Which insulation is better: Primaloft or Climashield? We wash Primaloft insulation Primaloft insulation temperature mode.

PrimaLoft is a synthetic material that has high thermal insulation properties. When creating it Albany International very carefully studied the structure of goose down and put it into the basis of the PrimaLoft material. The fibers of this insulation are very thin and resemble goose down more than the fibers of any other synthetic material. It is this similarity that gives it the thermal properties of down. The thermal resistance coefficient for goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft it is 2.15. This is a very high figure, because... other synthetic fibers don't even come close to this value.

PrimaLoft filler has a long-fiber structure, thanks to which it restores its volume better and faster than similar materials. Even after a huge number of washings and drying, the material does not deform. The fibers are endowed with water-repellent properties that help any liquid drain or evaporate. This provides constant dryness products made from PrimaLoft insulation.

Laboratory tests have shown that PrimaLoft has the same softness as goose down and is much softer than similar insulating materials. Thanks to this characteristic of the material, all products made from it take the necessary shape: clothes fit according to the figure, and the blanket exclusively fits the body of a sleeping person.

Another great advantage of this material is that it breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Its air layers are very small for the penetration of moisture, but large in order to allow the moisture formed inside to evaporate. A small volume of PrimaLoft is sufficient to keep a person warm.

It can be strongly compressed, and this will not affect the quality and structure of the material. In a short period of time, the material completely returns to its original volume. According to the above parameters, PrimaLoft is superior to all its synthetic and natural counterparts. Of all the world-famous insulation materials, only PrimaLoft has the ability not to retain moisture due to silicone treatment of the fibers. This insulation, compared to similar materials, absorbs 3 times less moisture, it is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet.

Thanks to its long-fiber, down-like structure, the filler regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dryers. The water-repellent properties of the microfibers allow any liquid to drain or evaporate, keeping the user of Primaloft® products dry and warm at all times.

Scientific tests have shown that Primaloft® has the same softness as down and is significantly softer than others. synthetic fibers. Due to the softness of this fiber, clothes made from it fit perfectly, and a blanket or sleeping bag fits the sleeper's body. Try the sample to the touch, and you will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it breathes, allowing moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture evaporation from within. A small volume of "Primaloft®" is quite enough to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.

Of the world's insulation brands, only PrimaLoft® has the property of not retaining moisture due to the silicone treatment of the fibers. As the table shows, the greater the number of fibers, the more the insulation absorbs moisture:

PrimaLoft PL1 - 75%
PrimaLoft Sport - 400%
Polarguard 3D - 500%
Thinsulate LiteLoft - 995%
MicroLoft (DuPont)-1730

Other known synthetic materials do not even come close to such indicators. Thanks to its long-fiber, down-like structure, the filling regains its volume better than other materials, even after many washes and dryers. The water-repellent properties of the microfibers allow any liquid to drain or evaporate, keeping the user of Primaloft® products dry and warm at all times.

Try the sample to the touch, and you will feel how magnificent it is! This wonderful material not only repels water and retains volume when wet, it breathes, allowing moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release moisture evaporation from within. A small volume of Primaloft® is sufficient to accumulate human heat. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume. In these parameters, it surpasses both synthetic and natural materials.

The human body has a normal temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius, but is often in places that make it noticeably colder! PrimaLoft® retains your body heat to keep you warm and comfortable even in extreme cold.

Thus, this lightweight, highly insulating and quick-drying insulation occupies one of the leading positions in the competition among insulation for equipment and outerwear.

There are several types of PrimaLoft insulation: Primaloft® One- this is one of the best insulating (insulating) materials. It is created using microfiber technology, which is the closest in characteristics to natural down in terms of structural, thermal and tactile characteristics. It is the only filler in which each fiber has a permanent, water-resistant treatment.

The very fine fibers are specially processed using proprietary technologies and then woven together to create an incredibly soft, lightweight and moisture-resistant insulation.
PrimaLoft ®One absorbs 3 times less water, is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet compared to other materials.

PrimaLoft® Sport

PrimaLoft® Sport is a high-quality insulation made using technologies that combine ultra-fine fibers and variable diameter fibers for maximum insulation performance. PrimaLoft® Sport - The technology with which PrimaLoft® Sport is made combines ultra-fine fibers and fibers with variable diameters to achieve these characteristics. Specially treated ultra-fine fibers provide a waterproof structure, while variable diameter fibers help shape the material.

