Dynafit Radical Down: a ski jacket that lives up to its name
10.10.2022
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Pictures: Claudio Viecelli
Vegan? Then you’ll probably steer clear of this ski jacket, as it’s filled with water-repelling goose down. Despite this – or perhaps precisely because of it – there are many arguments that speak for it.
Ah, the Dynafit ski jacket. It promises to keep me warm and dry on and off the slopes. What’s more, it’s supposed to give me maximum freedom of movement as well as enough pockets for my ski pass and other odds and ends. As if that wasn’t enough, all this is supposed to come at a low weight and small pack size. Yes, the expectations are high when it comes to ski jackets.
And the Radical Down hooded jacket from Dynafit manages them all. First and foremost, this is due to the high-quality goose down with a fill power of 800 CUIN (cubic inches).
The fill power, or CUIN, describes how well the insulation material re-expands after being compressed. The fill power is important for the insulating capacity of the down blend. The higher the fill power, the more air cushioning the insulation material has.
A CUIN of 800 means that 28 grammes of down will expand to a volume of 800 cubic inches. This is tested by filling said 28 grammes of down into a cylinder and compressing it for 24 hours. Then, the pressure is removed to see how well the down returns to its original state.
For comparison
An 800 CUIN down sleeping bag is suitable for outside temperatures of down to minus five degrees Celsius.
- 600 CUIN = standard fill power
- 700 CUIN = increased fill power
- 750 CUIN = high fill power
- 800 CUIN = highest fill power
Each down filling is mixed with a certain number of normal feathers. These feathers mostly come from ducks and are there to provide stability. The mixing ratio tells you how high the feather content is in a down filling. The Dynafit jacket has a down-to-feather ratio of 95:5. In other words, it’s 95 per cent down and 5 per cent feathers – making for a high-quality, soft and warm fill. As the proportion of feathers increases, the bulkiness and softness of the fill as well as insulation decreases, and the sharp feather ends may become noticeable.
Down is known for its good insulating capacity at a low weight and small pack size. Its only downside? Susceptibility to moisture. When down gets wet, it deflates and loses its insulating properties. This is where Dynafit’s reliance on Downtek comes into play. Thanks to the water-repellent treatment, the down retains its bulking power even when exposed to moisture. You’ll find more details about the jacket here.
My first impression: no compromising
Dynafit has been producing winter sports equipment since the 1950s. Initially, the Austrian brand with the striking snow leopard logo was known under the name «Humanic». Since 2003, it’s been part of the Salewa Group.
If you ask me, these 70+ years of know-how in winter clothing have definitely flowed into this ski jacket. Dynafit has certainly not compromised on the quality of the Radical Down. Relying fully on high-quality down, the jacket lives up to its name – «Radical Down». I wore it while skiing at Weissfluhjoch in the Parsenn ski area of Davos back in February, and also relied on it regularly outside of skiing last winter. It always kept me warm and dry, even in a light drizzle.
In the past, down jackets have garnered a reputation for making the wearer look like the Michelin Man. Fortunately, those days are over. The Radical Down from Dynafit weighs about 400 grammes. It is pleasantly light and, thanks to its pack size, even fits in my small 20-litre ski backpack.
So, if you’re not opposed to goose down, this could be the ski jacket for you. If you’re not convinced, you’ll find the entire Galaxus range of ski and snowboard jackets, including those with synthetic liners, here.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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