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From: seifert@mako.UUCP (Snoopy)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Thinsulate coats
Message-ID: <561@mako.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Jan-85 01:06:52 EST
Article-I.D.: mako.561
Posted: Thu Jan 31 01:06:52 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Feb-85 21:31:12 EST
References: <4449@ucbvax.ARPA>
Reply-To: seifert@mako.UUCP (Snoopy)
Organization: The Daisy Hill Puppy Farm
Lines: 41
Keywords: thinsulate down bulk
Summary: 

In article <4449@ucbvax.ARPA> tamir@ucbvax.UUCP (Yuval Tamir) writes:
>I am looking for a warm coat that would be sufficient for the
>winter in the Midwest.

*Where* in the midwest?  The northern part (Purdue, chit-town,
Wisconson, Michigan, etc) gets *very* cold, so get the warmest
coat (and gloves, and boots, etc) you can find.
If you mean southern Indy/Ill, or Kentucky, etc, the winters are
quite mild, so any old winter coat will do.

> ... in one store they tried to sell me this coat
>that has a thin sheet of insulating material inside called Thinsulate.
>The nice thing about this coat is that it is not as bulky
>as down coats.

The advantage of down is (a) it's very lightweight, and (b) you can
squash it into a little ball, stick it in your pocket, and then
pull it out and fluff it back up again.  These are very nice
properties if you are going backpacking.  If not, you can get
cheaper types of insulation which work just as well at insulating,
but weigh more and aren't as squashable.

The problems with down are (a) expense, and (b) special cleaning
requirements. (it's very delicate)  You may not like the bulk,
but it beats freezing.  Any coat that's warm is going to be bulky.

The *real* problem isn't the coat, its the face, hands, and feet.
A coat with a hood is highly recommended.  Along with a facemask,
(balaclava) and/or a skimask. (the skimask keeps the wind out of
your eyes, which regular (sun)glasses don't.  Good warm gloves,
thick socks and heavy boots are required.  Non-insulated boots
are fine as long as you keep walking.  If you aren't walking, your
feet freeze.  If I had it to do over again, I'd get insulated boots.
With Vibram soles for traction on ice.  Coat them with your favorite
waterproofing glop.

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