Thinsulate filler: what is it, at what temperature, reviews, care

Coats and jackets from the Italian brand Garioldi attract attention with their beautiful lined silhouettes, sophistication of color shades and, of course, luxurious trim made from natural fur. However, buyers value these clothes not only for their beautiful appearance, but also for their incredible comfort and practicality. These properties are characteristic of all lines produced by Garioldi, including the line of clothing with modern Thinsulate insulation.

View the entire collection of outerwear from the Garioldi brand

History of insulation, what principle it works on

The history of Thinsulate begins in the 60s of the last century, when NASA placed an order for insulation that could be used in extreme conditions (at that time we were talking about equipment for astronauts). The American company got down to business, and by the early 70s presented the result of its developments: a non-woven material made of microfibers with all the requested characteristics.

This insulation was patented under the name Thinsulate (thin - thin, insulation - heat protection, insulation). Even then, it fully lived up to its name: the highest heat-protective characteristics with minimal thickness. Initially it was used for the needs of astronautics, by 1979 it went on sale, and since the early 2000s it has been a leader in the field of use for sports and professional workwear.

Thinsulate filler “works” due to the air inside the layer. See:

The volume of the insulation layer (no matter what) consists of fibers and air between them.
The more air per unit volume, the better it retains heat.
The air inside is retained due to the smallest weaves of fibers.
Reducing the thickness of the fibers allows you to increase their total area.
The larger the area of the fibers, the greater the volume of air will be retained.

The uniqueness of Thinsulate lies in its microfiber, the surface area of which is approximately 10 times greater than that of other insulation materials.

What to choose and what to pay attention to?

So, we are done with the theoretical part and now, quite reasonably, the question arises: “Which insulation material to choose?” In fact, there is no exact and unambiguous answer to this question, because... The choice of insulation will be influenced by a huge number of individual factors:

Type of clothing or shoes;
Climatic conditions in which things will be operated;
Additional materials used in the production of clothing or shoes;
The type of human activity and his individual metabolism.

Having averaged all the values, by and large we can say that both insulation materials discussed in the article will cope with the task of preserving heat equally well. And to make an objective comparison, you need to at least have two identical things, but with different insulation. Well, this, you understand, is a practically impossible condition.

All this will also be superimposed on the technical specifications of the insulation itself, namely one of the main parameters - the density of the insulation. It is calculated as the ratio of weight per unit area, namely in grams per square meter. In products containing insulation, it is indicated simply as a value in grams. For example, “Thinsulate 200 g” or “Primaloft 100 g”.

Naturally, the higher the density of the insulation, the more heat the item containing it can retain and the less likely it is to freeze. Yes, with an increase in density there is an increase in the weight of the product, but in absolute terms this is practically not noticeable. Unless, of course, you are an extreme climber who is going to conquer Everest and calculates the weight of your equipment in grams, then you probably won’t even notice the increase in the weight of the jacket by 100 grams, due to the fact that it will use denser insulation.

The main insulation densities used in the production of clothing and footwear will be as follows:

Density 40 - 100 grams

In this range of insulation densities, either accessories and clothing for sports and outdoor activities are produced, when human physical activity is quite high, or everyday items - jackets, insulated trousers, designed for low or medium negative temperatures. At the very beginning of the insulation density range, Thinsulate accessories generally dominate. But as density increases, things with Primaloft are already appearing. Please note that, for example, insulation of different densities can be used in jackets; the main part can be made using 100 grams of insulation, and the sleeves using 60 grams. You should always pay attention to such features when choosing a thing.

Examples of items with insulation up to 100 grams:

Gloves with Thinsulate insulation 40 g.
Ergodyne hat with 60 g Thinsulate insulation.
Carhartt jacket with 80 g Thinsulate insulation.
Helly Hansen jacket with 60 g Primaloft insulation.
Victorinox jacket with 60 g Primaloft insulation.
Salomon jacket with 60 g Primaloft insulation.

