Polyester fiber insulation. Advantages and disadvantages. Review of modern insulation technologies: from down to thermal adaptation technologies Primaloft insulation temperature regime

Polyester fiber insulation. Advantages and disadvantages. Review of modern insulation technologies: from down to thermal adaptation technologies Primaloft insulation temperature regime

Synthetic insulation "Primaloft" was developed by order of the US Army, which was looking for a replacement for down for sleeping bags and clothing for military personnel. As a result, Albany International registered the "Primaloft" brand. Research has shown that the new material has hygienic properties superior to traditional down.

When creating "Primaloft", the structure of goose down microfibers was carefully studied and copied, which determined the thermal properties of the new fiber. The thermal resistance factor for down is 2.18, and for "Primaloft" 2.15. Most other synthetic fibers are twenty times thicker and do not retain heat as well as Primaloft fiber.

The most important characteristic of modern insulation materials, especially for artificial materials, is their thermal resistance (resistance to heat evaporation) per unit weight distributed over area (density).

The higher it is, the lighter the finished product can be made without losing its functional properties. The density of the material varies. The store offers densities from 60 g/m2 to 200 g/m2.

Other important parameters for synthetic insulation are:

  1. Durability. In this case, the ability to maintain high thermal insulation characteristics over a long period of use. It is known that as the product is used over time, the vast majority of insulation begins to cake or fall off, increasing its density and reducing the amount of bound air, which leads to a decrease in its heat-insulating properties.
  2. Compression ability. Another quite important indicator affecting the volume of transportation. It is worth noting that frequent or prolonged compression harms almost any insulation to one degree or another.
  3. The ability to pass vapor molecules. The air cavities are too small for moisture to penetrate from the outside, but large enough to allow evaporation from the inside.

Primaloft filler allows moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release evaporation from within. The filler returns its volume better than other materials, even after repeated washing and drying. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume.

There are several varieties of Primaloft materials with different thermal and physical characteristics:

Primaloft One, Warmcore by Primaloft- thermal insulation index (clo) 2.6/2.7 per 100 g/m2. Microfiber insulation has a hydrophobic treatment. Used to make urban jackets, shoes and some ski models.

Is different:
- very high thermal insulation per unit weight;
- relatively small thickness of insulation;
- minimum transport volume;
- relatively low durability;
- average compression volume.

Primaloft Sport is a mixed insulation material that combines fibers of different diameters, which creates even more air cavities to retain heat inside the material. It has a hydrophobic treatment and is used in ski clothing.

Is different:
- high thermal insulation per unit weight (clo = 2.3/100 g/m2);


- average durability.

Primaloft Infinity - the material is created from continuous fiber. Has a thermal insulation value (clo) of 1.7 per 100 g/m2. It has a hydrophobic treatment, suitable for both clothing and shoes.

Is different:
- high thermal insulation per unit weight;
- high volume of compression;
- maximum resistance to compression;
- high durability.

Primaloft Synergy - Has a thermal insulation value (clo) of 2.2 per 100 g/m2. Mixed insulation materials that combine fibers of different diameters, which ensures the creation of an even larger number of air cavities to retain heat inside the material. The fibers of the material have a continuous structure. It has a hydrophobic treatment and is used in some types of ski clothing.

Is different:
- sufficiently high volume per unit weight;
- average compression volume;
- average durability.

Down - duck and goose down are most often used in the production of clothing and bivouac equipment. Eider down stands apart, the use of which in mass-produced products is difficult due to its extremely high price. Duck down is inferior to goose down in terms of durability and thermal resistance, but has a lower price.

The quality of down and its thermal insulation per unit weight is influenced by the following factors:

  1. Down/feather ratio (the smaller the feather, the better the thermal insulation, but, as a rule, the longer the expansion time);
  2. Age of the bird (the down of an adult goose is better than the down of a young one), high-quality down can only be obtained from geese living in a fairly cold climate. Therefore, the down of birds living in Canada, northern Russia and eastern Europe is most valued;
  3. Color (the down of white geese is traditionally valued more than that of gray geese);
  4. Additional processing of fluff, aimed at cleaning it from impurities, disinfecting it and preserving its elastic properties. Down obtained by plucking geese during the molting period has higher characteristics than down obtained from killed birds.

