Merino 'down' jackets???

[gairym]

Evenin' all,

I was perusing the Sport Pursuits website resulted and saw a few 'down jackets' jackets that had recycled nylon outers with recycled Merino insulation that is apparently all good when wet etc...

I've never heard of this - anyone know owt?????

[JohnClimber]

Can you post up a link for the lazy please?

[gairym]

https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/pr ... id/2074788

[JohnClimber]

https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/pr ... id/2074788

Nice, but wouldn't dry hydrophobic down in a rain storm be warmer and lighter then wet merino insulation?

[jameso]

What does merino down do that primaloft type fill doesn't? Interested, I don't know. Primaloft type is great when wet and will dry far faster than merino. Hydrophobic down is only temporarily effective, IME it gets bogged down after a while.

[Bearbonesnorm]

What does merino down do that primaloft type fill doesn't?

That's a very good question, especially with the good recycled synthetics available now ... obviously removing any eco / green notions.

[lune ranger]

What does merino down do that primaloft type fill doesn't?

That's a very good question, especially with the good recycled synthetics available now ... obviously removing any eco / green notions.

Recycling synthetics doesn’t entirely remove any eco/green notions. Micro plastics released during washing would be a concern to some people.
On the other hand I expect production of wool insulation suitable for lightweight clothing probably comes with its own sustainability concerns. That’s without considering the shell material, manufacturing ethics etc. Having not looked into it that’s fairly wild conjecture though.
Ethical/green/eco (call it what you will) choices are always multi-factorial.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Hadn't considered that Luke.

In answer to your question James - we don't know.

[gairym]

Thanks folks,

I arrived at mostly the same conclusions as all of the above.

Can't quite see a reason for this over primaloft and I always assume/know that I'm destroying the planet somehow even when trying to reduce consumption or damage

[lune ranger]

FWIW I found some information on Lavalan wool insulation used in some brands wool ‘down’ products. Not all wool insulation will be the same.
Looks to be pretty sustainable/ethical. Uses European wool, traceable to source. The insulation is created using heat bonding to create thousands of bonds between the wool fibres to create a robust insulation. A small amount of corn based PLA fibres are used to stabilise the product.
If separated from the shell at the end of the products life the insulation is fully compostable.

[jameso]

I've got a Buffalo top that's 16 years old or more. An Alpkit filo down jacket that was one of their first products (>14 year old?) and a ME primaloft type top that's 10+ years old. With the current availability of less damaging fills and fabrics, and yes things still can get better and should, I'm not as worried about the impact of the new product Vs how often I / we turn over what we have. Fashion and churn is the real problem? Would be ideal o/c if we can get to durable as well as compostable clothing.

Interested if there's any reports on how well a merino fill copes with wet weather and how fast it dries. I wouldn't change my perfectly functional synthetic fill tops to buy a more eco version and create waste of the old ones in doing so, but the slow move to sustainability does influence what I'd buy next when it's a genuine need.

[lune ranger]

Ethical/green/eco (call it what you will) choices are always multi-factorial.

Jameso I absolutely agree. I’m not advocating for the product just answering the op.
As I see it the best sustainability choice is not buying what you don’t need. This is why, as you and many other people are, I’m using a lot of old kit. I

[Bearbonesnorm]

As I see it the best sustainability choice is not buying what you don’t need.

Absolutely - the sweatshirt I have on today says 'Straightliners Drag Racing 1996' ... apart from the burns, holes, glue and oil stains, there's nothing wrong with it and I'd estimate it'll still be okay until the turn of the decade

[jameso]

Ethical/green/eco (call it what you will) choices are always multi-factorial.

Jameso I absolutely agree. I’m not advocating for the product just answering the op.
As I see it the best sustainability choice is not buying what you don’t need. This is why, as you and many other people are, I’m using a lot of old kit. I

Agreed likewise, and my 'buy nothing' point's not really helpful in hindsight is it - goes for anything and everything ultimately.

[gairym]

I totally agree.

Annoyingly there was nothing wrong with the jacket I am looking to replace.....other than I lost it somewhere.

[lune ranger]

Not aiming comments about unnecessary consumption at you gairy.

[gairym]

No worries, I didn't think you were.

[Cheeky Monkey]

I have no experience of this type of jacket but I've seen a few like it (Howies?).

I'd imagine it's a bit carp when wet and takes a long time to dry out. That's if it's anything like the merino tops and baselayers I've used.

I guess it's basically an over-engineered woolly jumper

[belugabob]

As I see it the best sustainability choice is not buying what you don’t need.

Absolutely - the sweatshirt I have on today says 'Straightliners Drag Racing 1996' ... apart from the burns, holes, glue and oil stains, there's nothing wrong with it and I'd estimate it'll still be okay until the turn of the decade

"Harlem Globetrotters World Tour 1988", here...