Backyard testing at 14F

**NCPatrick** · 01-02-2010, 08:15

Whoohoo!

Tonight
Clear. Cold with lows around 14. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Looks like it's time for some backyard testing tonight!

I'm going to try out some vapor barrier clothing ideas. I've got a tyvek coverall (a real Home Depot cheapo, for crawling under the house and painting and such). I'm going to see how it works as a 2nd layer of clothing. First layer will be sheer, then the tyvek, then warmer layers over. My hope is that I won't need too many layers. I will also be using my JRB Hammock Hut, to cut down on the 10mph winds blowing through.

If it keeps me warm like I think it will, I'm going to try to dye the tyvek. It's white and makes me look like fat Elvis.

Thankyou. Thankyouverymuch.

**Oh-No** · 01-02-2010, 08:28

IIRC tyvek is waterproof but breathable, not a VB.
That said, it may still work well to help keep you warm.
I'm interested in hearing your results.

**NCPatrick** · 01-02-2010, 08:34

Originally Posted by Oh-No

IIRC tyvek is waterproof but breathable, not a VB.
That said, it may still work well to help keep you warm.
I'm interested in hearing your results.

Yes, you're right. It's not a real vb, but it is cheap and it's as close as I can get at the moment. I've been working on wearing lighter layers, and this is my most recent attempt to lighten the load and bulk of the winter clothing.

**oldgringo** · 01-02-2010, 08:35

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

It's white and makes me look like fat Elvis.

Thankyou. Thankyouverymuch.

That right there would be avatar material.

**vitamaltz** · 01-02-2010, 08:37

Yeah, not a real vapor barrier, but a great wind barrier. This is its main use in construction, but some builders I see regularly try to use it as a VB (same term is used in construction) and even as flashing. It works, for a while. The seams and zipper can be cold spots, but the coveralls are still a nice cheap piece of gear. I wear them all of the time for work and they easily add 8-10 degrees to my comfort level when I'm active outside and using them as an outer layer, especially when wind is robbing my body heat. I've never tried sleeping with one on. Let us know how it turns out.

I've been changing a clutch in my snowy icy driveway the past few days. The combination of being on my back on melting ice with a little Honda transmission fluid (nastiest ooze I've ever met) dripping on me would have been really unpleasant without my Tyvek.

**NCPatrick** · 01-02-2010, 08:39

Originally Posted by oldgringo

That right there would be avatar material.

Maybe for Halloween. I've got a friend who has an Elvis wig I could borrow.

**NCPatrick** · 01-02-2010, 09:05

Originally Posted by vitamaltz

I wear them all of the time for work and they easily add 8-10 degrees to my comfort level when I'm active outside and using them as an outer layer, especially when wind is robbing my body heat. I've never tried sleeping with one on. Let us know how it turns out.

I can use 8-10 degrees! That's interesting.

I think the trick to sleeping in it will be to move it closer to your skin so that your clothing doesn't absorb the (insensible or otherwise) perspiration. I'm hoping to at least slow the whole evaporative process down a bit with this layer. I wore it over a whole bunch of clothes on my last outing and started to sweat. Had to take it back off because the sweat started making me cold. It is a great windblock, as you said.

**Cannibal** · 01-02-2010, 10:17

I'm curious, why put it between clothing layers? I know you want to keep it close to the body, but I'm not following the logic. Is it a dew point dance you're trying to do by keeping the VBish layer warmer and allowing your outer layer to absorb?

I just rolled my sorry butt out of the hammock, so I'm still half asleep.

**Just Jeff** · 01-02-2010, 10:35

B/c sleeping in a plastic bag is uncomfortable, sticky, and can cause rashes. Putting a wicking layer in between makes it a lot more comfortable and less sticky.

**Cannibal** · 01-02-2010, 10:44

That's why I always wore my Frogg Toggs on the outside of everything. In my mind, it allowed for a little looseness in the material which I figured would allow any moisture to vent a bit anyway. My concern with putting it between layers is that any moisture trapped by it's VBish properties would have a more difficult time finding escape.

Am I wrong in my thinking? I am mostly a VB moron.