If you want to have a great weekend and spend it outdoors, PrimaLoft ® Sport allows you to feel comfortable as if you were at home, even when it gets wet.

PrimaLoft Eco- insulation designed for amateurs environmental materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultrafine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. When combined, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will provide its owners with dryness, warmth and comfort.

PrimaLoft Infinity- These are thermal insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type of insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high performance thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united together by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washings and dryings.

PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep wool. This combination is most suitable for making outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are twice as fine as cashmere fibers, resulting in a soft feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.

PrimaLoft SYNERGY- this is advanced thermal insulation material, which is created on the basis of interweaving thin and ultra-fine fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture-resistant material that is used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.

Synthetic insulation "Primaloft" was developed by order of the US Army, which was looking for a replacement for down for sleeping bags and clothing for military personnel. As a result, Albany International registered the "Primaloft" brand. Research has shown that the new material has hygienic properties superior to traditional down.

When creating "Primaloft", the structure of goose down microfibers was carefully studied and copied, which determined the thermal properties of the new fiber. The thermal resistance factor for down is 2.18, and for "Primaloft" 2.15. Most other synthetic fibers are twenty times thicker and do not retain heat as well as Primaloft fiber.

The most important characteristic of modern insulation materials, especially for artificial materials, is their thermal resistance (resistance to heat evaporation) per unit weight distributed over area (density).

The higher it is, the lighter the finished product can be made without losing its functional properties. The density of the material varies. The store offers densities from 60 g/m2 to 200 g/m2.

Others important parameters for synthetic insulation are:

1. Durability. In this case, the ability to maintain high thermal insulation characteristics over a long period of use. It is known that as the product is used over time, the vast majority of insulation begins to cake or fall off, increasing its density and reducing the amount of bound air, which leads to a decrease in its heat-insulating properties.
2. Compression ability. Another quite important indicator affecting the volume of transportation. It is worth noting that frequent or prolonged compression harms almost any insulation to one degree or another.
3. The ability to pass vapor molecules. The air cavities are too small for moisture to penetrate from the outside, but large enough to allow evaporation from the inside.

Primaloft filler allows moisture to evaporate. Its microscopic air layers are too small for moisture to penetrate, but large enough to release evaporation from within. The filler returns its volume better than other materials, even after repeated washing and drying. It can be strongly compressed, after which this material completely returns to its original volume.

There are several varieties of Primaloft materials with different thermal and physical characteristics:

Primaloft One, Warmcore by Primaloft- thermal insulation index (clo) 2.6/2.7 per 100 g/m2. Microfiber insulation has a hydrophobic treatment. Used to make urban jackets, shoes and some ski models.

Is different:
- very high thermal insulation per unit weight;
- relatively small thickness of insulation;
- minimum transport volume;
- relatively low durability;
- average compression volume.

Primaloft Sport is a mixed insulation material that combines fibers of different diameters, which creates even more air cavities to retain heat inside the material. It has a hydrophobic treatment and is used in ski clothing.

Is different:
- high thermal insulation per unit weight (clo = 2.3/100 g/m2);


- average durability.

Primaloft Infinity - the material is created from continuous fiber. Has a thermal insulation value (clo) of 1.7 per 100 g/m2. It has a hydrophobic treatment, suitable for both clothing and shoes.

Is different:
- high thermal insulation per unit weight;
- high volume of compression;
- maximum resistance to compression;
- high durability.

Primaloft Synergy - Has a thermal insulation value (clo) of 2.2 per 100 g/m2. Mixed insulation materials that combine fibers of different diameters, which ensures the creation of an even larger number of air cavities to retain heat inside the material. The fibers of the material have a continuous structure. It has a hydrophobic treatment and is used in some types of ski clothing.

Is different:
- sufficiently high volume per unit weight;
- average compression volume;
- average durability.

Down - duck and goose down are most often used in the production of clothing and bivouac equipment. Eider down stands apart, the use of which in mass-produced products is difficult due to its extremely high price. Duck down is inferior to goose down in terms of durability and thermal resistance, but has a lower price.

