My Thoughts on Vapor Barriers
This is a good topic/group to pose my question which is partially related to this discussion:
My next DIY will be a sock of some sort. I'm mostly concerned about keeping my down UG dry from blown rain.
I was originally thinking silnylon but that would effectively create a VB on the outside of my insulation - not a great idea. Should I be looking at waterproof & breathable sock instead?
That seems like the best of both worlds:
1-when temps are mild my insulation & sock are breathable while protecting the insulation from outside moisture And,
2-when temps drop, adding a VB on the inside close to my skin, i get the benefits of a VB plus my insulation is protected from inside moisture (condensating vapor) as well.
Thoughts?
My Thoughts on Vapor Barriers
Yes - I'm thinking there needs to be some "adjustable breathability" in the sock. Say a zipper to open up near my head or something like that when the conditions warrant.
My Thoughts on Vapor Barriers
I got an "opportunity" to try this last night. I went to camp with my Blue Kazoo which has proven to keep me warm down to 30 if I wear fleece - no lower.The forecast changed and I was looking at 19 by morning. I had just read this post a few days before so I felt I could manage the night.
I pulled out my space blanket to use as a make shift VB. I remember reading that getting too warm would cause too must sweat so I bravely went to bed with just thin poly-pro long underwear. I forgot my loose wool socks so I was bare foot.
When I got in my bag I instantly felt warmer than I expected. In fact the only thing that was cold was my arm where the space blanket didn't quite wrap all the way around me. I stayed warm all night but the experience was ... "moist" - especially my bare feet. I could feel water droplets on the inside of the space blanket.
For me, I would never plan to sleep this way. Getting up in the morning was unbelievably cold - the only thing that comes close to that kind of cold is falling in an icy river.
Plus, after spending all night like that, my whole body smelled like a foot.