The deal with down, or, how to stay warm this winter

Here at Lynx, we’re down with down. Why? Simple. It’s the best way to keep warm. Read on if you want to learn more about why that’s true, how we get our down, and what it means for you when you wear a Lynx coat!

What is down?

Down is a high-performance natural by-product from duck and geese. It’s well known for providing great garment insulation and lots of warmth without being heavy. 

Unlike feathers, down is the soft layer of fine filament clusters between the stiffer exterior feathers of water fowl. The down fill we use in Lynx coats is made up of a proprietary blend of duck down. 

Why is down a good choice for winter coats?

Down is lighter than polyfill or cotton and provides better insulation. 

When we talk about the warmth of a down lining, we often refer to “fill power,” which is a number that indicates the relative quality of down. The number comes from a lab test that measures how many cubic inches of loft one ounce of a given down fill produces. Higher fill power numbers indicate greater loft and insulating efficiency. 

Lynx coats have a fill power of 650, which we picked because we believe it’s the best combination in terms of warmth for the size, weight and design of our jackets. At 650 fill power, our coats provide comfort in temperatures ranging from +10 °C to -25 °C. 

In short, more warmth for your duck! Er, buck!

Where does down come from?

When it comes to the use of animal products, we’re sensitive to the issues of sanitation and animal welfare. The down we use at Lynx is a by-product from sources ranging from large-scale abattoirs to independent farmhouses, and we in turn source it from processing factories across Europe and Asia. These factories adhere to high North American standards for sterilization, factory sanitation and down purity, and regular and rigorous audits are conducted on all these points. All our down is ethically traceable. This traceability process ensures that our original sources have adhered to standards that protect animal welfare; down from live-plucking and foie-gras sources is forbidden.

Here’s how the actual process works. Down clusters are specially washed with intensive cleaning processes, rinsed and dried. The down and feathers are then blown into bins to separate them into various grades. The higher-lofting down drifts to the top of the bins, and is then captured for us to use in making our coats. 

Bonus: down is also biodegradable, which is better for the environment!

Now you know all the important stuff about down. Just remember that at Lynx, we’re down with keeping you warm all winter!