When choosing clothes with insulation with a density of up to 100 grams, be sure to take into account the temperature conditions in which it will be worn and the activity of using this clothing. Climatic conditions in different regions are different and therefore, for example, in Krasnodar it is probably quite possible to wear a jacket with 100 grams of insulation all winter. But this option is probably not at all suitable for residents of Krasnoyarsk or Novosibirsk. During normal use, such clothes will be comfortable up to a maximum of 7-10 degrees below zero. But at the same time, if clothes are purchased, say, for skiing or some other serious outdoor activity, then in this case comfort will be ensured even at lower temperatures.

Density 100 - 200 grams

In this range of insulation densities, either fairly warm gloves or more insulated sports jackets generally prevail. Also, this range of insulation density is very often used for the production of insulated jeans, ski trousers and insulated trousers for outdoors, hunting and fishing. Some shoe manufacturers, such as Adidas, are also starting to use this insulation density in select models.

Examples of items with insulation up to 200 grams:

The North Face jacket with 100 g Primaloft insulation.
Helly Hansen jacket with 160 g Primaloft insulation.
Merrell coat with 150 g Thinsulate insulation.
Wrangler jeans with 100 g Thinsulate insulation.
Sitka Gear trousers with 170 g Primaloft insulation.
Black Diamond gloves with 142 g Primaloft insulation.
Women's Adidas boots with Primaloft 100 g insulation.

Density 200 - 400 grams

At the lower limit of this range of densities of the insulation used, you can still find clothes. These are mainly jackets for extreme athletes, skiers, or clothing for working in low temperatures.

For example:

Carhartt work overalls with Thinsulate 200 g insulation.
Castle X jacket with 200 g Thinsulate insulation.
Patagonia jacket with 200 g Primaloft insulation.

Clothes with insulation with a density of more than 200 grams are practically not produced en masse, and if they are produced, it is for some special purposes and in limited editions.

But in the production of winter shoes, the use of insulation from 200 to 400 grams is practically a standard. It is for shoes that synthetic insulation is much better suited than natural insulation due to their wear resistance, low hygroscopicity and high ability to retain heat. The use of one or another insulation is determined for the most part by the manufacturer’s policy. But a number of companies, such as Timberland or Rocky, may use either Thinsulate or Primaloft in different models of shoes.

Winter shoes with 200 grams of insulation are perfect for active outdoor activities up to 20, and maybe up to 30 degrees below zero. This indicator, of course, is very individual and highly dependent on the metabolism of a particular person. In urban conditions, when moving house-car/transport-work/study, this density of insulation is usually enough to keep you from freezing. But if we are talking about leisurely walks in winter or simply staying in the cold for a long time in a static state, then it is still better to use shoes with 400 grams of insulation and possibly even more.

There are a lot of manufacturers of shoes with insulation in this density range and it’s probably not worth listing them all. Here are just a few examples from the most popular brands:

Wolverine boots with Thinsulate Ultra 400 g insulation.
Timberland boots with Thinsulate Ultra 400 g insulation.
Columbia boots with 200 g Thinsulate insulation.
Sorel boots with 400 g Thinsulate insulation.
LLBean boots with 400 g Primaloft insulation.
Timberland boots with 400 g Primaloft insulation.
The North Face boots with 400 g Primaloft insulation.
New Balance boots with 200 g Primaloft insulation.

Density 400-1000 grams

Shoes with insulation with a density of 400 grams and higher are produced for extremely cold conditions, but this implies at least moderate activity of the owner. As a rule, these are shoes for winter outdoors outside urban conditions and, again, as a rule, such shoes use all kinds of membrane materials such as Gore-tex, which have high water resistance and, conversely, high vapor permeability.

Examples of such shoes:

Rocky boots with 800 g Primaloft insulation. Rocky boots with Thinsulate Ultra 800 g insulation. Under Armor boots with 800 g Primaloft insulation. Wolverine boots with Thinsulate Ultra 1000 g insulation. Chippewa boots with Thinsulate Ultra 1000 g insulation.

