Down or synthetic — which works best for kids?

Down is amazing in many ways. It's warm, light and packs down small. On cold, dry days a down jacket or down snowsuit can feel soft and luxuriously warm. For kids who sit still in a stroller or don't play in wet snow, down can be a great choice.

But kids' clothes live a hard life. They end up in snow slush, on wet ground, in drying cabinets, backpacks and through muddy preschool days. There, synthetic insulation often has a practical edge. Synthetic insulation, usually polyester-based, handles moisture better than down and dries faster. It can also keep insulating reasonably well even when damp, while down loses much of its loft when wet.

The downside of synthetic is that it's often a bit heavier and bulkier than down for the same warmth. It can also lose loft over time, especially if washed hard or compressed a lot. But for preschool, slush, everyday play and kids who move between outside and inside, synthetic is often the more forgiving material.