What is the purpose of developing synthetic insulation in the presence of excellent natural materials? What provides them with heat-protective properties? To choose the right clothes with suitable insulation, you need to know their main types and features.
Synthetic insulation for clothing is a broad class of modern materials with heat-saving characteristics due to their special texture.
Initially, these air-filled non-woven products appeared in the 70s of the last century as a cheaper alternative to natural options, but with the development of the polymer industry they are increasingly proving to be more advanced in operation and more technologically advanced in processing.
It was thoroughly forgotten and was not used outdoors for a long time, but now it is returning in a new quality and at a different technological level. For example, merino wool is used in the manufacture of thermal underwear, socks, mid-insulation and even upper layers clothing (in development or wool is one of the components of composite materials). Thus, against the background of the general spread of synthetic insulation materials, in particular cases one can observe exactly the opposite processes.
Why are natural insulation materials being replaced by synthetic ones in the bulk of clothing? Down remains, but for all its advantages it is an allergenic material. It is capricious in production and care - to “retain” it in clothes, the use of special down-holding fabrics is required, which prevent the migration of fibers, that is, they simply do not allow fluff to escape from clothes. When wet, down loses its heat-protective properties and takes a very long time to dry. And with frequent washing and active wear, it wears into dust and falls off.
Wool is hypoallergenic, but can irritate the skin. It is subject to wear, shrinkage and is also afraid of water. Insulation with wool and fur significantly makes clothing heavier, so this option is practically not used in clothing for outdoor activities where low weight and volume play a vital role, for example in mountaineering equipment.
Getting wet negates the heat-saving functions of almost any insulation. But air-filled synthetics in conditions high humidity works better than down or wool, having very low hygroscopicity and performing its functions even when wet.
The main differences between natural and synthetic products can be summarized in the table:
| Characteristic | Natural insulation | |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity) | Absorbs moisture | Does not absorb moisture |
| Vapor permeability | High | Depends on type and brand |
| Hypoallergenic | May cause allergies | Does not cause allergies |
| Ability to accumulate static electricity |
Down is not electrified. Wool becomes electrified |
Electrified |
| Insect resistance | Low | High |
| Resistance to bacterial contamination | High | Low (requires treatment with silver salts) |
Types of synthetic insulation
To successfully compete with natural materials, synthetic new products must have:
low thermal conductivity of the fiber material;
light weight;
high porosity;
hypoallergenic;
hygroscopicity close to zero;
good breathability;
resistance to microorganisms;
high elasticity and mechanical strength.
Polyester fibers vary in density, thickness, texture, type of twist, which is why there is so much choice modern insulation materials. Air-filled canvases are produced different thicknesses and density for different weather conditions.
To improve wear resistance, a layer of insulation can be placed between thin non-woven fabrics - spunbond or non-woven fabric.
Any changes, both in the design of the insulation layer in order to strengthen it, and in the form of fiber twisting and its length, allow manufacturers to patent more and more new brands that differ slightly from each other in their consumer parameters.
Let's look at the most well-known types of synthetic insulation.
Sintepon
Synthetic winterizer is still the most common material for insulating clothing. It is based on polyester fibers, fastened together in various ways:
adhesive— connects fibers with special glue;
thermal— fuses fibers under high temperature;
needle-punched- entangles fibers with penetrating needles.
However, adhesive technology is gradually becoming a thing of the past, because the introduction chemical substances worsens environmental friendliness and adds weight. In addition, the glue is easily subject to thermal destruction during washing and dry cleaning, so such products are short-lived.
Needle-punched padding polyester is the densest and most durable among its counterparts. And the hot-melt option is not only the most environmentally friendly, but also allows us to offer consumers the lightest and most effective insulation.
But this insulation is heavy compared to more modern developments, it clumps after numerous washes, does not hold its shape well and has low vapor permeability.
The widespread use of synthetic winterizer is explained by its versatility and satisfactory consumer qualities, such as low hygroscopicity and easy maintenance. At the same time, it is cheap and its production has long been mastered by industry.
The temperature threshold for using padding polyester is -10 °C, and in order to increase its heat-protective properties, it is necessary to increase the thickness and weight. Most often, sewing padding polyester has a density of 60 to 300 g/m2 and is used for demi-season clothing.
