# Columbia "Omni Warm" Jackets-Do They Work?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 28, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162 "2012-10-28T22:37:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162/1 "2012-10-28T22:37:30Z")

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I have seen these jackets-the inside lining has a material which is covered with metallic dots. The idea is that the dots reflect the wearer’s body heat back to him-keeping the wearer warm. It sounds reasonable, but does it actually work?

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**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162/2 "2012-10-28T23:17:22Z")

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NASA and the US military [seem to think so](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_blanket).

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**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162/3 "2012-10-29T00:38:31Z")

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Moved Cafe Society --\> IMHO.

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**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162/4 "2012-10-29T01:03:38Z")

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Extensive user reviewhere

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162/5 "2012-10-29T01:10:43Z")

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> [@astro](#):
>
> Extensive user reviewhere

Fixed [link](http://www.trekandrun.com/reviews/colombia%20outer%20shell/colombia%20outer%20shell%20review.html)

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**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\
**Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbia-omni-warm-jackets-do-they-work/639162/6 "2012-10-30T22:28:40Z")

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It’s called Omni-Heat Reflective and, yes, it does work, in the same way a reflective blanket works. The dots design allows for breathability (between the dots) rather than just having a full sheet reflective material. That’s pretty important feature in technical clothing designed for cold-weather activities that generate body heat and perspiration. It also allows for greater comfort for fabric that lies directly next to the skin, including Omni-Heat Reflective base layers, hats, gloves and neck gaiters.