The advantages of down are:

  1. High thermal insulation per unit weight. According to this indicator, high-quality down is approximately twice as high as the best synthetic analogues.
  2. When properly used, down also demonstrates amazing durability - no synthetic analogue lasts longer.
  3. High-quality down compresses well and tolerates compression well.

Difficulties associated with using down:

  1. Vulnerable to moisture: it gets wet relatively easily, when wet it begins to greatly lose its heat-insulating properties, it takes quite a long time to dry, moreover, when storing a down product in a wet state, the down can deteriorate quite quickly.
  2. Even high-quality down is prone to migration through the fabric and seams of the product (unlike low-quality filler, European goose down sheds much less).

To characterize the quality of down, the Fill Power indicator is used, which describes the ability of a limited mass of down to fill a certain volume.

The physical meaning of Fill Power is the volume in cubic inches occupied by a one ounce sample of fluff. In essence, Fill Power characterizes the ability of insulation to expand after compression to a certain volume and is a unique type of assessment of the density of insulation - the higher the value, the lower the density.

Outdoor equipment uses down with Fill Power values ​​of at least 550 units; Fill Power values ​​of 650 units and above are considered good.

White goose down with Fill Power 800 or more is used in high-end equipment. Exclusive equipment from the best brands can use down with even higher Fill Power values ​​of 850+ and even 900+.

Allied Corporation supplies feathers and down. It is a leader in quality and a reliable source of material for the production of quality products.

High quality European down with excellent thermal insulation properties, lightness and unsurpassed durability.

Table of the relationship between the thermal resistance coefficient of the material and the external temperature.

We live in a happy time, when modern technologies are developing by leaps and bounds and what was previously available only to a select few is becoming accessible and firmly integrated into the everyday life of ordinary people. The same, of course, applies to modern materials that are used in sportswear. Now you can choose clothes for any type of activity that will meet all the requirements necessary for exercise, and accordingly provide maximum comfort and safety.

When active in cold weather conditions, it is very important to properly insulate - so that the body not only warms up, but also not overheats and breathes during activities - be it just walking in the fresh air or racing cross-country skis. In this article we will talk about modern insulation materials - what manufacturers offer, what they focus on and what is best to choose. Nowadays there is a huge number of insulation materials on the market, which are often not so easy to understand.

All insulation materials can be divided into two classes - natural (fluff, wool) And artificial (primaloft, thinsulate and so on).

Natural insulation materials

Pooh has always been considered the best insulation, and manufacturers of artificial insulation consider down to be the reference material, a guideline in the production of artificial fillers.


Main characteristics of down:

  • A light weight
  • High heat retention
  • Good breathability
  • Elasticity (recovery to original volume)
The best fluff - eider, but there is very little of it on the market - since this type of fluff is very expensive and is obtained in strictly limited quantities, in the wild. The most popular type of down is goose down. And of course, the best goose down comes from northern countries, where climatic conditions allow the production of lighter, warmer and fluffier natural insulation. One of the main characteristics of fluff is the indicator FP – Fill Power. This is a measure of how much down recovers its original volume after being compressed. The higher this indicator, the better the down, more durable, warmer and lighter. You can focus on the following digital designations:
  • up to 400 - poor quality fluff
  • 400 - 450 - medium quality down
  • 500-750 - excellent quality down
  • 750 and above - extra class down

Many manufacturers, caring about product quality and the environment, adhere to the standard RDS, which indicates that the fluff was collected from healthy animals raised in comfortable conditions, and no significant harm was caused to the animals. With all the positive characteristics, down filling also has its disadvantages. So, for example, down products are quite difficult to care for and store. As a rule, they are expensive, and an allergic reaction is possible.

Artificial insulation

A good alternative to down is artificial insulation. Since insulation initially appeared on the market Sintepon, which was not a particularly high-quality insulation, the opinion was formed that all non-natural insulation materials work poorly. But at the moment, technology has gone far ahead and manufacturers can offer an excellent alternative to down, allowing them to satisfy the most demanding consumer. Now a large number of manufacturers have appeared on the market who specialize only in the production of such materials. But sportswear manufacturers often use their own designs. At the moment, the leaders of the market of artificial insulation in sportswear have been identified - these are Primaloft from company Albany International And Thinsulate from company 3M.

