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Product Guides
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Garments
- TOP 5 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN THE WARMEST JACKETS
- WHY DO YOU NEED COLD WEATHER BIB OVERALLS?
- 5 ALL WEATHER JACKETS YOU CAN WEAR IN ANY SEASON
- 5 WORK SWEATSHIRTS AND HOODIES THAT ARE PERFECT FOR FALL TEMPERATURES
- 7 OF THE BEST WORK JACKETS FOR MEN
- 8 BEST HIGH-VISIBILITY JACKETS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
- COVERALLS vs. BIBS: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
- HOW AND WHY TO CHOOSE A PUFFER JACKET
- HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST INSULATED BIB OVERALLS
- HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FLEECE JACKET
- BEST INSULATED GEAR FOR WOMEN
- OUTWORK ANY WEATHER WITH PREMIUM JACKETS
- THE BEST PANTS FOR COLD WEATHER
- TOP 7 FEATURES OF A SUBZERO SWEATSHIRT
- WHAT ARE THE BEST SWEATSHIRTS TO WEAR FOR COLD WEATHER?
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOWN JACKET AND A PUFFER JACKET?
- WHY AND WHEN TO WEAR A VEST FOR WARMTH
- TOP 4 OPTIONS FOR SPRING AND FALL GEAR
- 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIVIS WORKWEAR
- TOP 5 MUST-HAVE FEATURES FOR RAINWEAR
- WHY DO YOU NEED A FREEZER SUIT IN THE GROCERY BUSINESS?
- WHY YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR BREATHABILITY AND WICKABILITY IN COLD WEATHER WORKWEAR
- CUSTOMER STORIES: BEST INSULATED BIB OVERALLS FOR WOMEN
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Footwear
- 6 MOST DURABLE COLD WEATHER WORK BOOTS FOR MEN
- CASE STUDY: KEEPING CREWS ON THEIR FEET WITH PROPER FOOTWEAR
- HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE WORKBOOT
- HOW TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR WORK BOOTS
- HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT WORK BOOTS FOR LANDSCAPING
- THE SCIENCE BEHIND MOISTURE-WICKING SOCKS
- YOUR FEET WILL THANK YOU FOR WEARING THESE WORK BOOTS
- 5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST WORK BOOT
- Headwear
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Gloves
- TOP 5 WATERPROOF WORK GLOVES
- 5 UTILITY GLOVES THAT KEEP YOU WARM IN EXTREME COLD
- GIVE COLD THE FINGER: TOP 5 FEATURES OF PREMIUM GLOVES
- HOW TO USE GLOVE LINERS
- TOP 3 ADVANTAGES OF PERFORMANCE GLOVES
- 3 WAYS TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER
- TOP 4 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN WATERPROOF GLOVES
- HOW TO WEAR GLOVE LINERS ON THE JOB
- 9 WORK GLOVES BUILT FOR SERIOUS PROTECTION AND PERFORMANCE
- 9 MUST-HAVE FEATURES FOR WAREHOUSE WORK GLOVES
- Use & Care
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Garments
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RefrigiWear Knowledge
- 10 ESSENTIAL PIECES OF COLD WEATHER GEAR FOR FARMERS
- 10 TIPS FOR WORKING SAFELY IN COLD WEATHER
- 3 REASONS WHY FREEZER SUITS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR WORKING IN THE COLD
- A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO WORKING OUTSIDE
- ADVANTAGES OF SYNTHETIC INSULATION
- COLD WEATHER GEAR FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
- HOW TO AVOID DRAFTS IN COLD WEATHER WORK CLOTHES
- HOW TO STAY WARM FROM HEAD TO TOE IN COLD WEATHER
- HOW TO STAY WARM ON THE JOB SITE
- HOW TO STORE WINTER WORKWEAR FOR THE SUMMER
- HOW TO USE REFRIGIWEAR COMFORT RATINGS TO CHOOSE INSULATED GEAR
- THE HEALTH RISKS OF WEARING TOO MUCH COLD WEATHER GEAR
- THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER FOOT CARE WHEN WORKING IN THE COLD
- THE ULTIMATE SAFETY CHECKLIST FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN COLD CONDITIONS
- WHAT SHOULD I WEAR FOR SNOWMOBILING?
- WHAT’S THE TOUGHEST GEAR FOR COLD WEATHER?
- WHICH TYPE OF SLEEVE IS RIGHT FOR YOUR WINTER ACTIVITY?
- TOP 5 COLDEST AMERICAN CITIES AND HOW TO STAY WARM
- TOP 4 TIPS FOR WORKING IN THE RAIN
- 5 TIPS FOR MOTORCYCLING IN WINTER
- HOW TO DRESS FOR THE COLD IN 4 EASY STEPS
- A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO STAYING WARM WHILE WORKING IN THE COLD
- HOW TO STAY WARM WHEN WORKING IN THE COLD
- Stories
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOWN JACKET AND A PUFFER JACKET?
We get this question a lot. As the experts on cold weather gear, we’re here to help you spot the differences between the two so you can handle the cold with confidence.
What is a Down Jacket?
Down is a soft, heat-trapping fluff from ducks or geese that keeps them warm in the wild. ”Down” jackets use this natural material as insulation because it’s great at locking in warmth.
If you’re thinking about buying a down jacket, you’ll want to look for the weight of down in the jacket (e.g., 300 grams is warmer than 100 grams). You’ll also want to ask about the jacket’s “fill power” – or the down’s fluffiness and ability to trap air. Fill power is usually between 350-900 for duck or goose, and the higher the fill, the warmer and more expensive the jacket.
As warm as down jackets can be, they can also come with a heap of problems. If you’re using it for work, your jacket’s gonna get dirty. After the typical wear and wash, down insulation settles and loses its fluffiness, collecting in clumps. Losing its heat-trapping fluff causes cold spots and exposes you to icy temps. Depending on how much down is used, it can also add bulk and weigh you down, making it harder for you to move and take care of business.
What is a Puffer Jacket?
Some puffer jackets use down, but many more use a synthetic insulation that can be lighter than down and still provide the same warmth. Synthetic insulation doesn’t clump or break apart after washing as much as down, so it makes for a better work jacket.
Style wise, puffer jackets get their name from the pattern of stitched sections filled with insulation to give it that “puffy” look.
Depending on the quality, density and loft of insulation, synthetic or not, a puffer jacket can range in its “puffiness.” Some puffer jackets can get bulky, limiting your range of motion. Think back to your mom over-bundling you to go play outside in winter and you know what it’s like to wear a very “puffy” jacket.
What Makes a RefrigiWear Puffer Better?
We have nearly 70 years of experience in some of the coldest environments known to man. So, we know what kind of insulation packs a warm punch. We created our own durable, lightweight insulation and use it in our puffer jackets to keep you toasty and free to move as you please - no clumps, no cold spots, no problem.
While we provide info like the grams of insulation, you don’t want to become an expert in that. What you really want to know is if it will keep you warm. That’s why we put comfort ratings on our jackets so you have some idea about what kind temps they can handle.
How Do You Choose the Right Insulated Puffer?
Which jacket is the right one for you? Don’t be fooled by high-priced pretenders that have thin shells that rip and insulation that clumps. Others focus on style, but their jackets leave you cold and kicking yourself in the rear after it only lasts one season. We obsess over warmth, durability and comfort and then pack these things into a stylish jacket.
Bottom line is that nothing keeps you warmer or more comfortable than RefrigiWear’s tougher industrial puffer jackets.