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Are Denim Or Jean Jackets Warm?

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Yes, Denim or jean jackets can be warm only if they have a thick inner lining, or are quilted/padded and features puffer style.

However, a thick jacket can also keep you warm at the starting of winter but lining will add another layer of warmth that can keep you warm in mild cold temperatures to around freezing.

No matter how well your denim jacket is, I would not recommend them to someone who is living in a wet atmosphere and cold temperatures.

There are several other factors too.

So please keep reading the article if you’re going to buy a denim jacket for the winter season.

How Warm Are Denim Or Jean Jackets? (Technical Analysis)

Are Denim Or Jean Jackets Warm

The first thing first, Denim jackets are made up of denim fabric which is a strong cotton fabric constructed using the twill fabric that creates a subtle diagonal ribbing with warp-faced style. It is the diagonal ribbing that makes denim different from cotton duck or canvas.

Because, cotton is considered one of the warmest materials, the denim fabric is also warm in subjective experience.

Denim fabric is warm not because it is made up of cotton but because it has pores that trap the sill air which acts act as insulation.

So why did I say that denim jackets solely are not warm? Because denim fabric once gets wet, the pores start to compress which enables the convection or movement in the air.

And in that process, the air started to escape which result in the loss of insulation because it is the trapped air in denim fabric that offers the warmth, not the fibers themselves.

Now here’s the twist.

It is the nature of cotton that won’t make up the warm denim fabric for cold temperatures.

Why? Because cotton fibers good conductors of heat (its thermal conductivity value is around 0.065W/m∙K.) and allow the body heat to escape which means the denim which is essentially cotton won’t keep the body warm.

Now if we get into more depth of denim jackets warmth then denim inherently is a very light and thinner fabric which makes it a poor insulator. (If you have a denim jacket without any lining, you know how thin the fabric comparably is)

Furthermore, denim fibers are both hygroscopic and hydrophilic so if just small water seeps in from any particular area of this fabric the whole insulation of that area would die.

But, a thick denim jacket, without any doubt, will keep you warm enough on dry winter days meaning the days where there is no moisture in the surroundings and you’re not involved in any outdoor activities.

The only reason for this is, the fibers of pure denim jackets can absorb 25 times their weight in water before letting it wick.

Also, the denim fabric attracts moisture and water which means when you sweat the cotton will start to absorb it and hold it for a very long period which will make you feel damp and cold.

According to thermtest.se the thermal conductivity of water is 0.598 W/m, which means once your denim jacket gets wet either by moisture, humidity, snow, or your sweat, your body heat will use the absorbed water in the denim fibers to travel towards the warmer region which is your surrounding.

And according to houstonmethodist.org, it takes energy to evaporate sweat off from your skin, and that energy is heat, As your excess body heat is used to convert beads of sweat from a liquid into vapor, you’ll start to cool down.

But, in winter you’ll not want to cool down your main objective will be retaining as much body heat as possible. Which a denim jacket with no insulative lining will not allow you to do.

Let’s take an in-depth look at what you can do to buy a warm denim jacket.

How To Buy A Warm Denim Jacket:

In short, as the thickness of denim fabric increases, the warmer it will be because the thicker fabric means lower heat conductivity. Though, inner linings will increase the warmth even more.

Generally, the lining can be made of any fabric whether it is synthetic or natural because it is simply an inner layer of fabric that is added in jackets to provide either extra warmth or next-to-skin comfort.

If the same lining is made outside it will be intended either to provide some weather protection or moisture wickedness.

When it comes to a denim jacket, the sherpa lining, cotton lining, silk lining, wool lining, fleece lining, flannel lining, and polyester luminaries are more in use.

For the best possible warmth and insulation, you should look for a denim jacket featuring inner linings made up of 100% polyester fibers, wool, or fleece.

Because both polyester and wool are water-resistant so they don’t hold the sweat before wicking it which means the sweat is absorbing in fibers and thus nobody heat will escape and the denim jacket will be insulated for a prolonged period during active physical work.

An additional feature for warmth:

  • If you live in a area where wind chill is often then go for quitled denim jacket with removable or non-removable hood.
  • Puffer denim jackets tend to more warmer than any other version because the puffiness in them makes the overall jacket thicker which means better insulation because of the time taken by the heat to move from hot region to colder takes much more effort and time.
  • You can wear additional layers like a sweatshirt, a fleece hoody, thick sweater if the temperature drops further on.
  • Don’t buy denim jackets if you like in wet atmosphere because of lacking in insulation.