  • high ratio of thermal insulation properties to weight (no need for a thick layer of clothing for good thermal insulation). That is, the material is light and warm
  • breathes well (allows fumes to escape)
  • waterproof
  • soft

There are currently three series of insulation available - Gold; Silver; Black, each of which contains 5 to 10 types of insulation.

PrimaLoft is a synthetic material that has high thermal insulation properties. When creating it Albany International very carefully studied the structure of goose down and put it into the basis of the PrimaLoft material. The fibers of this insulation are very thin and resemble goose down more than the fibers of any other synthetic material. It is this similarity that gives it the thermal properties of down. The thermal resistance coefficient for goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft it is 2.15. This is a very high figure, because... other synthetic fibers don't even come close to this value.

PrimaLoft filler has a long-fiber structure, thanks to which it restores its volume better and faster than similar materials. Even after a huge number of washings and drying, the material does not deform. The fibers are endowed with water-repellent properties that help any liquid drain or evaporate. This ensures that PrimaLoft insulation products stay dry at all times.

Laboratory tests have shown that PrimaLoft has the same softness as goose down and is much softer than similar insulating materials. Thanks to this characteristic of the material, all products made from it take the necessary shape: clothes fit according to the figure, and the blanket exclusively fits the body of a sleeping person.

Another great advantage of this material is that it breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Its air layers are very small for the penetration of moisture, but large in order to allow the moisture formed inside to evaporate. A small volume of PrimaLoft is sufficient to keep a person warm.

It can be strongly compressed, and this will not affect the quality and structure of the material. In a short period of time, the material completely returns to its original volume. According to the above parameters, PrimaLoft is superior to all its synthetic and natural counterparts. Of all the world-famous insulation materials, only PrimaLoft has the ability not to retain moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. This insulation, compared to similar materials, absorbs 3 times less moisture, it is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet.

Thanks to its long-fiber, down-like structure, the filler regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dryers. The water-repellent properties of the microfibers allow any liquid to drain or evaporate, keeping the user of Primaloft® products dry and warm at all times.

Scientific tests have shown that Primaloft® has the same softness as down and is significantly softer than other synthetic fibers. Due to the softness of this fiber, clothes made from it fit perfectly, and a blanket or sleeping bag fits the sleeper's body. Try the sample to the touch, and you will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it breathes, allowing moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture evaporation from within. A small volume of "Primaloft®" is quite enough to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.

Of the world's insulation brands, only PrimaLoft® has the property of not retaining moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. As the table shows, the greater the number of fibers, the more the insulation absorbs moisture:

PrimaLoft PL1 - 75%
PrimaLoft Sport - 400%
Polarguard 3D - 500%
Thinsulate LiteLoft - 995%
MicroLoft (DuPont)-1730

Other known synthetic materials do not even come close to such indicators. Thanks to its long-fiber, down-like structure, the filling regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dryers. The water-repellent properties of the microfibers allow any liquid to drain or evaporate, keeping the user of Primaloft® products dry and warm at all times.

Try the sample to the touch, and you will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it breathes, allowing moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture evaporation from within. A small volume of Primaloft® is sufficient to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.

The human body has a normal temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius, but is often in places that make it noticeably colder! PrimaLoft® retains your body heat to keep you warm and comfortable even in extreme cold.

Thus, this lightweight, highly insulating and quick-drying insulation occupies one of the leading positions in the competition among insulation for equipment and outerwear.

There are several types of PrimaLoft insulation: Primaloft® One- this is one of the best insulating (insulating) materials. It is created using microfiber technology, which is the closest in characteristics to natural down in terms of structural, thermal and tactile characteristics. It is the only filler in which each fiber has a permanent, water-resistant treatment.

The very fine fibers are specially processed using proprietary technologies and then woven together to create an incredibly soft, lightweight and moisture-resistant insulation.
PrimaLoft ®One absorbs 3 times less water, is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet compared to other materials.