Density 1000+ grams

Shoes with insulation of 1000 grams and more are also produced by some brands, although the choice among manufacturers here will no longer be so large and wide, because... These are still specific shoes. Naturally, it is designed for very cold temperatures, and some shoe models are generally produced for use in Arctic or Antarctic conditions. Such shoes will be appreciated by hunters, fishermen, or simply people who, due to the nature of their work, have to spend a long time in the cold in static positions.

Examples of winter shoes with maximum insulation density:

LaCrosse hunting boots with Thinsulate Ultra 1500 g insulation. LaCrosse boots with Thinsulate Ultra 2000 g insulation. Guide Gear boots with Thinsulate Ultra insulation 2400 g (!)

Description of fabric, composition, cost

Let's clarify: Thinsulate filler, what is it? Essentially, it is an accumulation of the finest, 2-5 microns, fibers enclosed on one or both sides in a shell of non-woven material (see photo). Some species are without a shell. It is light in weight and soft to the touch.

The thickness may vary depending on the type of material, there are only five of them:

"C" (Classic). Thickness from 0.3 to 1.75 cm, density from 40 to 263 g/m2. Interlining - on the one hand, on two, two-layer interlining and without it at all. Polyolefin 65%, polyester 35%. The lightest and thinnest of all existing ones, 2 times warmer than other analogues. Thickness from 1 to 2.1 cm, density from 101 to 230 g/m2. Polyester 100%. The shell is double-sided, calendered, due to which there is no need to quilt parts already 25 cm long. This Thinsulate insulation for clothing is the most economical of all those presented. Thickness from 1.7 to 2.5 cm, density from 98 to 191 g/m2. Polyester 95%, polyolefin 5%. More voluminous than other insulation of this brand. The stitching step is about 30 cm, double stitching. Preferably under high-quality down-proof fabric (thread count 270 or more).
"IN". Thickness from 0.2 to 0.8 cm, density from 105 to 420 g/m2. Polypropylene 88%, polyester 12%. Double shell. This Thinsulate is resistant to repeated compression and squeezing, and does not lose its heat-shielding properties. Under a waterproof membrane, it is quilted with a small diamond pattern directly with the lining.
"FR". Thickness from 1.2 to 1.8 cm, density from 120 to 200 g/m2. Meta-aramid 65%, acrylonitrile and vinylidene chloride copolymer - 20%, polyethylene styrene 15%. Test-proven fire resistance without compromising thermal insulation properties.

This is what Thinsulate is, in jackets, overalls, other outerwear, blankets, etc. In Russian stores it is sold mainly of the “P” type. Its price, depending on the density, is from 400 to 900 rubles per meter. “S” is more difficult to find, and it will cost from 500 rubles/m. for wholesale purchases. “B”, the densest – from 1500 rub./m. Unfortunately, we could not find information about “FR”.

And we have an interesting proposal - compare it with holofiber, read the detailed description.

Beauty and convenience are in the details

Garioldi clothing is famous for its beautiful original cut and neat, professionally executed seams. Moreover, if you turn a Garioldi product inside out and look at the inside, which is usually hidden from the eyes of buyers, then here you will see the same attention to detail and careful work: these are even seams; Thinsulate, which, as expected, is stitched in equal steps of 10 cm (which means it will not move from its place); hangers that keep things in shape.

Women's demi-season coats Garioldi with rabbit, silver fox and mink fur

Another distinctive feature of Garioldi clothing is the use of luxurious and very cozy trim from silver fox, raccoon, mink, rex rabbit and other natural fur. To make jackets and coats easy to wash, all fur trim is placed on fabric, which is fastened to the products using small buttons and thin zippers. It would have been easier and cheaper for the manufacturer to use only zippers for this, but he did not take the simple route: the fabric with fur is fastened to the edges of the shelves, hoods and collars only with buttons - this way it lies more freely and softly, retains the desired shape and does not puff up. After all, for Garioldi everything that can affect the appearance of clothes is very important.