Are Denim Jackets Good For Winter?

Yes, as explained in the article that denim jackets can keep you warm on dry winter days.

So, for your daily outdoor life, you can remain pretty warm on early winter days with a thick denim jacket.

However, the denim jackets must have thick linings, quilting/padding if you want to test the warmth of it in around freezing temperature.

Though, layers will help you much further because not everyone experiences the cold in the same ways.

After going through several denim jackets here I am providing you with a list of warm denim jackets for both men and women.

I am pretty sure that any of the given jackets will keep you warm from spring to fall too early winter days.

And some are even thick and functional enough for freezing temperature.

List Of Some Best Denim Jackets That Can Keep You Warm In Winter:

Warm Denim JacketsWhat Customers Think? Remarks
Free People Dolman Quilted Denim JacketYou’ll feel warm but not confinedKnow More
PGI Traders Flannel Lined Denim JacketKeep you toasty warm in temperature between 40 and 50 degrees FahrenheitKnow More
Guide Gear Quilt Lined Denim JacketIt’s warm enough for early winter days with little to no layeringKnow More
DSDZ Winter Fleece Lined Denim Jacket With Removable HoodProvide thick warmKnow More
LZLER Fleece Sherpa Lined Denim/Jean JacketThis is a very warm coat and feels comfortable even in freezing temperatureKnow More
Tanning Warm Fur Lapel Collar Sherpa Fleece Lined Lined Denim/Jean CoatWarm enough for mild cold to freezing by adding additional layers.Know More
PYJTRL Winter Thick Fleece Denim CoatWarm, comfortable, and stylishKnow More
Wrangler Blanket Lined Denim JacketWarm but with layersKnow More
Airborne Leathers Quilted Lined Denim Shirt JacketWarmKnow More

How To Style Denim Jacket For Best Possible Warmth? (Must Read Section)

Without complicating this topic here is a checklist that you may want to follow to style your denim jacket depending on its type in the winter season.

I love this video. You May love it too 🙂

  • For early winter days, you can use your classical summer denim jacket with a average thick sweater. Yes, the denim should be spacious enough.
  • For mild cold days, get a thick denim jacket with a thick polyester, fleece or wool lining and pair it with your favorite hoody.
  • For around freezing temperatures, go with a thick denim jacket with hoodie that features fur and thick wool or polyester lining and pair it with a thick sweater or a hoodie.
  • Don’t wear denim jacket if you live in a humid, moisture, or generally wet area because denim is hydrophillic so it will attract the moisture and water towards it which means the heat conduction will happen rapidly because using absorbed water in denim fibers as a medium to release heat in colder surrounding.
  • Those who live in a wet are, go with a proper winter focused jacket with synthetic insulation because they will not loose the insulation when get wet.

Are Denim Jackets Cool & Good For Summer?

Technically, Denim jackets are best suited for summer because genuine denim is a fabric that is made up of 100% cotton which is known to be a moisture and sweat absorber.

Also, cotton is a good conductor of heat which helps the denim jacket to keep you cool because it will let the excess body heat escape by transporting sweat from your body to outside of the fabric and once it starts to evaporate it will use the body heat as energy to do this.

In this process, you’ll feel cooler and will get cooler.

That’s why genuine denim jackets are cooler which makes them one of the best summer wear.

Is A Jean Jacket Warm Enough For 50 Degrees?

If it is a pure jean jacket then it will not be warm enough at 50 degrees.

But,

If your jean jacket has thick fabric and features thick inner lining especially made up of 100% polyester or wool and have a hood that covers your head nicely.

Then, with some layers like the thick sweater, you can remain toasty warm in temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit using your denim jacket.

Is It Worth To Buy Denim Jacket For Warmth Only?

Yes, if you want to buy a denim jacket for early winter to temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit then a thick denim jacket (quilted/padded, puffer) with thick inner lining either made up of wool or polyester will be worth the money.

But only if you want a denim jacket as daily winter wear that does not require any physical activity.

So, a denim jacket no matter how thick it is don’t worth the money if you’re an active person like a hiker or runner because denim fabric will absorb the sweat, and in that process, your body temperature will drop gradually and you’ll start to feel cooler like you’re not wearing a jacket (by its definition).

In that case, you should curb your way to winter special jackets that are made up of synthetic insulation with a breathable membrane (this implies for those too who live in a wet atmosphere).

Refrences

  • https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-denim-fabric-a-guide-to-the-history-of-denim

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