I saw somewhere that there was a group buy on Insultex here, anyone put that to good use? And can you buy it retail yet? Thinking about putting a thin layer of insulation between a double hammock, thought maybe Insultex would do the trick. Any recommendations for this? Don't expect this to be a winter or even fall option without UQ but seems to me even in the summer you need something under you.
Insultex or IX as it's often called, is neat stuff. Basically, it's a layer of really thin polypropylene (SP?) foam quilted to 2 layers of polyester scrim.
The group buy is gone, but I thought you could get some from http://hammockgear.com, but I don't see it listed right now.
If you do a search on it, you'll find lots of things to do with it.
The consensus is that it doesn't work well in a DL hammock, as it needs some airspace to really be warm.
Macentyre makes 2 layer underquilts, and insulated Jerry Chairs out of the stuff. If I recall, it wasn't too expensive at around $5/yd or less...
"Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda
The other way around... it's 1/32" polyester foam quilted inside two layers of polypropylene scrim.Originally Posted by JohnSawyer
The reason I don't sell it anymore is that I need all that I have for making gear. Insultex is only available in rolls of 335 yards, but you also have to talk them into selling it to you. They seek volume customers, not cottage makers. It is not available retail. The price is reasonable by the yard, but costs a lot for a roll. If I could sell it for $7 a yard, it might be worth the time to take orders and prepare shipments. Trouble is, anyone could buy a roll and undercut the price, and then I'd have more than I need.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
The board of directors of Molly Mac Gear have asked me to investigate replacing IX (Insultex) with 1/32" PE (polyester foam). PE foam is also only available in large rolls (670 yards), but costs much less, and I can get it locally without paying shipping costs. I will not use PE foam without a nylon cover. A prototype Baby Orca PE UQ will be completed this week.
What got me interested in PE is a comment from Ed Speer last spring. He said, if Insultex is essentially a vapor barrier, why not use PE foam instead, since it is much less expensive?
I have some ideas about how best to use PE foam. If plain Jane PE works as well as patented Insultex, I will gladly sell it by the yard!
- MacEntyre
- MacEntyre
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
www.MollyMacGear.com
Thanks for the info, whenever I saw IX in a post I thought it was Roman numerals for 9...$7 a yard doesn't seem unreasonable when you only need 3 or 4 yards.
So what would you all recommend for a DL insulated hammock? Thinsulate?Primaloft?
I have no experience with insulating double layer hammocks, but I would recommend 1/8" EVA CCF.
- MacEntyre
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
www.MollyMacGear.com
Good to know! I've seen similar looking foams sold as laminate floor underlayment, though it's thicker...
Thoughts: Since the IX is quilted, which makes it somewhat vapor permeable, could you needle-punch the foam to get similar results, or use a quilting machine to attach the nylon cover, essentially replicating IX without the scrim?
"Do or do not, there is no try." -- Yoda
Didn't want to hijack this thread, so I started another... my reply is here.
- MacEntyre
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
www.MollyMacGear.com
Paul has some at Arrowhead Equipment
What about Reflectix? Is it too heavy or costly?
perrito
"If a man speaks in the woods, and there is no woman there to hear, is he still wrong?"
I'm trying to put a wholesale order through and might have some left over. PM me if you would like any.
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