Holofiber
The Holofiber trademark belongs to a single manufacturer, the Moscow Termopol plant, and it recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. To insulate clothing, a modification of the Holofiber SOFT material is used.
This is an improved type of padding polyester, characterized by environmental friendliness, increased elasticity and low weight. Rapid restoration of shape and the absence of residual deformations are ensured by a special structure of hollow fibers (hollow + fiber) in the form of multidirectional microsprings, which move freely when pressed and dissipate compression energy. Lightweight fibers create additional porosity, increasing the volume of air per unit of material, and thereby reducing thermal conductivity.
This is insulation with zero hygroscopicity and reliably protects at temperatures down to -25 ° C. The thermal conductivity of Holofiber is almost half that of padding polyester.
For clothing, non-woven fabric with a density of 60-350 g/m2 is used, in which twisted fibers are pressed and joined by hot-melt adhesive, and the surface is processed between calender rolls to impart smoothness and strength. This treatment prevents the migration of fibers from the insulation layer and makes the use of additional insulating coatings unnecessary.
The thermal conductivity of insulation is related to its density, and when choosing clothes this must be taken into account first of all. At the same time, comparing different brands of insulation in terms of density will be incorrect, because the thermal conductivity of, say, padding polyester and Holofiber at the same density is different.
Thinsulate
Thinsulate - innovative material, similar in thermal preservation to natural down, but at the same time devoid of its disadvantages. It holds its shape well, is hypoallergenic and absolutely sterile. It is also called artificial swan down. Just as birds lubricate their feathers with a special substance to protect them from getting wet, this type of fiber is coated with silicone for the same purpose. This not only provides 100% protection from moisture, but also ensures easy sliding of the fibers when deformed.
Its feature is excellent vapor conductivity, so the material protects against hypothermia even at a temperature of -30 ° C during active movement. It copes well with, effectively removing excess heat.
This is the thinnest of modern insulation materials with similar thermal insulation properties. It does not absorb foreign odors, does not shrink and dries quickly after washing, completely restoring its shape.
To harden the surface and better secure it when sewing clothes, some modifications of Thinsulate are available with one- and two-sided padding made of cellulose fiber - interlining. The density of Thinsulate is from 100 to 230 g/m2, and today it is the lightest and most effective synthetic insulation.
Initially, the material was developed by 3M on behalf of NASA for astronauts back in the 70s. Its production from the finest, spiral-twisted, highly siliconized fiber up to 10 microns thick is still expensive, so this material is used mainly for the production of professional outdoor clothing for fans of extreme sports and polar explorers.
Fibertek
Fibertek is a Belarusian brand of non-woven fabric made from hollow polyester fibers. Silicone treatment of highly crimped short fibers allows them to easily slide relative to each other without deforming, without caking and quickly regaining their shape. The density of 200-400 g/m2 provides an optimal ratio of air capsules and fiber, so the material has excellent heat-shielding properties.
Often the fabric is reinforced on both sides with spunbond - a thin non-woven fabric made of polypropylene, which gives additional strength to this kind of sandwich. Fibertek is an environmentally friendly, breathable material that perfectly protects against 40-degree frost, although in this case the thickness of the insulation layer will be greater than that of Thinsulate. The technology does not involve the use of glues, so it is absolutely hypoallergenic.
Compared to synthetic winterizer, Fibertek is lighter, more dimensional stable, and more durable than Holofiber, since thermal bonding of fibers is not used in its production. After deformation, the insulation regains its shape by 100%, and even after three washes its shrinkage does not exceed 3%. It is used mainly for special clothing, but its price is lower than that of Thinsulate.
Isosoft
Synthetic insulation under the Belgian brand Isosoft is produced by Libeltex from ultra-thin fibers that form a dense structure. A double-sided spunbond coating is additionally applied to the surface, preventing displacement and deformation of the fibers during operation. This contributes to good compatibility with various covering and lining fabrics.
This plastic, hypoallergenic material reliably warms at temperatures down to -20 ° C, is easy to wash and dries quickly. The most popular density for insulating clothing is 200-300 g/m2. In terms of its heat-saving parameters, one layer of isosoft replaces four layers of traditional padding polyester.
