How to Choose an Alpkit Insulated Jacket

If you don’t know your Filoment from your Fantom, then fear not. We’ve put together a brief AlpDictionary of our nine insulating outer layers so you can find what you need to help you conquer the cold . And if words like fill power, PrimaLoft® and micro-baffle all sound a bit like gibberish, then you might need our ultimate guide to down jackets and synthetic insulation.

A Brief Overview

1. A quick comparison
2. Sierra PrimaLoft® vest
3. 0Hiro PrimaLoft® jacket
4. Talini PrimaLoft® jacket
5. Heiko PrimaLoft® jacket
6. Katabatic PrimaLoft® jacket
7. Halogen ultralight down jacket
8. Filoment micro-baffle down vest
9. Filoment micro-baffle down smock
10. Filoment micro-baffle down hoody
11. Fantom down jacket

A Quick Comparison

Sierra

What is it: PrimaLoft® Gold gilet with breathable fleece panels. Full zip for the “am I too hot? Or am I too cold?” days. With zipped chest pocket and two zipped hand pockets.

Good for: working hard on the hills, crags and trails. The Sierra leaves your arms free to reach for drops or holds, whilst keeping your warmth where you need it most.

Sustainability: The insulation is 100% recycled polyester and the fleece panels are 92% recycled polyester, coming from sources like old plastic bottles. The nylon fabric is also 100% recycled and made using fabric scraps and leftover materials from nylon manufacturing.

Designer’s notes: "We were very excited to be able to make one of the first garments on the market using PrimaLoft® P.U.R.E.™ technology. This technology goes beyond using recycled materials, reducing carbon emissions throughout the whole production process – and all without sacrificing any performance!"

0Hiro Jacket

What is it: A superhero below 0°C and master of moist maritime winters – the perfect UK winter jacket; our warmest synthetic layer, using lots of lofted PrimaLoft® fill and a bomber outer fabric. It retains over 85% of its insulating ability when wet! It’s got a helmet compatible hood, a full zip and four pockets for stashing snacks (…or hats and gloves).

Good for: Unbeatable damp-resistant warmth; an outer layer for low intensity activities with a risk of drizzle or sleet; burrowing through snowy gullies in wind-blasted Scottish winter.

Sustainability: 100% recycled polyester liner and 70% recycled PrimaLoft® insulation. Nylon 6,6 outer to last for seasons and PrimaLoft® Hi-loft Ultra survives repeated compressions for longer. It also uses a completely PFC-free DWR treatment so we can say “see ya later” to potentially harmful nasty chemicals.

Designer's notes: "The 0Hiro is a real get-out-of-jail free card when unexpected weather hits: we've added a 5K/5K waterproof membrane to the outer to give you extra time to get off the hill warm and dry."

Talini Jacket

What is it: A passport to ultimate worry-free warmth; light and compressible jacket using innovative down-imitation fill from PrimaLoft®; a full zip windproof outer jacket or a toasty mid layer. The lightweight, hoodless Talini has got zipped handwarmer pockets and a zipped chest pocket.

Good for: Packable rest-stop warmth throughout the year; an outer layer for cold and windy hill walks; an ultra-warm mid layer when the weather gets really nasty; damp British camping!

Sustainability: The outer fabric is treated with a C0 Durable Water Repellent finish, which is completely PFC-free – no nasty chemicals

Designer's notes: "PrimaLoft® ThermoPlume is the closest you can get to down levels of performance: the synthetic fill is equivalent to around 600 FP and performs better in the wet than even hydrophobic down."

Heiko Jacket

What is it: ultralight and packable PrimaLoft® insulated jacket. Windproof, warm, and damp resistant.

Good for: packing a punch and packing down into its own pocket. Great for changeable weather and throwing in your bag.

Sustainability: The Heiko jacket is made with 100% recycled polyester for its inner and outer fabrics. It also uses PrimaLoft® Silver Eco, a 100% recycled polyester insulation, for the fill.

Designer's notes: "With a PFC-free DWR and 100% recycled fabric and fill, the Heiko is our most sustainable jacket yet. And it's not just any recycled polyester fabric. It's a fabric that feels amazing next to the skin. We've even used it as the lining in our sleeping bags!"

