Insulation use the principle of trapping air to manage body heat. Many peoples believe that the fill power of insulation is a direct measurement of the warmth that the insulation will provide. However, fill power is a measurement of the quality of the down insulation.
The fill power describes how much space one ounce of down can occupy. The more higher the number on the fill power, the fluffier the down insulation will be. Since down insulation that is fluffier can trap more air, there will be a higher level of warmth for the wearer.
How Insulation Keeps You Warm and Which Type to Choose
Additionally, the manufacturer can use less insulation to provide a same amount of warmth, which is beneficial for those who want to use less weight in there pack. However, there is a weakness to down insulation. Down insulation isnt resistant to moisture.
When down get wet, the down clusters clump together. When the down clusters clump together, the down lose its ability to trap air. Since down insulation relies on trapping air to retain warmth for the body, if down loses its ability to trap air, down loses its ability to provide warmth.
An alternative to down insulation are synthetic insulation. Synthetic insulation is more resistant to moisture than down insulation. Synthetic insulation is heavier than down insulation.
However, synthetic insulation will retain its structure even when soak. For those who are looking to use insulation in damp environments, synthetic insulation is a better option. Additionally, there are different weight category for insulation.
Insulation that is ultralight is used for those who require much movement while using their insulation. However, ultralight insulation does not retain as much warmth as the other insulation categories. For those who are looking for a balance in insulation, midweight is more better suited for individuals who will be sitting near a campfire.
For individuals who are traveling to areas that can reach very cold temperature, heavyweight insulation is better. However, heavyweight insulation will be much heavier and bulkier than the other insulation categories. The industry use the CLO value to describe how much an insulation layer will resist the flow of heat.
A low CLO value are used in mild weather. A high CLO value is used in cold weather for outdoor activities. Insulation must be maintained for the insulation to continue to function correct.
Down insulation require specific cleaning method. Down insulation cannot be washed with standard soaps. Specific down soaps must be use, and the insulation must be dried in a dryer with tennis ball to restore the loft to the down.
Synthetic insulation is easier to clean than down insulation. Synthetic insulation can usually be washed with regular detergent. Insulation should also be stored proper.
Many people make the mistake of storing their insulation in a compress state. However, if insulation is stored in a compress state, the fibers will be crushed in the storage container. To avoid crushing the fibers in the insulation, store the insulation in a large breathable bag.