PrimaLoft
Innovative developments of synthetic insulation under the PrimaLoft ® trademark from Albany International were originally intended for the American army. The manufacturing technology is the know-how of the manufacturer, but it is known that high consumer characteristics were achieved by combining long ultra-thin polyester fibers with a special water-repellent coating and fibers of variable cross-section.
Imitation of natural down allows you to create a highly porous structure, strong and elastic, quickly restoring volume and drying faster than the natural prototype.
The Primaloft material is just as light, but practically does not absorb water. Therefore, military development very quickly found application in outdoor clothing, as well as in the equipment of fishermen and hunters, making their stay in extreme conditions as comfortable as possible.
Clothing with Primaloft remains dry no matter the humidity of the surrounding air; it effectively removes excess heat and moisture from the body during active movement.
For insulating clothing, the varieties PrimaLoft ® Sport, PrimaLoft ® One and PrimaLoft ® Infinity are used. They differ in the percentage of fibers of different thicknesses and, accordingly, in specific gravity, caking and wear resistance. PrimaLoft ® One is considered the lightest and warmest; it is most often used in clothing for active recreation, and best of all holds its shape and is distinguished increased wear resistance PrimaLoft® Sport. Therefore, as a rule, it is this variety that is used in the manufacture of clothing for extreme conditions, shoes and sports equipment.
In 2014, together with The North Face ®, PrimaLoft ® released new insulation Thermoball®. Its peculiarity lies in the structure of the fibers, imitating the texture of fluff. The rounded PrimaLoft ® Thermoball ® synthetic fiber balls retain heat as well as natural down, but are much more moisture resistant and dry quickly.
In addition to synthetic insulation, PrimaLoft ® developed and began to produce hybrid insulation of the PrimaLoft ® Gold Insulation Down Blend and PrimaLoft ® Silver Insulation Down Blend series. In the “golden” line, ultra-fine Primaloft fiber is mixed with natural goose down in a ratio of 30/70; and in “silver” - 40/60. In hybrid insulation, the beneficial properties of natural and synthetic fibers are combined in such a way that the final result allows achieving maximum efficiency thermal insulation material. In addition, hybrid insulation is cheaper than down insulation.
Very often Primaloft is compared to Thinsulate, and debates continue among lovers of high-quality outdoor clothing. Objective tests have not yet been carried out, but one thing is certain - both materials retain heat equally well and are superior to natural insulation in terms of performance parameters.
Mixed insulation materials
Despite obvious shortcomings outdated padding polyester, manufacturers strive to improve its thermal insulation properties and environmental friendliness by adding up to 70% natural camel and sheep wool. This is how Woolstikron is obtained, the wind protection of which is three times higher than that of synthetic winterizer, with excellent vapor permeability and low moisture absorption. This material is lighter than pure wool, but has similar heat-protective properties.
To improve environmental friendliness, polyester fibers are sometimes combined with cotton. Such materials include the Italian insulation Valtherm, little known on the Russian market. It is flexible, breathable and warm material with a special cellular structure, used in children's and sportswear.
Rules of care
Caring for synthetic insulation is almost the same for all brands and is not difficult.
Basic Rules:
- exclude chlorine-containing detergents;
- washing temperature 30-40 °C;
- dry in a vertical, straightened position in the air.
Unlike natural materials, synthetic analogues dry quickly, do not shrink or bunch up.
Summary
Synthetic insulation is more convenient and practical than natural insulation, but in terms of heat saving efficiency it is still inferior to them.
- To the surface non-woven fabrics other materials can be applied to insulation to provide additional strength.
The basis for the production of synthetic insulation is polyester fibers.
The heat-protective properties of the insulating layer are ensured by the porous structure, and the more pores per unit area, the more effective the material.
Types of synthetic insulation differ in thickness and density, as well as in crimp and additional surface treatment of the polyester fiber.
You and I live in a happy time when modern technologies are developing by leaps and bounds and what was previously available only to a select few becomes accessible and firmly enters into everyday life ordinary people. The same, of course, applies to modern materials, which are used in sportswear. Now you can choose clothes for any type of activity that will meet all the requirements necessary for exercise, and accordingly provide maximum comfort and safety.
When active in cold weather conditions, it is very important to properly insulate - since the body not only needs to warm up, but also not overheat and breathe during activities - be it just walking fresh air or cross-country skiing. In this article we will talk about modern insulation materials - what manufacturers offer, what they focus on and what is best to choose. Nowadays there is a huge number of insulation materials on the market, which are often not so easy to understand.
