrimaLoft Eco- the heater created for fans of ecological materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultra-fine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. In combination, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will keep its wearers dry, warm and comfortable.
PrimaLoft Infinity are heat-insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type of insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure the uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washes and dryers.
PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep's wool. This combination is most suitable for the manufacture of outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are half the size of cashmere fibers for a softer feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.
PrimaLoft SYNERGY is an advanced thermal insulation material, which is created on the basis of weaving fine and ultra-thin fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture resistant material used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.