PrimaLoft® Sport

PrimaLoft® Sport is a high-quality insulation made using technologies that combine ultra-fine fibers and variable diameter fibers for maximum insulation performance. PrimaLoft® Sport - The technology with which PrimaLoft® Sport is made combines ultra-fine fibers and fibers with variable diameters to achieve these characteristics. Specially treated ultra-fine fibers provide a waterproof structure, while variable diameter fibers help shape the material.

If you want to have a great weekend and spend it outdoors, PrimaLoft ® Sport allows you to feel comfortable as if you were at home, even when it gets wet.

PrimaLoft Eco- insulation created for lovers of environmentally friendly materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultrafine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. When combined, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will provide its owners with dryness, warmth and comfort.

PrimaLoft Infinity- These are thermal insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type of insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united together by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washings and dryings.

PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep wool. This combination is most suitable for making outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are twice as fine as cashmere fibers, resulting in a soft feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.

PrimaLoft SYNERGY is an advanced thermal insulation material, which is created based on the interweaving of thin and ultra-thin fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture-resistant material that is used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.

PrimaLoft is a synthetic material that has high thermal insulation properties. When creating it, Albany Interional very carefully studied the structure of goose down and put it into the base of the PrimaLoft material. The fibers of this insulation are very thin and resemble goose down more than the fibers of any other synthetic material. It is this similarity that gives it the thermal properties of down. The thermal resistance coefficient for goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft it is 2.15. This is a very high figure, because... other synthetic fibers don't even come close to this value.
PrimaLoft filler has a long-fiber structure, thanks to which it restores its volume better and faster than similar materials. Even after a huge number of washings and drying, the material does not deform. The fibers are endowed with water-repellent properties that help any liquid drain or evaporate. This ensures that PrimaLoft insulation products stay dry at all times.
Laboratory tests have shown that PrimaLoft has the same softness as goose down and is much softer than similar insulating materials. Thanks to this characteristic of the material, all products made from it take the necessary shape: clothes fit the figure, and the blanket fits the sleeping person’s body exceptionally.

Another great advantage of this material is that it breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Its air layers are very small for the penetration of moisture, but large in order to allow the moisture formed inside to evaporate. A small volume of PrimaLoft is sufficient to keep a person warm.

It can be strongly compressed, and this will not affect the quality and structure of the material. In a short period of time, the material completely returns to its original volume. According to the above parameters, PrimaLoft is superior to all its synthetic and natural counterparts. Of all the world-famous insulation materials, only PrimaLoft has the ability not to retain moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. This insulation, compared to similar materials, absorbs 3 times less moisture, it is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet.

There are several types of PrimaLoft insulation

PrimaLoft Sport- insulation created by combining ultra-thin fibers and fibers with variable diameters, which makes thermal insulation even more effective. Ultra-thin fibers ensure the material is waterproof, and fibers with variable diameters ensure the formation of its volume.

PrimaLoft One- this is a material that is created from microfiber, which is as close as possible to goose down in all parameters and characteristics. This is a filler in which each individual fiber has a moisture-resistant treatment. It is one of the best heat-insulating materials. The main properties of this type of insulation are the retention of 14% more heat in a dry state and 24% in a wet state.
PrimaLoft Eco– insulation created for lovers of environmentally friendly materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultrafine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. When combined, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will provide its owners with dryness, warmth and comfort.

PrimaLoft Infinity- These are thermal insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type of insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united together by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washings and dryings.
PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep wool. This combination is most suitable for making outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are twice as fine as cashmere fibers, resulting in a soft feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.

PrimaLoft SYNERGY is an advanced thermal insulation material, which is created based on the interweaving of thin and ultra-thin fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture-resistant material that is used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.

Update 01/21/2013

PrimaLoft continues to innovate with the announcement of two new technologies, PrimaLoft 4Flex and Grip Technology.