All insulation materials can be divided into two classes - natural (fluff, wool) And artificial (primaloft, thinsulate and so on).
Natural insulation materials
Pooh has always been considered the best insulation, and manufacturers of artificial insulation consider down to be the reference material, a guideline in the production of artificial fillers.
Main characteristics of down:
- A light weight
- High heat retention
- Good breathability
- Elasticity (recovery to original volume)
- up to 400 - fluff Bad quality
- 400 - 450 - medium quality down
- 500-750 - excellent quality down
- 750 and above - extra class down
Many manufacturers, caring about product quality and the environment, adhere to the standard RDS, which indicates that the fluff is collected from healthy animals raised in comfortable conditions, and was not applied to animals significant harm. In front of everyone positive characteristics, down filling also has its disadvantages. So, for example, down products are quite difficult to care for and store. As a rule, they are expensive, and an allergic reaction is possible.
Artificial insulation
A good alternative to down is artificial insulation. Since insulation initially appeared on the market Sintepon, which was not a particularly high-quality insulation, the opinion was formed that all non-natural insulation materials work poorly. But on this moment technology has gone far ahead and manufacturers can offer an excellent alternative to down, allowing them to satisfy the most demanding consumer. Now on the market a large number of manufacturers who specialize only in the production of such materials. But sportswear manufacturers often use their own designs. At the moment, the leaders of the market of artificial insulation in sportswear have been identified - these are Primaloft from company Albany International And Thinsulate from company 3M.
- high ratio of thermal insulation properties to weight (no need for a thick layer of clothing for good thermal insulation). That is, the material is light and warm.
- breathes well (allows fumes to escape)
- waterproof
- soft
There are currently three series of insulation available - Gold; Silver; Black, each of which contains 5 to 10 types of insulation.
Synthetic insulation "Primaloft" was developed by order of the US Army, which was looking for a replacement for down for sleeping bags and clothing for military personnel. As a result, Albany International registered the "Primaloft" brand. Research has shown that new material has hygienic properties superior to traditional down.
When creating "Primaloft", the structure of goose down microfibers was carefully studied and copied, which determined the thermal properties of the new fiber. The thermal resistance factor for down is 2.18, and for "Primaloft" 2.15. Most other synthetic fibers are twenty times thicker and do not retain heat as well as Primaloft fiber.
The most important characteristic modern insulation materials, this especially applies to artificial materials, is their thermal resistance (resistance to heat evaporation) per unit weight distributed over area (density).
The higher it is, the lighter it can be made ready product without losing its functional properties. The density of the material varies. The store offers densities from 60 g/m2 to 200 g/m2.
Others important parameters for synthetic insulation are:
- Durability. In this case, the ability to maintain high thermal insulation characteristics over a long period of use. It is known that as the product is used over time, the vast majority of insulation begins to cake or fall off, increasing its density and reducing the amount of bound air, which leads to a decrease in its heat-insulating properties.
- Compression ability. Another quite important indicator affecting the volume of transportation. It is worth noting that frequent or prolonged compression harms almost any insulation to one degree or another.
- The ability to pass vapor molecules. The air cavities are too small for moisture to penetrate from the outside, but large enough to allow evaporation from the inside.
Primaloft filler allows moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release evaporation from within. The filler returns its volume better than other materials, even after repeated washing and drying. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume.
There are several varieties of Primaloft materials with different thermal and physical characteristics:
Primaloft One, Warmcore by Primaloft- thermal insulation index (clo) 2.6/2.7 per 100 g/m2. Microfiber insulation has a hydrophobic treatment. Used to make urban jackets, shoes and some ski models.
Is different:
- very high thermal insulation per unit weight;
- relatively small thickness of insulation;
- minimum transport volume;
- relatively low durability;
- average compression volume.
Primaloft Sport - mixed insulation that combines fibers different diameters, which ensures the creation of even more air cavities to retain heat inside the material. It has a hydrophobic treatment and is used in ski clothing.
Is different:
- high thermal insulation per unit weight (clo = 2.3/100 g/m2);
- average durability.
Primaloft Infinity - the material is created from continuous fiber. Has a thermal insulation value (clo) of 1.7 per 100 g/m2. It has a hydrophobic treatment, suitable for both clothing and shoes.
