What to do with PE Foam

[twandawg85]

So.... I have somehow acquired a giant roll of 72" 1/32 Polyethylene foam. If I am correct this is the same stuff as the inside of insutex. So I am going to make an "almost insultex" underquilt.

From what I have read about insultex it is best used with some other form of insulation. If I understood correctly TeeDee getting to 11F was done in conjunction with some sort of fleece. Does anyone know exactly what this was?

I am thinking of possibly lining the inside of the underquilt with a thin fleece. The fleece I have (and this may be all fleece, I really dont know) is stretchy in one direction. Im thinking I could use this to my advantage and make the inside layer a bit too skinny in that direction so the fleece layer would form fit the hammock a bit.

Does anyone know how much difference the tucks or "insultubes" make. I know they are there to help keep a gap that is important for the IX to work, but do they make a huge difference if the layers get increasingly bigger?

I am also debating whether i want to make one underquilt with 3 layers of PEF (fleece/PEF/PEF/PEF/Ripstop) or if I want to make 2 that could be used individually or stacked, one with one layer PEF (fleece/PEF/Ripstop) and one with two (fleece/PEF/PEF/Ripstop).

My other thought is what else am I going to do with my seemingly infinite amount of 1/32 PEF

Even though I have read they are not all that great, I will probably play with some sort of topquilt.

sit pad?

Ground cover?

Would it be possible to use a full sock out of this if it had good vents or by the time the vents got the moisture down would it be to much airflow to make any insulation difference?

Should I just go nuts and make a 10 layer UQ?

Chop it up and fill a swimming pool with it?

Run it through a pasta slicer and serve it as spaghetti?

Any ideas are welcome.

[Klaussinator]

I'm surprised you haven't been barraged with ideas yet...

I made my IX-UQ from 4-layers of this same stuff. Mine was from a bunch of big flatscreen TVs I had to install. Works great for me, although it's not as tough as true Insutex - mine has ripped some where it's sewn together at the edges of the UQ. It also doesn't pack as small as a down UQ.

But I say, If you've been blessed with a roll of it, make an UQ! Or share some with others who want to try ...

-Klauss

[twandawg85]

I know! I was expecting idea's to flood in fairly quick.

After I posted I also thought I should probably have done this as two posts. One for the UQ design ideas and one for the excess foam ideas.

Do you use the UQ alone or do you supplement it with something else? Also how warm is it? What temps have you gotten to?

I was thinking of selling some of my excess but I am not sure how. First of I just plain can't sell it on the forum yet. Also when I am allowed to, I don't know if I would be allowed to sell this much without being some sort of vendor or something. Simply because of the amount of excess I have.

[VictoriaGuy]

One possibility (though not likely to appeal to the ultra-light enthusiast) would be to make something like the Exped MultiMat. I've used one on a couple of kayak trips and it's a handy bit of gear.
I don't know if your PE is tough enough for this sort of application, though.
http://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-.../mats/multimat

[Klaussinator]

Mine is a 4-layer with a ripstop outer shell only -- exposed foam on the inside. I've had it down to 22º while hanging beside a stream in PA last winter, and I don't consider myself a warm sleeper.

-Klauss

[Scotty Von Porkchop]

I have a big roll of IX with mylar on it and struggled to find applications. I did make a handy foot / sit pad with 2 layers and a ripstop backing and some fitted sun shields for my land-rover.

[twandawg85]

Already made a 4 layer sit pad def glad I did. Turned out usable but was very hard to sew and doesn't look very good.

Gonna use what I learned to help with the UQ design.

I think I'm gonna stick with the fleece idea unless someone has a reason for me to go another direction.

Any thoughts on making one 3 layer vs two that make 3 layers when put together? Are the problems with layering UQs?

[heywoodja]

Does PE work as a vapor barrier? How about a beanie with fleece?

[RedStix]

You could try doing something like this with a few layers.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...nsultex-ish-UQ

[twandawg85]

PE Is def a vapor barrier. Just threw one layer of it on top of my underquilt last night (sandwiched it between the hammock and the underquilt. Def boosted the insulation but I was slightly damp. Not wet, not Even uncomfortable (and I like to sleep so I am slightly cool to avoid getting clammy). But I could tell there was a little moisture. Good and warm though.

This was inside btw