pathetic

A TESTIMONIAL OF A DIFFERENCE

Extremely Dog Proof!

We have a new pit bull puppy, and the one thing they love to do is chew. He has torn up pillows, and put holes in various outer layers of all kinds of things. However, other than a fray or two, your comforter has proven to be both dog and puppy proof.

Well done!

– David

David,

Your testimonial is a first. Cookie my dog just sleeps on my comforter and in 6 years has never chewed it. Good for her. I trust your dog will outgrow the chewing phase of life.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME DEPRESSING NEWS?

I have been informed that the latest solicitation for sleeping bags does not specify the only polyester fiberfill insulation that is acceptable is continuous filament fiberfill. Someone in the process has now included acceptability of chopped staple fiberfill.

Historically all of the chopped staple fiberfill used by the military going back to the 1960’s was DuPont’s Dacron 88, a first quality fiber. However unscrupulous suppliers at the time making cold weather parkas and sleeping bags would blend waste fiber with the Dacron 88 or just substitute the waste fiber in place of the Dacron 88. In 1968 when the Celanese Company developed the continuous filament fiber fill product trade named Polar Guard the unscrupulous could no longer cheat the government. It is either continuous filament or it isn’t. Until 1980 all parkas, field jacket liners, mittens and sleeping bags were made with continuous filament fiberfill otherwise known as Polar Guard.

From 1980 until the early 1990’s a much cheaper chopped staple fiberfill was approved and it replaced the Polar Guard. In 1993 when I made the first two bag system for the U.S. M.C. with Lamilite otherwise known as continuous filament fiberfill the U.S.M.C. put their foot down and only wanted continuous filament fiberfill. Other companies like Primaloft (actually their parent at the time Albany International) tried like hell to get their chopped staple product into the military for sleeping bags. It did not happen. The change was made to go back to continuous filament fiberfill and that has been the case until now. Someone with absolutely zero knowledge of fiberfill for insulation has I am told allowed the chopped staple product to be allowed as a component in the manufacture of these bags. What a tragedy to issue sleeping bags to troops going into the field that will not work under any conditions if they are filled with chopped staple fiberfill.

In order for the chopped staple fiberfill to stay together during the manufacturing process it must be bonded. It could be resin bonded or low melt bonded; but it will be bonded. This means that it has no resilience and will go flat just from stuffing the bags into their stuff sacks. That means no insulation of any magnitude. Then laying in the bag and then stuffing it to carry will further reduce the loft until it is like a paper towel thickness. Using this chopped staple fiberfill means it must be quilted and as we know quilting further reduces insulation. Also the bonding agents do absorb water and the stitch lines also trap moisture. When the bags get dirty they must be washed and we know from years of experience with chopped staple polyester fiberfill it breaks apart leaving gaping holes where there is no insulation.

Isn’t it nice to know that an employee of our government is apparently making a decision to allow a component to be used in the making of one of the most important pieces of equipment a soldier carry’s his sleeping bag? It makes me sick to have been told that this is what is going on. I would not be surprised to see some of the bidders making samples costing this waste fiber polyester fiberfill.

Today the ONLY fiberfill product on the market that is made from FIRST QUALITY FIBER is Climashield continuous filament fiber. ALL the garments that are sold in stores that have polyester fiberfill in them are made from waste fiber. ALL of that fiber is produced in Asia mostly China I suspect. If you think that those who chose to offer a bag with chopped staple fiberfill will refrain from blending the foreign made fiberfill with whatever they buy for a U.S. source you kidding yourself.

If you are in the military and happen to read this article just remember that Wiggy’s has been making this center zip bag for about 6 years and it is made with Lamilite/Climashield continuous filament fiber.