Is different:
- high thermal insulation per unit weight;
- high volume of compression;
- maximum resistance to compression;
- high durability.
Primaloft Synergy - Has a thermal insulation value (clo) of 2.2 per 100 g/m2. Mixed insulation materials that combine fibers of different diameters, which ensures the creation of an even larger number of air cavities to retain heat inside the material. The fibers of the material have a continuous structure. It has a hydrophobic treatment and is used in some types of ski clothing.
Is different:
- sufficiently high volume per unit weight;
- average compression volume;
- average durability.
Down - duck and goose down are most often used in the production of clothing and bivouac equipment. Eider down stands apart, the use of which in mass-produced products is difficult due to its extremely high price. Duck down is inferior to goose down in terms of durability and thermal resistance, but has a lower price.
The quality of down and its thermal insulation per unit weight is influenced by the following factors:
- Down/feather ratio (the less feather, the better thermal insulation, but, as a rule, the longer the expansion time);
- Age of the bird (the down of an adult goose is better than the down of a young one), high-quality down can only be obtained from geese living in a fairly cold climate. Therefore, the down of birds living in Canada, northern Russia and in Eastern Europe;
- Color (the down of white geese is traditionally valued more than that of gray geese);
- Additional processing fluff, aimed at cleaning it from impurities, disinfecting it and preserving its elastic properties. Down obtained by plucking geese during the molting period has higher characteristics than down obtained from killed birds.
The advantages of down are:
- High thermal insulation per unit weight. According to this indicator, high-quality down is approximately twice as high as the best synthetic analogues.
- When properly used, down also demonstrates amazing durability - not a single synthetic analogue lasts longer.
- High-quality down compresses well and tolerates compression well.
Difficulties associated with using down:
- Vulnerable to moisture: it gets wet relatively easily, when wet it begins to greatly lose its heat-insulating properties, it takes quite a long time to dry, moreover, when storing a down product in a wet state, the down can deteriorate quite quickly.
- Even high-quality down is prone to migration through the fabric and seams of the product (unlike low-quality filler, European goose down sheds much less).
To characterize the quality of down, the Fill Power indicator is used, which describes the ability of a limited mass of down to fill a certain volume.
The physical meaning of Fill Power is the volume in cubic inches occupied by a one-ounce sample of fluff. In essence, Fill Power characterizes the ability of insulation to expand after compression to a certain volume and is a unique type of assessment of the density of insulation - the higher the value, the lower the density.
Outdoor equipment uses down with Fill Power values of at least 550 units; Fill Power values of 650 units and above are considered good.
White goose down with Fill Power 800 or more is used in high-end equipment. In exclusive equipment best brands Down with even higher Fill Power values of 850+ and even 900+ can be used.
Allied Corporation supplies feathers and down. Is a leader in quality and reliable source materials for the production of quality products.
High quality European down with excellent thermal insulation properties, lightness and unsurpassed durability.
Table of the relationship between the thermal resistance coefficient of the material and the external temperature.
PrimaLoft is a synthetic material that has high thermal insulation properties. When creating it Albany International very carefully studied the structure of goose down and put it into the basis of the PrimaLoft material. The fibers of this insulation are very thin and resemble goose down more than the fibers of any other synthetic material. It is this similarity that gives it the thermal properties of down. The thermal resistance coefficient for goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft it is 2.15. This is a very high figure, because... other synthetic fibers don't even come close to this value.
PrimaLoft filler has a long-fiber structure, thanks to which it restores its volume better and faster than similar materials. Even after a huge number of washings and drying, the material does not deform. The fibers are endowed with water-repellent properties that help any liquid drain or evaporate. This ensures that PrimaLoft insulation products stay dry at all times.
Laboratory tests have shown that PrimaLoft has the same softness as goose down and is much softer than similar insulating materials. Thanks to this characteristic of the material, all products made from it take the necessary shape: clothes fit according to the figure, and the blanket exclusively fits the body of a sleeping person.
Another great advantage of this material is that it breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Its air layers are very small for the penetration of moisture, but large in order to allow the moisture formed inside to evaporate. A small volume of PrimaLoft is sufficient to keep a person warm.