PrimaLoft 4Flex is an innovative technology for creating insulation that can stretch in all four directions and immediately recover without losing its insulating and water-repellent properties. This insulation is ideal for use in outerwear and gloves - items where maximum stretch for free movement is important. Including clothing for winter sports.
PrimaLoft Grip Technology provides maximum grip for gloves and shoes. It is designed to prevent gloves and shoes from slipping where necessary for a secure and stable grip. This technology is especially relevant for climbers, ski racers, motorcyclists or golfers and anyone who needs warm, comfortable, waterproof clothing or shoes with the added ability to firmly hold the handle of the desired projectile or tool.

Update 12/26/2013

In 2014, PrimaLoft will launch a new series of hybrid insulation products called PrimaLoft Performance Down Blend. Performance Down Blend is a mixture of synthetic insulation with natural down and the addition of a water-repellent treatment.
Performance Down Blend insulation will have the same insulating properties as natural down with a density of 750 FP, while the hybrid insulation dries 4 times faster and will continue to retain its properties after 10 washes. The developers managed to effectively weave natural down with hydrophobic impregnation and high-quality synthetic fibers PrimaLoft Ultra-Fine.
The Performance Down Blend series will include three types of insulation, which will differ in cost and characteristics: Gold (70% natural down, 30% synthetics), Silver (60% down, 40% synthetics) and Black (50%-50% down and synthetics ).

Update 10.03.2015

PrimaLoft Aerogel - the insulation is based on a soft, flexible, vapor-permeable, hydrophobic and wear-resistant Cryogel gel with a thickness of about 5 mm, which can operate effectively in temperatures from -260 to +90C degrees. Synthetic thermal insulation effectively blocks high and low temperatures.

Update 07.12.2016

PrimaLoft has announced the launch of a completely new insulation called PrimaLoft Black Insulation ThermoPlume. The first products with the new synthetic filler will appear closer to the autumn-winter season of 2017-2018. The new insulation more accurately inherits the fiber structure of natural goose down. The developers managed to achieve almost the same weight indicators in relation to density, volume and general thermal insulation properties, which are similar to natural insulation of 550-density padding. At the same time, the insulation is completely hydrophobic, does not lose its properties when in contact with water and does not require any additional impregnation.
In its structure, ThermoPlume is so similar to natural raw materials that it requires the clothing manufacturer to use almost the same production cycles as when creating traditional down jackets, including blowing out the heat-insulating filler in sections. Thus, soon it will be possible to distinguish a jacket with ThermoPlume from a down jacket with 550FP goose down only by the tag.

Update 10.07.2018
The release of new brands of insulation materials has been announced, including a series PrimaLoft PCR(Post-Consumer Recycled), namely PrimaLoft Silver Insulation - 100% PCR and relatively budget insulation PrimaLoft Black Insulation - 100% PCR. The new insulation products are distinguished by the fact that they are made entirely from recycled materials, which are based on used plastic bottles. Insulation will have a lower cost and have all the necessary characteristics of modern synthetic insulation, and will become part of the PrimaLoft Silver and PrimaLoft Black series.

Update 10/23/2018

A new line of thermal insulation materials has been introduced PrimaLoft Bio. The new insulation was created exclusively using recycled synthetic fibers, while the new technological process made it possible to create this insulation completely biodegradable. According to tests carried out according to the ASTM D5511 standard, the new synthetic insulation is capable of biodegradation (under the influence of certain microorganisms) by almost 80.3% in 394 days.

We have collected for you comprehensive information on a popular topic for discussion:
"Which synthetic insulation is better - Primaloft or Climashield?"

ADVANTAGES OF CLIMASHIELD COMPARED WITH PRIMALOFT:

1. Better resistance to compression and shorter expansion time;

2. Gain in real thermal insulation per unit weight of insulation in warm models;

3. Good retention of insulation volume when very wet;

4. No need for frequent stitching;

5. There is no need to use Fiber Proof fabric (usually calendered), which is important for the running insulation layer.


GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DISADVANTAGES
:

1. Climashield Apex is more difficult to compress than Primaloft Sport;

2. The advantage in thermal insulation begins to appear at approximately 170 g/m2 of insulation density. Lower densities are practically parity (judging by experiments with sleeping bags and EN 13537);

3. There is no doubt that Primaloft One will greatly outperform Сlimashield Apex in a number of moisture resistance tests, just like vice versa;

4. Stitching is not needed, but it is necessary to additionally attach insulation along the edges of the fabric - from the point of view of operation there are more advantages, from the point of view of manufacturing - on the contrary;

5. Calendered fabric is not needed, but due to the stabilized and uneven top layer, the insulation is not as soft to the touch.


