Types of Synthetic Insulation

[WildGene]

I guess this topic could be posted generally with manufactured gear like bags/quilts or clothing or here for those that might make such gear.

Is there any difference with the synthetic insulation brands like PrimaLoft Sport (Big Agnes), Climashield (Patagonia), Exceloft (Montbell), etc?

And how much difference are these "professional grade" insulation vs what a MYOG find at there local fabric store?

[jorgoz]

I'm thinking of making a summer quilt, or have it made because i have zero sewing skills. I've read around here that climashield is the superior one. Prob is i can't get it over here in europe and i'm interested what others have to say about the other types of synths.

[Rocketman]

Originally Posted by WildGene

I guess this topic could be posted generally with manufactured gear like bags/quilts or clothing or here for those that might make such gear.

Is there any difference with the synthetic insulation brands like PrimaLoft Sport (Big Agnes), Climashield (Patagonia), Exceloft (Montbell), etc?

And how much difference are these "professional grade" insulation vs what a MYOG find at there local fabric store?

I believe that most of the "fabric store" insulations are designed for things like baby blankets, comforters and maybe some "inexpensive" insulated garmets.

I suggest that you take your "Professional" insulated jacket or vest with you and go into a department store to feel the stylish jackets such as those by US Polo Association. The stylish jackets feel rather boardy by comparison.

Try, then, stuffing a stylish garmet into a stuff sack which you happen to have with you. Compare that to your "professional" outdoor gear which cost you bigger bucks.

I did see an interesting piece of silk plus polyester insulation in a Hobby Lobby store recently. For the same weight, the package was a considerably larger in volume than the ordinary run of the mill fiber insulation.

Typically, you won't design a baby's comforter for stuffing into a stuff sack of the smallest possible dimensions. A street puffy jacket isn't designed for stuffing either.

Your outdoor gear is, hopefully, designed for both light weight and stuffing and restuffing without loss of loft.

[Mad777]

Originally Posted by WildGene

Is there any difference with the synthetic insulation brands like PrimaLoft Sport (Big Agnes), Climashield (Patagonia), Exceloft (Montbell), etc?

I personally think that you would be pleased with any of the above choices as they are all in competition with each other. My preference is the Climashield XP. I have made a few items with this and have been very satisfied. It has a good clo, compresses nicely and regains it's loft well and it is easy to work with. It's carried by thru-hiker.com and others.

Originally Posted by WildGene

And how much difference are these "professional grade" insulation vs what a MYOG find at there local fabric store?

Forget about fabric store insulation, IMO. That stuff will not come close to measuring up to the "professional" insulations in any category. Remember, you are going to spend your time and sweat to create a project that you will be proud of. Don't skimp!

[ferball]

I actually own a fabric store, so I have cheap and easy access to the "fabric store" insulation. Most any synthetic batting (what we call insulation in the fabric world) you are gonna find at a fabric/craft store is crap. That being said, I do use Quilter's Dream Puff in my gear.

I have never worked with Clima Shield or any other dedicated products so I can't really compare the Dream Puff to it, but I will say that Puff is warm, and maintains its loft. From a compression and packing standpoint, it stuffs and unstuffs just fine. A 72 x 93 piece is about $15 if I had to pay for it, I don't know how it compares to Clima Shield from a price stand point.

But working with batting all day one of the things that has surprised me is that no one uses wool batting for gear. Dream Wool (again from Quilter's Dream) has got to be the best high loft batting in the world. The only reason I have not used it yet is that I don't have scraps of it kicking around like I do the puff, and heaven forbid I spend more than $10 dollars on a piece of gear(my wife has not bought into back packing yet..). Dream wool is processed differently than regular wool so it stays puffy even after water gets to it, and it does not shred. I have no idea what they do to it, but it never loses loft, you take it out of the package it practically unfolds itself and puffs right up, awesome stuff. Maybe I'll use it in my pillow...

[PBF Support]