Polarguard vs Primaloft?

[GreatDivide14]

I've got a fairly major gear-making project in the pipeline (an insulating underquilt for a Hennessy Hammock), and I'm trying to decide on materials. In your experience, how do Polarguard 3D and Primaloft Sport stack up? The specs say Polarguard is 3 oz/sq yd at 1 inch thick, and that Primaloft is 4 oz/sq yd at .8 inches thick. We all know Polarguard is more durable, so I could get away with fewer quilt lines, i.e. fewer thin spots. I thought Primaloft was supposed to be warmer, ounce for ounce. Am I missing something?

[JohnK]

I've got a fairly major gear-making project in the pipeline (an insulating underquilt for a Hennessy Hammock), and I'm trying to decide on materials. In your experience, how do Polarguard 3D and Primaloft Sport stack up? The specs say Polarguard is 3 oz/sq yd at 1 inch thick, and that Primaloft is 4 oz/sq yd at .8 inches thick. We all know Polarguard is more durable, so I could get away with fewer quilt lines, i.e. fewer thin spots. I thought Primaloft was supposed to be warmer, ounce for ounce. Am I missing something?

I don't believe you are missing anything. I believe that Primaloft is warmer than Polarguard 3D. Supposedly Primaloft approaches Down (which is better than both) in its ability to keep one warm.

[GreatDivide14]

...is that, from the specs I quoted, Polarguard appears to be thicker per unit weight. 3 oz Polarguard is thicker than 4 oz Primaloft. Maybe there's something more to warmth than loft...?

[JohnK]

...is that, from the specs I quoted, Polarguard appears to be thicker per unit weight. 3 oz Polarguard is thicker than 4 oz Primaloft. Maybe there's something more to warmth than loft...?

I believe there is more to warmth than just loft - one would have to look at the fibers under a microscope to see wha they look like - i.e., just straight fibers vs. fibers that are feathered.

[Greyhound]

What about polarguard delta? I thought that was supposed to be the best synthetic out there right now.

[CFJ104]

In my experience, primaloft is great. I have a jacket and a sleeping bag made with the stuff. When I worked at EMS, I was told that the primaloft is the closest synthetic to down, and it also retains its heat holding capacity (unlike down) when wet. My sleeping bag is a 35 deg bag that squashes to about the size of a loaf of bread (EMS Velocity 35). I also have a polygaurd delta sleeping bag (Northface Cat's Meow) which is heavier and bulkier, it is a warmer bag at 20 deg, but it is only 5'6" where as the other bag is 6'.

Good luck in your decisions, let me know how you ake out!

[GreatDivide14]

I recently made the rough draft out of cheap muslin and quilt batting from a local craft shop, and I've pretty much decided to go with Polarguard because it's cheaper and also much harder to screw up. Suffice it to say I'll probably succeed anyway, and I want to minimize that. If any of you know anyone who's attempted <A HREF=http://www.thru-hiker.com/workshop.asp?subcat=5&cid=72>the classic</A> and has any hard-won suggestions, I'd love to hear them...David.

[HermitHiker]

Wow, looks like a great project I would like to see your underquilt and compair it to the classic when you finish I also use the Hennessy Hammock when backpacking and on cooler nights I have to take a extra blanket and use a thicker liner to stay warm so I think that the underquilt would be great to have, good luck and hope you can post a pic when you finish. thanks. :)

[GreatDivide14]

Redding, eh? That's a good place to have a Hennessy. I did some backpacking around the Trinity Alps this past summer and was very glad to have the hammock. With my habit of charging on until dark, I liked the freedom I had in where I could camp. I've set up on a hilltop with too much brush to fit a tent and a few steep slopes (the Alps certainly have a lot of those, don't they?). They're a bit less useful in places like the Sierras with big areas of white on the map, though. I'm planning on posting lots of pictures if it turns out well.

[HermitHiker]

Yep, it's pretty awesome here. We have great day hikes close to town and for me I think the best backpacking is in the alps and it's only a hour drive from my home to my favorite trailhead.

I look forward to hearing how your project turns out, thanks for the reply.

H.