FROM A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE:

1. Climashield Apex is now a favorite synthetic insulation among small American companies specialized in lightweight equipment, as well as among the local “homemade” ones.
As you understand, they also have Primaloft Sport and choose it quite consciously;

2. This or that insulation from Climashield for a number of products was chosen by such companies as: The North Face, Arc"teryx, Marmot, etc.
Among the active Europeans, and it seems quite recently, is Direct Alpine in their Belay Jackets.
In general, judging by Primaloft’s activity in the direction of developing continuous fiber insulation, including for clothing (first Infinity, then Synergy) - this is a new trend;

3. Depreciation of the “brand”.
There will always be those who want to use both the established reputation of the insulation and the reputation of the companies that actually promoted it on the market, based on the quality and functionality of their products.
This is done extremely simply - you look for inexpensive Chinese production and order the simplest possible product with the coveted label: Gore-Tex, Primaloft, Polartec, eVent, Windstopper, etc.
Climashield Apex, as far as we know, is purely American in production, which limits the possibilities of using this insulation in frankly cheap Southeast Asian products.

IN THE POINT OF REAL PRODUCTS, CLIMASHIELD HAS THE FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES:

The properties of insulated products last longer - this is very important, because it is unrealistic to demolish many high-quality items during normal operation, but the insulation still, albeit slowly, loses its properties. May he live as long as possible;

It has become possible to make jackets from fabrics with high breathability - that is, to produce an insulating layer for fairly active movement, without resorting to the technology of combining with Polartec Powerstretch and the like (that is, without gaining weight and losing thermal insulation).
By the way, Polartec is also thinking in the same direction, with its new Polartec Alpha technology, only so far the insulation and fabrics are much simpler;

Winter clothes and warm sleeping bags have become somewhat warmer, without weight gain. It is obvious how useful this is in models such as Inta.

At the same time, it is stupid to idealize this or that technology - something else will appear with a set of real properties better than that of Climashield Apex, then we will consider the issue of transition, even if it is called TEPLIN 2-ZK.

CHANGE OF INSULATION IN OUR TOP SYNTHETIC JACKET:

Inta was manufactured with three versions of insulation in the following chronological order: Primaloft One, Primaloft Sport and Climashiled Apex.

The main reason for the transition was the desire to make the product significantly better in terms of the totality of properties throughout the entire period of operation.

CLO describes the thermal insulation of insulation in a test, but does not describe the insulation of a sandwich of membrane fabric, insulation, and lining in the real world.
We periodically had to predict the properties of such a sandwich, primarily in sleeping bags. Based on our experience, we can confidently say that the thickness of the insulation is very important.
According to the passport CLO, the leader is Primaloft One, followed by Climashiled Apex and slightly inferior to Primaloft Sport.
According to the thickness specified by the manufacturer, the thinnest of the three is Primaloft One. Sport and Apex have parity in thickness.
In the real world, Apex is noticeably thicker, especially with a large total package density.

There are no popular independent methods for assessing temperature range for clothing.
We provide data based on the totality of available reviews from athletes, testers and ordinary users, averaging and sometimes playing it safe.
For example, the Inta + Inta P kit was used at temperatures down to -68 degrees, as a snowmobile kit, and the impressions were extremely positive, but it wouldn’t occur to me to write a rating of -68C.
The main risk in specifying the temperature range was precisely during the transition from Primaloft One to Primaloft Sport, because we had to rely on first impressions from prototypes and guesses about the relationship between the thermal insulation of the product and thickness and clo. As time passes, we can confidently say that it has not become colder.

With Climashield Apex and the Inta model, the logic is similar, but there is also objective evidence - En 13537 testing sleeping bags with a similar amount of insulation.
Aer -9 and Inoch -13 have 300 grams per square meter of insulation. One has Primaloft Sport insulation, the other Climashiled Apex. The existing 4 grams of difference in sleeping bags was transferred to jackets and rounded to 5.