Are These Uniquely Designed Japanese Down Jackets the Most Innovative Ever Made?

Ducks and geese have been around for centuries and, as you may have noticed, haven’t changed much. Which means that when it comes to down insulation, the only way to innovate is not with the material itself, but with how you place it into a garment. 

The main way to do so is to tinker with the baffles, the compartments that prevent the down from moving around or clumping up. With its latest, ahem, baffling move, Japan-based Goldwin has hit upon a potentially game-changing formula. It’s called the 3D Box Baffle, and it’s poised to make all previous insulation tech obsolete.

Goldwin

Another dimension

The biggest weakness with traditional baffles is that even within all those little boxes, the actual down can move and compress in response to the body’s movements.

That’s where this new approach is different, thanks to strategic tucks and darts in the fabric that allows the down to move in three dimensions, enabling each individual baffle to go with the flow, minimizing cold spots and maximizing insulation. Not unlike the design itself, the advancement’s effect, Goldwin says, is three-fold.

Goldwin

First and foremost, the design increases overall warmth and insulation, in a way that is measurable rather than hyperbolic. In a thermal insulation test, Goldwin found that “the 3D Box Baffle sample exhibited a 37% improvement in heat loss compared to the conventional down chamber sample, translating to a 7% increase in insulation efficiency.” That is, as they say, big if true. 

Second, the tech sheds weight. By minimizing indentations, garments with the 3D Box Baffle are able to trap more warm air (also known as “dead air”) between the fabric and the skin. The increase in efficiency enables these garments to essentially generate more warmth with less overall material, which naturally makes them leaner and lighter.

Third, the fit improves. Because of all the boxy stitching, most down garments don’t offer much stretch, which is a real drag when it comes to wearing them for movement-intensive outdoor activities like skiing and snowboarding. Goldwin’s more dynamic approach here means that each baffle’s shape and fill quality can be adjusted to the body contours, creating a more natural fit that looks and moves better.

Goldwin

It’s for these reasons that the 3D Box Baffle tech has the potential to revolutionize winter outerwear. As with all innovations, we are a bit skeptical until we’ve actually tried it.

But at the moment, we’re stoked to see a brand try something different when it comes to down insulation. After all, no one’s going to be reinventing ducks and geese anytime soon.

Availability and pricing

Four garments featuring Goldwin’s 3D Box Baffle technology are available now, starting at $1,100.

Goldwin

Goldwin Gore-Tex Snow Range Down Parka

• $1,100 at Goldwin

Goldwin

Goldwin Gore-Tex Windstopper Down Parka

• $1,200 at Goldwin

Goldwin

Goldwin Gore-Tex Snow Range Down Coat

• $1,300 at Goldwin

Goldwin

Goldwin Gore-Tex 900FP Down Jacket

• $1,500 at Goldwin

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