Wool is a naturally water-repellant material made from sheep's fleece.
Wool and down are common materials for creating warm winter coats. Both are completely natural, wool being the product of shearing the fleece from sheep, goats, llamas and alpacas, while the term "down" refers to the downy feathers of geese. Both create warm coats, but have different qualities that may affect your determination of which is the most appropriately warm winter wear for you.
Weight
Compared with down, wool is a heavy fabric. It is the denseness of the fibers, however, that provide the degree of warmth offered by wool. Cold winter winds won't penetrate this material, keeping the wearer warm and toasty. However, wool, for all its heaviness, is a relatively thin choice for a coat. If you're looking for a dress coat that will lie close to the body, wool is your choice. Down, on the other hand is a filling for a coat, not the entire fabric. It is often encased in a synthetic material and, while it is also warm, can be very bulky. Women's down coats are sometimes referred to as "puffer coats," as these coast tend to bulk up the body's appearance, making it seem puffy.
Allergies
Since both materials are natural, coming from animals, you may find that you have an allergy to one or both. An allergic reaction to either material will knock wool or down right off your winter coat shopping list, regardless of how warm either one might keep you. Wool allergies come from contact between the fabric and your skin and should show up almost immediately as an itchy rash. An allergy to down can manifest as a skin rash, but also as itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and trouble breathing. No matter how warm, you'll want to mark wool or down off your list if you find you are allergic to either one.
Staying Dry
One of wool's main claims to fame is its ability to keep the skin dry when it gets wet. The water tends to stay on the outside of the fabric -- as it does on its four-legged wearers in the wild. Since water does not penetrate the fabric easily, you will stay warm and dry even when the wool becomes wet. On the other hand, down absorbs water and does not dry very quickly. If your winter coat requirements include exposure to wet conditions, consider the benefits of selecting a wool instead of a down coat. No matter how warm you may be when you set out, once the wet weather sets in, the wool coat will feel warmer, as it will keep you drier.
Combining Wool and Down
Coats are available that combine these two advantageous materials in one. Jos. A. Banks offers a reversible men's jacket. One side is faced with wool and the other is down. Depending upon weather conditions or other circumstances, you can opt for which side you will show the world. Or, consider combining wool and down by dressing in layers. You can wear a lightweight down vest or jacket close to the body as your first layer and then add a wool coat over the top. This will provide maximum warmth and allow the most external layer of wool to wick away any moisture.
Related posts
Puffy down jackets are used as winter jackets.Down winter coats are coats that have been filled with down feathers to keep them insulated against the winter cold. The feathers trap air in small po...
Add Down to a CoatIn areas with cold, harsh winters, a good winter coat is a must. One of the warmest types of coats available is a down coat. Down coats are similar in construction to a down comf...
The right blanket will fend off the cold of winter.When winter's chill sets in, nothing beats snuggling up under a good blanket or putting on a warm coat to fight the elements. Though microfiber d...
Duck down is a popular fill for sleeping bags.Many campers use down-filled sleeping bags because of their superior insulating properties. Down-filled bags are particularly popular with backpackers...
A down comforter is a blanket filled with goose feathers, and this type of bedding creates a warm place to snuggle during those cold months. Taking proper care of your down comforter can make it l...