It can be strongly compressed, and this will not affect the quality and structure of the material. In a short period of time, the material completely returns to its original volume. According to the above parameters, PrimaLoft is superior to all its synthetic and natural counterparts. Of all the world-famous insulation materials, only PrimaLoft has the ability not to retain moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. This insulation, compared to similar materials, absorbs 3 times less moisture, it is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet.
Thanks to its long-fiber, down-like structure, the filler regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dryers. Water repellent properties microfibers allow any liquid to drain or evaporate, allowing the user of Primaloft® products to always be dry and warm.
Scientific tests have shown that Primaloft® has the same softness as down and is significantly softer than other synthetic fibers. Due to the softness of this fiber, clothes made from it fit perfectly, and a blanket or sleeping bag fits the sleeper's body. Try the sample to the touch, and you will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it breathes, allowing moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture evaporation from within. A small volume of "Primaloft®" is quite enough to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.
Of the world's insulation brands, only PrimaLoft® has the property of not retaining moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. As the table shows, than larger number fibers, the more the insulation absorbs moisture:
PrimaLoft PL1 - 75%
PrimaLoft Sport - 400%
Polarguard 3D - 500%
Thinsulate LiteLoft - 995%
MicroLoft (DuPont)-1730
Other famous synthetic materials They don't even come close to those numbers. Thanks to its long-fiber, down-like structure, the filling regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dryers. The water-repellent properties of the microfibers allow any liquid to drain or evaporate, keeping the user of Primaloft® products dry and warm at all times.
Try the sample to the touch, and you will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it breathes, allowing moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture evaporation from within. A small volume of Primaloft® is sufficient to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.
The human body has a normal temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius, but is often in places that make it noticeably colder! PrimaLoft® retains your body heat to keep you warm and comfortable even in extreme cold.
Thus, this lightweight, highly insulating and quick-drying insulation occupies one of the leading positions in the competition among insulation for equipment and outerwear.
There are several types of PrimaLoft insulation: Primaloft® One- this is one of the best insulating (insulating) materials. It is created using microfiber technology, which is the closest in characteristics to natural down in terms of structural, thermal and tactile characteristics. It is the only filler in which each fiber has a permanent, water-resistant treatment.The very fine fibers are specially processed using proprietary technologies and then woven together to create an incredibly soft, lightweight and moisture-resistant insulation.
PrimaLoft ®One absorbs 3 times less water, is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet compared to other materials.
PrimaLoft® Sport
PrimaLoft® Sport is a high-quality insulation made using technologies that combine ultra-fine fibers and variable diameter fibers for maximum high efficiency thermal insulation. PrimaLoft® Sport - The technology with which PrimaLoft® Sport is made combines ultra-fine fibers and fibers with variable diameters to achieve these characteristics. Specially treated ultra-fine fibers provide a waterproof structure, while variable diameter fibers help shape the material.
If you want to have a great weekend and spend it outdoors, PrimaLoft ® Sport allows you to feel comfortable as if you were at home, even when it gets wet.
PrimaLoft Eco- insulation designed for amateurs environmental materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultrafine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. When combined, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will provide its owners with dryness, warmth and comfort.
PrimaLoft Infinity- These are thermal insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united together by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washings and dryings.
PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep wool. This combination is most suitable for making outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are twice as fine as cashmere fibers, resulting in a soft feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.
PrimaLoft SYNERGY is an advanced thermal insulation material, which is created based on the interweaving of thin and ultra-thin fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture-resistant material that is used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.
We have collected for you comprehensive information on popular topic for discussion:
"Which synthetic insulation is better - Primaloft or Climashield?"
ADVANTAGES OF CLIMASHIELD COMPARED WITH PRIMALOFT:
1. Better resistance to compression and shorter expansion time;
2. Gain in real thermal insulation per unit weight of insulation in warm models;
3. Good preservation volume of insulation when very wet;
4. No need for frequent stitching;
5. There is no need to use Fiber Proof fabric (usually calendered), which is important for the running insulation layer.
GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DISADVANTAGES:
1. Climashield Apex is more difficult to compress than Primaloft Sport;
2. The advantage in thermal insulation begins to appear at approximately 170 g/m2 of insulation density. Lower densities are practically parity (judging by experiments with sleeping bags and EN 13537);
3. There is no doubt that Primaloft One will greatly outperform Сlimashield Apex in a number of moisture resistance tests, just like vice versa;
4. Stitching is not needed, but it is necessary to additionally attach insulation along the edges of the fabric - from the point of view of operation there are more advantages, from the point of view of manufacturing - on the contrary;
5. Calendered fabric is not necessary, but due to the stabilized and uneven top layer, the insulation is not as soft to the touch.
