When adventure pushes into Arctic and extremely cold environments, at high altitude or in sub-polar regions, the choice of jacket goes beyond simple aesthetic preference: it's a critical element of survival. An incorrect selection can compromise not only comfort but also the integrity of thermal safety. This guide provides an objective analysis of the fundamental technical factors for properly equipping yourself in extreme temperatures below -20°C.
Critical Factor: Thermal Insulation
Insulation is the heart of the jacket and determines its ability to retain body heat. The choice is based on the type of climate (dry or humid) and the planned activity.
The proprietary DomeAir® technology represents a highly innovative, next-generation synthetic solution, designed to replicate the thermal properties of down while overcoming its limitations in humid environments.
- Technical Composition: Constant-thickness structure with an alternation of solid and void areas that redefines the concept of thermal insulation; it is based on the creation of an air micro-dome configuration which, thanks to the well-known insulating properties of air, ensures optimal insulation in all conditions and, through the channels within the structure, guarantees consistently optimal breathability.
- Essential Advantages:
- Maintained Insulation: Unlike down, it maintains its insulating properties even when wet or damp, making it ideal for conditions of high intensity activities, wet snow, frozen fog and high humidity.
- Easy Care: Easier to wash and dry, maintaining its loft (volume) over time.
- Ethical and Hypoallergenic: An ethical alternative to down and ideal for allergy sufferers. An eco-sustainable and cruelty-free solution that also reduces waste and environmental impact.
- Compressible, breathable and lightweight.
Discover more - DomeAir® Technology
External Protection: The Shell Fabric
The outer part of the jacket (shell) must be robust and provide a barrier against atmospheric agents:
- Windproof: Essential. Wind can drastically lower body temperature (wind chill factor).
- Waterproof: Measured in millimeters of water column. For very snowy and humid environments, such as Iceland or the Japanese Alps, our technical winter jackets—Cooperation Jacket, Minto and Magnetic Pole Jacket—offer a 20,000 mm water column, guaranteeing optimal protection from the elements.
- Breathable: The jacket must allow sweat to evaporate. Moisture accumulation inside leads to rapid body cooling when activity ceases. Ret (Resistance to Evaporative Heat Transfer) values must be low (ideal Ret <6 - RET DomeAir®= 5.17 - breathability 20,000 g/m²/24h).
Functional Features and Design
Design specifications optimize the jacket's effectiveness in extreme environments.
- Hood: Must be insulated and adjustable to minimize heat loss from the head. Trim around the hood is functional for blocking wind turbulence on the face.
- Zippers: All external zippers must be waterproof or protected to prevent water and wind infiltration.
- Fit: The expedition jacket is designed to be the final outer layer. The fit must allow the use of intermediate layers (thermal fleece, lightweight down) without limiting range of motion.
Are you planning a polar journey? Discover how DomeAir® insulation and 75°06'S shells make the difference in environments with extreme cold.