Attention to all details of tailoring, ideal cut, specially designed for Russian body shapes, ease of use, high quality materials - these are the elements that distinguish the Italian clothing brand Garioldi. This is the corporate style of Garioldi, which is so loved by the customers of the PokupkaLux store.

Characteristics, properties of Thinsulate

The microfiber structure of the material makes it unique in its kind: depending on the type, it will protect at temperatures up to -30, -60°. If we compare it with natural down in terms of the ratio of thickness to heat retention level, then the down will be 1.5 times cooler. By the way, about Thinsulate, what temperature it is at, reviews mostly say “I wear it on a thin T-shirt”, “I only put on a jacket at -20”.

Besides:

The fibers have minimal water absorption, less than 1% of their own weight. Whereas natural fillers can absorb up to 70%.
Minimum weight and thickness. You get a warm product without excessive bulk.
Hypoallergenic, compliance with European quality standards.
Thanks to the peculiarities of the fiber bonding technology, the filler of the Thinsulate jackets does not bunch up, does not migrate inside the product, and does not shrink.
High resistance to repeated compression, does not lose its heat-insulating qualities after storage in compressed form. The exception is the “FR” type.
Good vapor permeability.

Useful: washing a down jacket in an automatic washing machine - rules and recommendations.

Below there are reviews about Thinsulate insulation: at what temperature to wear it, is it suitable for babies and how does it behave when sewing.

About the disadvantages: due to its high breathability, the material “works” 100% only with high-quality top coatings (with a high level of wind protection). It makes no sense to use it as insulation, for example, for a woolen coat. Therefore, when asking a search engine the question “Thinsulate filler, at what temperature does it work at minus”, one must take into account the features of the entire product.

We have also prepared an article about the benefits of synthetic down, be sure to read it.

Primaloft insulation

Primaloft is another type of synthetic insulation developed by Albany International. Naturally, all the details of the technology for manufacturing such a material are not disclosed, except that the synthetic thread, its component, has a heterogeneous diameter. Otherwise, the physics of the process is the same as with Thinsulate - many small air pockets inside the material retain heat well and practically do not absorb moisture.

Some sources claim that Primaloft insulation fibers are additionally siliconized, which allows for high moisture resistance and the ability to restore shape after any physical deformation. Primaloft marketers, as well as Thinsulate marketers, constantly like to compare their insulation with goose down and unanimously claim that this synthetic material is superior in its consumer properties to a natural product.

Since the manufacturing technologies of almost all modern insulation materials are patented and not disclosed, it is quite difficult to make an objective comparison between them. Manufacturers who use these materials when sewing clothes or shoes mainly operate with advertising slogans and comparative characteristics such as “our insulation is 20% warmer than other well-known insulation.”

As with Thinsulate, Primaloft also has several types of insulation:

PrimaLoft One is used mainly in the production of casual outerwear and clothing for active recreation.
PrimaLoft Sport is a type of insulation used mainly in clothing and accessories for extreme sports and tourism products, because has higher elasticity and wear resistance characteristics.
PrimaLoft Eco - contains from 50 to 70% recycled polyester. Used in the production of casual clothing and footwear.

The names of Primaloft varieties are periodically changed by the company's marketers, although the essence of the material naturally does not change. At the moment, insulation materials are labeled as Gold Series, Silver Series and Black Series, although manufacturers may indicate old names in the product materials, or may not even indicate the type of insulation at all, simply limiting themselves to mentioning the manufacturing technology.

Manufacturers of clothing and footwear that use Primaloft insulation: Under Armour, Timberland, Helly Hansen, Victorinox, Salomon, Patagonia, The North Face, Adidas, LLBean, New Balance and many others.

