What is an insulated jacket?
An insulated jacket is a mid-layer that can be worn in winter, for example, under a softshell jackets and over a fleece base layer or over a sweaters/jumpers or thicker t-shirts. Accordingly, an insulating jacket is often made of quilted material that is filled with down or a warming synthetic material. Insulated jackets are available as waistcoats or jackets with long sleeves. In winter, they keep you or your kids warm without being too bulky. Insulated jackets for kids are therefore particularly practical.
Down jackets for kids
The quilted jacket for kids is all the rage. As a waistcoat, it fits perfectly under a coat. Children's down jackets are particularly suitable for babies and toddlers in pushchairs to keep kids warm in winter without restricting their movements. Straight toddlers move around a lot, which is why a winter coat could restrict them too much.
Difference between insulated jackets and down jackets
The insulated jacket is a general term or generic term for a mid-layer that does not necessarily have to be lined with down, but can also have another warming filling material. A down jacket is, as the name suggests, lined with down. The advantage of down is that it has a stronger warming effect than other insulating layers. It is also a natural product that is biodegradable. However, with animal wellbeing in mind, it is important to buy a down jacket from ethically responsible production or with a filling made from recycled down.
What activities can a children's insulated jacket be worn for?
In principle, it is suitable for all children's outdoor activities. This can include games with others outdoors, a wide variety of outdoor sports, long day trips and even activities on winter holidays. Of course, a midlayer is also a practical solution for the daily commute to school or nursery. Your kids can then vary how they feel, i.e. take something off or put something on if they get too warm or too cold. In autumn, an insulated jacket makes a good top layer, keeps them warm and protects them from the wind, as long as the temperatures are no longer late summer, but comparatively mild.
What are the properties of insulated jackets?
The main criterion when choosing an insulated jacket should be the filling. It depends on whether you are looking for something that provides better protection against rain or whether you are focussing on heat-insulating properties. Down warms better, but has the disadvantage that it is more sensitive to moisture and can develop mould or other damage over time if exposed to high levels of moisture. A synthetic filling is more water-resistant, but may not offer quite as good thermal protection as down. An insulating jacket with synthetic filling would therefore be preferable, especially for the rainy autumn season, while down is better suited for winter.