Fabric for Synthetic Underquilt

[BeardedHanger]

What fabric is best for a climashield underquilt? Should it be waterproof like silnylon or something? Thanks for the advice.

[JTsilverwolf]

My guess would be a lightweight sil nylon. I would say that waterproof is good! I would check out ripstopbytheroll.com or dutchwaregear.com, I am pretty sure you will find what you need between the two of those sources.

[Michael_qrt]

You probably want a breathable fabric such as the Argon 67 or Argon 90 at dutchwaregear or other similar fabrics available elsewhere. The breathable fabric lets your perspiration escape so you don't get wet from the inside. On the other hand some people go for a vapour barrier system with non breathable fabrics, particularly in extreme cold, but if you're just after a standard sleep system then breathable is the norm.

[FLRider]

You do not want waterproof fabric for a quilt. Waterproof fabric will cause you to wake up in a pool of sweat. You want breathable fabric; this helps pass moisture through the quilt and out into the surrounding environment as vapor.

One of the advantages of synthetic quilts is that you don't need downproof fabric; you just need lightweight synthetic fabric (to avoid the rot that can set in with organics).

Personally, I would use 1.1 oz/sq yd (or less) nylon as the shell. ARGON 67 (available from dutchware) has what is probably the nicest hand of any of the super lightweight fabrics on the market, and it's also got the cache of being the cheapest 0.67 oz/sq yd fabric right now.

Hope it helps!

[BeardedHanger]

Thanks everyone. FLRider, I will check into the Argon 67.

[sargevining]

Best I've found is Epsilon. It has the best combination of breathability, wind resistance, water resistance, and abrasion resistance---something that's important on an article which might regularly come into contact with underbrush or the ground.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MULTICAM-EPS...item4ae35a2834

[WV]

Hey, Sarge. That epsilon looks nice. I think wind resistance and abrasion resistance are valuable qualities. What does "BTY" stand for? Also, is this calendered, hence down-proof? Thanks.
David

[ezhiker]

I suspect that the BTY stands for "By The Yard"

[sargevining]

Hey, Sarge. That epsilon looks nice. I think wind resistance and abrasion resistance are valuable qualities. What does "BTY" stand for? Also, is this calendered, hence down-proof? Thanks.
David

BTY = By The Yard. I doubt that it's calendered as its a MilSpec fabric and the uses for which it is specified does not include down filled products.

[sargevining]

If you don't mind a misprint in the fabric, these seconds are $3.50/yd:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2NDS-FABRIC-...item4d2d85f629