one more bogus insulation

A NEW TESTIMONIAL AND THEN FAKE NEWS

And I have to say, as I sit here spelling out this reply I’m wearing one of your liner jackets. I love this simple and wonderful thing. It’s so simply adaptable. I can get a little chilled here at the desk, but with the liner I’m perfectly comfortable. Further, in that I’ve had the liner for the past few weeks (not long at all), I’ve at least had the opportunity to walk across the parking lot in about 30 degree temps, and I find it to be absolutely comfortable then as well. I’m sure I will have even more experiences as I get into next winter.

Your other garments must be absolutely amazing in cold temps. I find myself believing everything I’m reading on your site. My son has a desire to serve his mission in a place like Norway. Time will tell if he does. But, if he indeed is called to such a region I’m thinking he will be taking something with the Wiggy’s name on it.

Thanks, Jerry!

-Ken

The liner jacket has been a huge surprise to me as to its performance as I have been told by many buyers of the product. Thank you one and all who have written to me about it.

NOW FOR THE FAKE NEWS

I read an article about a new polyester fiberfill insulation that is being offered. I was telling a friend about it who has lots of knowledge of polyester fiberfills and he said I have an idea for your next newsletter headline; FAKE NEWS! I told him I will be using it.

A German company Freudenberg makes what are known in the textile industry as “non-woven” materials. A simple explanation of non-woven materials is that they are made like paper. These non-woven materials are made from polyester fiber, nylon fiber and polypropylene fibers and probably many other synthetic fibers as well. They have a division they call Performance Materials Apparel. `

I am not knowledgeable of the fabrics that they have developed for this category until now. They have created a “new” comfortemp fiberball insulating material that is somewhat different than the fiberball product that The North Face ( TNF) has used called ‘thermoballs”. The thermoball product the TNF used had to be quilted, this new product and I quote; “don’t need to be quilted at all, or only very little”. That tells me that it does have to be quilted. However, they further claim their product is the and I quote; “the very first padding (it should say batting) in the world to be made of individual, yet interconnected, little fiberballs”. Those used by TNF were the same fiberballs, but not interconnected. From the pictures I have seen on their web site I can only surmise they have taken a low melt chopped staple fiber and mixed it with their fiberballs and then run it through an oven to bind the fiberballs.

They claim and I quote; “we have succeeded in both combining the thermal insulation of current technologies and products offsetting the disadvantages. The insulation properties are 50 to 80 percent better than with conventional paddings (battings)”. Utter nonsense!

Of course they compare this product to down and other chopped staple fiberfills but not LAMILITE/CLIMASHIELD CONTINUOUS FILAMENT FIBERFILL. They further state and I quote; a new dimension in thermal insulation can offer a level of performance that has not been achieved to date as a replacement for down”. Big deal, down has been made obsolete by Lamilite/Climashield as have all the rest. Quite an accomplishment to equal an obsolete product. Again they have no knowledge of or chose to ignore the fact that continuous filament fiber commonly known as LAMILITE /CLIMASHIELD out performs all qualities of down!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is one company mentioned in the article that is using this product is Napapijri an Italian based company that is apparently owned by VF corporation the parent of TNF.

I became aware of this product via the company FabricLink, who gave this product an “Innovation of the Year Award” for this type of product. I whole heartedly believe that it is long over do for the outdoor industry to acknowledge that of all the insulations now available to all manufacturers that Climashield is so far superior to EVERY OTHER material noted for insulation purposes and should be recognized for their accomplishment. FabricLink has absolutely no knowledge of insulations and therefore is not in any position to recognize any company that claims to make an insulation. This ccompany is the purveyor of FAKE NEWS.

One last thought, the Italians have two fake products now; thindown and fiberballs. If neither of these products makes it to the USA in finished garments nobody in the USA will have the opportunity to waste money on them.