All sorts of “magical properties” for super-heat preservation, attributed to both insulation materials and used in the descriptions of things containing it, are, by and large, purely marketing ploys. If you look solely from the point of view of physics, then heat conservation occurs only due to the presence of air around the fibers of the fabric. Actually, the same thing happens in natural insulation materials (wool, down), they are simply less adapted to aggressive operating conditions. However, both Thinsulate and Primaloft are very good materials and in many respects, under certain conditions, are superior to natural insulation materials.

Where is the material used?

Since we are talking about Thinsulate, in general its purpose is clear: insulating clothes, shoes, making blankets and sleeping bags. But there is a more detailed division according to type:

“C” - outerwear, urban and fashionable, hats, gloves, knitwear, leather goods.
“R” - outerwear, urban and professional, gloves. Suitable for children's down jacket.
"TIB" - Thinsulate for sports equipment, as well as bedspreads, blankets, sleeping bags, rugs.
"B" - shoe production.
“FR” - fire-resistant clothing for work associated with explosion and fire hazards (oil and gas sector, gas stations), fire-resistant blankets.

Products with Thinsulate insulation: how to wash, general care tips

You bought something with Thinsulate filling, can it be machine washed? Yes, machine washing is allowed, you just need to set the “delicate fabrics” mode.

And a few more rules:

The maximum water temperature is from 40 to 60°, depending on the type of filler. It's better to look at the label here.
If the top covering of the jacket is a membrane, then you need to use a special detergent, liquid soap or shampoo.
If we squeeze out the Thinsulate with our hands, we apply medium force.

Additionally about care: drying – naturally, preferably on a horizontal surface; ironing – at minimum temperatures and without steam; Dry cleaning is not allowed; After each wearing, the jacket (or other product) must be dried.

We suggest you read an interesting article about the characteristics of padding polyester.

Let's compare with other insulation materials, which is better?

And the first question is Thinsulate or Bio Down, which is warmer? Bio-fluff is synthetic fibers that form a mass somewhat reminiscent of holofiber, but without dense lumps. According to the manufacturer, depending on the thickness of the layer, you will be guaranteed thermal protection at temperatures down to -40°. Microfiber (of a certain type) can “hold” down to -60°. And one more thing: bio-down is still a filler, and not a finished canvas. This means that during wear, this filler can migrate inside the product, forming thinner, colder places.

Second comparison - which is warmer, Isosoft or Thinsulate? Isosoft is hollow fine-denie fibers molded into layers that look like regular padding polyester. In some of its varieties, hollow fibers are coated with silicones and polymers, which increases their thermal insulation properties. Operating temperature range – from 0 to -30°. In addition, the structure of isosoft is quite loose, which is why clothes will lose their thermal insulation qualities faster.

We are preparing a lot more interesting things for you. To avoid losing us, save this site to your browser bookmarks. We will explain how to wash a polyester jacket in a washing machine in the next article.

Introduction

With the onset of autumn, and therefore the cold weather, everyone, one way or another, is thinking about buying warm clothes or shoes. Well, maybe, of course, there are some people who took care of this in advance... But according to the original Russian tradition - “until the thunder strikes...”, many delay this issue until the last minute. And when it comes to choosing and purchasing the desired item of clothing or shoes, questions arise: “ What should I buy?” ", "What modern materials are there that can protect against the cold?"
On the one hand, there are wool and goose down, proven over the years and generations, and on the other hand, technology in the 21st century does not stand still and manufacturers offer a lot of modern synthetic materials. Undoubtedly, a lot of modern synthetic materials have been developed, but in this article we will talk about the most frequently used (and, to be honest, the most “promoted”), namely Thinsulate and Primaloft. It is their mention that is most often seen by the buyer who chooses modern winter clothes or shoes. What to give preference to? What to look for? These are the questions we will try to answer in this article. But first, and for a general understanding, let’s touch a little on the theory and try to understand what these materials are.