FROM A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE:
1. Climashield Apex is now a favorite synthetic insulation among small American companies specialized in lightweight equipment, as well as among the “homemade” ones there.
As you understand, they also have Primaloft Sport and choose it quite consciously;
2. This or that insulation from Climashield for a number of products was chosen by such companies as: The North Face, Arc"teryx, Marmot, etc.
Among the active Europeans, and it seems quite recently, is Direct Alpine in their Belay Jackets.
In general, judging by Primaloft’s activity in the direction of developing continuous fiber insulation, including for clothing (first Infinity, then Synergy) - this is a new trend;
3. Depreciation of the “brand”.
There will always be those who want to use both the established reputation of the insulation and the reputation of the companies that actually promoted it on the market, based on the quality and functionality of their products.
This is done extremely simply - look for an inexpensive Chinese production and order the simplest possible product with the coveted label: Gore-Tex, Primaloft, Polartec, eVent, Windstopper, etc.
Climashield Apex, as far as we know, is purely American in production, which limits the possibilities of using this insulation in frankly cheap Southeast Asian products.
IN THE POINT OF REAL PRODUCTS, CLIMASHIELD HAS THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES:
The properties of insulated products last longer - this is very important, because it is unrealistic to demolish many high-quality items during normal operation, but the insulation still, albeit slowly, loses its properties. May he live as long as possible;
It has become possible to make jackets from fabrics with high breathability - that is, to produce an insulating layer for fairly active movement, without resorting to the technology of combining with Polartec Powerstretch and the like (that is, without gaining weight and losing thermal insulation).
By the way, Polartec is also thinking in the same direction, with its new technology Polartec Alpha, only the insulation and fabrics are much simpler;
Winter clothes and warm sleeping bags have become somewhat warmer, without weight gain. It is obvious how useful this is in models such as Inta.
At the same time, it is stupid to idealize this or that technology - something else will appear with a set of real properties better than that of Climashield Apex, then we will consider the issue of transition, even if it is called TEPLIN 2-ZK.
CHANGE OF INSULATION IN OUR TOP SYNTHETIC JACKET:
Inta was manufactured with three versions of insulation as follows: chronological order: Primaloft One, Primaloft Sport and Climashiled Apex.
The main reason for the transition was the desire to make the product significantly better in terms of the totality of properties throughout the entire period of operation.
CLO describes the thermal insulation of insulation in a test, but does not describe the insulation of a sandwich of membrane fabric, insulation, and lining in the real world.
We periodically had to predict the properties of such a sandwich, primarily in sleeping bags. Based on our experience, we can say quite confidently that the thickness of the insulation is very important.
According to the passport CLO, the leader is Primaloft One, followed by Climashiled Apex and slightly inferior to Primaloft Sport.
According to the thickness specified by the manufacturer, the thinnest of the three is Primaloft One. Sport and Apex have parity in thickness.
In the real world, Apex is noticeably thicker, especially with a large total package density.
There are no popular independent assessment methods for clothing temperature range.
We provide data based on the totality of available reviews from athletes, testers and ordinary users, averaging and sometimes playing it safe.
For example, the Inta + Inta P kit was used at temperatures down to -68 degrees, as a snowmobile kit, and the impressions were extremely positive, but it wouldn’t occur to me to write a rating of -68C.
The main risk in specifying the temperature range was precisely during the transition from Primaloft One to Primaloft Sport, because we had to rely on first impressions from prototypes and guesses about the relationship between the thermal insulation of the product and thickness and clo. As time passes, we can confidently say that it has not become colder.
With Climashield Apex and the Inta model, the logic is similar, but there is also objective evidence - En 13537 testing sleeping bags with a similar amount of insulation.
Aer -9 and Inoch -13 have 300 grams per square meter of insulation. One has Primaloft Sport insulation, the other Climashiled Apex. The existing 4 grams of difference in sleeping bags was transferred to jackets and rounded to 5.
