A number of jackets are now available that use Polartec Alpha Direct Insulation, which doesn't need a lining. So you have the outside of the jacket, typically some sort of shower proof fabric, and then the fluffy insulation next to your skin. Examples include Rab Alpha Flux, Rab Alpha Direct, Outdoor Research Ascendant and Montane Hydrogen Direct. There's even the Rab Alpha Flash where they've done away with the outside layer too, it's just the insulation.
Has anyone tried this stuff out? Despite being a generally cold person, I get very hot walking uphill and these garments claim to be put on, wear the whole day active insulation. At the moment I wear a Rab Vapour Rise Alpine Light softshell over a base layer for autumn/winter/early spring, with a fleece or thin insulated jacket between the base layer and softshell in really cold weather. That seems to work fairly well but I still overheat at times then get chilly when I stop. Would there be any advantage to one of these Alpha Direct options? Also, how durable are they - when I tried one of the Rab ones on in Go Outdoors I thought it could end up shedding fibres everywhere and wear out quickly?