Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihu1j.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!ihu1j!gek
From: gek@ihu1j.UUCP (glenn kapetansky)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Thinsulate coats
Message-ID: <142@ihu1j.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 1-Feb-85 13:53:50 EST
Article-I.D.: ihu1j.142
Posted: Fri Feb  1 13:53:50 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 13:50:38 EST
References: <4449@ucbvax.ARPA>, <561@mako.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 39
Keywords: thinsulate down bulk

>>From: seifert@mako.UUCP (Snoopy)

"...A coat with a hood is highly recommended..."

That's  a  no-no with Thinsulate, although in general it's good advice.
I have played with foam, Holofill, Quallofil, Thinsulate, Gore-tex,
radiant barriers, polypropylene, in fact just about everything but
down. Thinsulate's caveat is that it is sewn in sheets to a  stiff
backing material (in garments, I  don't know about gloves-boots). This
means that (for instance) with my vest Thinsulate is  wonderfully
warm until I move. Then the stiff backing pulls the vest away from
my body, a breeze comes in thru the  armholes across my chest, and
insulation goes to zero. So Thinsulate, which is  wonderfully warm
and lightweight, MUST be kept close to the body at all times via closely-
cut garments. Hoods, even when tied (as mine rarely is), have a tendency
to expose a small gap around the neck when you turn your head, and
thus funnel cold air behind the  Thinsulate barrier. Better to forget
the hood and look for a high, stretch collar + scarf + wool hat. By
the same token, look for stretch cuffs and "snow skirt" or tie in the waist.

My experience? Thinsulate is great for gloves and shoes; use in jackets ONLY
if you can check the  fit, never from mail order. My favorite jacket
is a Holofill (the fibers are shorter than Polarguard, so is better
for a flexible garment, and it is cheaper than Quallofil) vest covered
with a Gore-Tex-polypropylene shell--I  can use one or the other or both
all year round. Quallofil in my sleeping bag (I like the best when I sleep!)
. Wool for socks'n'hats'n'scarves, polypropylene for underwear.

Gore-Tex is  fabulous in everything; I have it in sleeping bag, boots,
gloves, shell.

Forgive any mispellings, I long ago removed all my tags  under penalty
of law ;-)
-- 
glenn kapetansky                                                      
                                                                        
"Think of it as evolution in action"
                                                                        
...ihnp4!ihu1j!gek