Katabatic

What is it: The jacket you’ll never take off; toasty PrimaLoft® Gold Active fill and air-permeable fabrics for maximum mid layer breathability plus wind-resistance for outer use – two jackets in one! The Katabatic has a simple insulated hood, an adjustable drawcord hem and 3 zipped pockets.

Good for: Working up a sweat, slogging up cold and windy hillsides; under a shell when the weather gets spicy; unrestrictive warmth for scrambling; high effort activities in changing conditions.

Sustainability: PrimaLoft® Gold Active uses 45% post-consumer recycled content to increase its sustainability without compromising performance.

Designer's notes: "If you own just one synthetic insulated jacket, this should be it. No more boil-in-the-bag feeling when you’ve left it on too long: the breathable fabric and insulation work as hard as you do."

Halogen down jacket

What is it:an incredibly lightweight technical down jacket for lightweight fanatics.

Good for:when keeping warm for the smallest weight and space penalty. Take the Halogen and leave room for another pair of socks!

Sustainability: The Halogen jacket is made with 100% recycled nylon outer fabric and a PFC-free DWR.

Designer's notes:: "Our most technical and lightweight jacket yet, we had bikepackers, hikers and alpinists in mind when designing this."

Filoment Vest

What is it: Light and packable 630FP fill power down gilet using 100% recycled fabric and fill. The full zip, 3-pocket Filoment keeps your core insulated when weight and freedom of movement are your top priorities.

Good for: Layering up and packing down. Stuff the Filoment in your rucksack for warmth and freedom of movement on the go.

Sustainability: We’re now using PFC-free DWR treatments. They’re non-toxic and don’t build up in the environment, so we’re pretty pleased about that. The Filoment also uses 100% recycled nylon fabric and RCS 100-certified recycled down!

Designer’s notes: “Don’t neglect the importance of your core when you’re trying to keep your extremities warm. Design Tech Gabe always goes for a Filoment vest first when trying to save his freezing hands when winter climbing.”

Filoment Smock

What is it: the latest addition to our Filoment down jacket range, the smock is an easily layerable pullover half-zip.

Good for: stashing in your bag, throwing on, and keeping warm and uncluttered under climbing harnesses.

Sustainability: The Filoment smock's made with 100% recycld nylon on the inner and outer, and is filled with RCS certified recycled down. Like all the DWRs in our range, it's PFC-free.

Designer's notes: "The smock is something so supremely comfortable, you won't want to take it off".

Filoment Hoody

What is it: The feather-lite champion of packability; a micro-baffle down jacket with a ridiculously small pack size for its warmth; a low-profile outer jacket or sub-zero mid layer.

Good for: Fast and light mountain raids; packing away into backpacks and bikepacking bags for cold evenings in the tent/bothy; low-bulk warmth for UK winter/alpine summer scrambles.

Sustainability: Downtek PFC-free Hydrophobic down and a PFC free DWR-treated outer fabric. Responsibly sourced (RDS-approved) Down.

Designer's notes: "There's a reason why you see so many people in micro-baffle down jackets: they're the holy grail of warmth, packability and ultralight weight – they really are hard to beat for versatility."

Fantom

What is it: The cold conqueror; the warmest jacket in our family, with a lightweight ripstop outer to pack neatly into rucksacks and mountaineering-ready features for altitude adventures. It’s got chunky baffles to keep you snug subzero, a helmet compatible hood and a longer cut to keep your bum warm! Despite its next-level warmth, it’s got a great warmth-to-weight ratio and is highly compressible.

Good for: Instant warmth for stationary activities or moving at altitude in extreme cold; belaying in fine conditions; camping on cold, clear nights; between ‘send’ attempts in grit season.

Sustainability: Downtek PFC-free Hydrophobic down and a PFC free DWR-treated outer fabric. Responsibly sourced (RDS-approved) down.

Designer's notes: "Probably the warmest jacket you’ll ever need - you may find yourself wishing it was colder just so you can wear it! We're really proud of little touches like the cosy tricot-lined collar and pockets."