Downlite, which supplies down to many outdoor apparel and sleeping bag companies, said a survey it sponsored shows Americans consumers are rapidly embracing use of hydrophobic down in insulated jackets.
Downlite conducted the survey in June to better understand the American consumer’s buying behaviors in down insulated garments. It found that over 83-percent of 500 potential purchasers said that water-repellent treated down is very important or somewhat important in their product purchasing decision.
Of those same consumers, over 51-percent said fluorine-free (PFC-free eco-friendly) chemistry is a very important or somewhat important consideration.
“The Downlite survey reflects we are reaching a convergence point in 2016 where the Outdoor consumer will be purchasing based on high performance results and lowest environmental impact,” said Rick Meade, president of Nikwax North America.
The response rates demonstrate how quickly Americans have accepted hydrophobic down technology, which was only introduced to consumers in the three to four years. Downlite partnered with the British firm Nikwax to launch a fluorocarbon-free hydrophobic down in May 2014. Under this arrangement, Downlite markets and sells Nikwax Hydrophobic Down (NHD) to Nikwax-approved outerwear and sleeping bag brands. Downlite applies the NHD treatment to its sustainably-sourced down in the cleaning process before it is shipped to manufacturers for finished goods production.
Therm-a-Rest introduced NHD in its Spring ’15 sleeping bag line and more brands are expected to exhibit hydrophobic down products at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market next month that will hit store shelves in Spring 2016.
This spring, the International Down and Feather Testing Laboratory (IDFL) confirmed that Nikwax Hydrophobic Down broke the 1,000-minute shake-test barrier (certified result from IDFL, IDFB shake test). The shake test is a recognized method of lab testing the water resistance of hydrophobic down. It involves shaking the down with water in a glass jar, 50 times a minute, to see how long it takes to get wet.
Downlite and Nikwax claim that no other hydrophobic down product has gone higher than 1,000 minutes. In fact, 120 minutes would be considered to be a very acceptable result. Nikwax has applied for patent protection of the technology.
UK-based Nikwax provides environmentally safe aftercare and waterproofing solutions that extend the life and performance of technical footwear, clothing and equipment and claims to be the only major aftercare company to have never used aerosols or fluorocarbons. Nikwax products are all fluorochemical-free, use advanced elastomer technology, are not tested on animals, and are non-persistent in the environment.
