Climashield is indeed gaining a higher profile. It聮s a product of a long-existing company in the United States with the inspiring name of Western Nonwovens, Inc., though the insulation itself has been around for a mere four years.
L.L. Bean Katahdin sleeping bag
Katahdin 20-degree sleeping bagIt聮s gaining traction in the market because manufacturers have found it has some advantages over both of the long-time market leaders in synthetic insulation, Polarguard and Primaloft. Like Polarguard, Climashield is a 聯continuous filament material,” meaning it comes in long fibers rather than short ones, as is the case with Primaloft (also called 聯cut staple” insulation). That means that, like Polarguard, Climashield is fairly rugged (longer fibers hold together better) and easier to work with. Primaloft needs a special coating so that the fibers don聮t separate, and some manufacturers have found it tricky to use.
Compared with both Polarguard and Primaloft, my fabric source tells me, Climashield is softer and offers better thermal efficiency聴i.e., it results in a warmer bag or jacket for the same amount of insulation. And, as with other synthetic materials, Climashield resists moisture and is fairly effective at keeping you warm even when wet. It聮s also hypo-allergenic.
You聮ll find Climashield in sleeping bag such as 聮s Goliath ($169), a bag rated to zero degrees. is also using it in bags such as the Katahdin ($119), a 20-degree bag.
Climashield doesn聮t yet hit the Hoy Grail mark: a synthetic that聮s as light, soft, and comfortable as down. But it聮s getting closer.
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