The quality of down and its thermal insulation per unit weight is influenced by the following factors:

1. Down/feather ratio (the smaller the feather, the better the thermal insulation, but, as a rule, the longer the expansion time);
2. Age of the bird (the down of an adult goose is better than the down of a young one), high-quality down can only be obtained from geese living in a fairly cold climate. Therefore, the down of birds living in Canada, northern Russia and in Eastern Europe;
3. Color (the down of white geese is traditionally valued more than that of gray geese);
4. Additional processing of fluff, aimed at cleaning it from impurities, disinfecting it and preserving its elastic properties. Down obtained by plucking geese during the molting period has higher characteristics than down obtained from killed birds.

The advantages of down are:

1. High thermal insulation per unit weight. According to this indicator, high-quality down is approximately twice as high as the best synthetic analogues.
2. When properly used, down also demonstrates amazing durability - no synthetic analogue lasts longer.
3. High-quality down compresses well and tolerates compression well.

Difficulties associated with using down:

1. Vulnerable to moisture: it gets wet relatively easily, when wet it begins to greatly lose its heat-insulating properties, it takes quite a long time to dry, moreover, when storing a down product in a wet state, the down can deteriorate quite quickly.
2. Even high-quality down is prone to migration through the fabric and seams of the product (unlike low-quality filler, European goose down sheds much less).

To characterize the quality of down, the Fill Power indicator is used, which describes the ability of a limited mass of down to fill a certain volume.

The physical meaning of Fill Power is the volume in cubic inches occupied by a one ounce sample of fluff. In essence, Fill Power characterizes the ability of insulation to expand after compression to a certain volume and is a unique type of assessment of the density of insulation - the higher the value, the lower the density.

Outdoor equipment uses down with Fill Power values ​​of at least 550 units; Fill Power values ​​of 650 units and above are considered good.

White goose down with Fill Power 800 or more is used in high-end equipment. In exclusive equipment best brands Down with even higher Fill Power values ​​of 850+ and even 900+ can be used.

Allied Corporation supplies feathers and down. It is a leader in quality and a reliable source of material for the production of quality products.

High quality European down with excellent thermal insulation properties, lightness and unsurpassed durability.

Table of the relationship between the thermal resistance coefficient of the material and the external temperature.

Over the past few years, the activewear market has experienced a boom in new insulation technologies. In the fall of 2013, the first products from Polartec Alpha went on sale, in the winter of 2013-2014, items from The North Face with Primaloft Thermoball insulation appeared in stores, and Columbia and Arcteryx released jackets combining down and synthetic insulation. At the same time, attempts continue to create clothes and accessories with electrical heating and the use of materials that accumulate the heat of the human body.

The reason for this lies not only in the attempts of manufacturers to increase the functionality of their products. The emergence of new insulation technologies based on microfiber synthetic insulation is associated with a noticeable increase in the price of raw goose down over the past five years. According to the American magazine “Outside,” a pound of raw white goose down cost $10 in 2009, and about $50 in 2014.

Hence the demand for the latest insulation technologies, which could compete on equal terms with down products, from developers and manufacturers of clothing and equipment for outdoor activities. Moreover, this demand will only grow in the near future, which implies an expansion of collections based primarily on synthetic insulation from most manufacturers. We will get acquainted with the properties of the newest of them.

Unlike other manufacturers of insulation and technological fabrics, Polartec has approached the price crisis for down raw materials fully armed. The latest Polartec Alpha material was developed for military special forces in accordance with the requirements of the Main Directorate of Troops special purpose US Department of Defense (U.S. Special Operations Forces - SOF) long before its announcement on the civilian market in 2012. The first products using it appeared in September 2013 from Rab, The North Face, Mountain Equipment, Montane and 66 North.

SOF's requirements were to create a lightweight, quick-drying, highly breathable clothing material that provides high thermal insulation and reasonable wind protection. According to the results of field and laboratory tests, Polartec Alpha became the leader.

When creating Alpha, the developers started from what they believed was the main drawback of existing insulation materials. For example, down and a significant part of microfiber synthetic insulation that imitates its structure are able to penetrate outward through the seams and fibers of the fabric. And this circumstance requires the manufacturer to use materials with very dense fiber weaving in order to avoid migration of the insulation inside the product and its penetration outside. Such dense fabrics, unfortunately, have a lot of weight and do not help quickly remove sweat and excess heat from the body. All this can lead to overheating during active exercise and, as a result, the risk of the insulation getting wet from sweat.

Therefore, the emphasis was placed on developing a comprehensive solution - a kind of “sandwich” of a durable outer layer, modified insulation based on Polartec® Power Shield® High Loft and the most moisture-wicking lining material. Like Power Shield® High Loft, Alpha insulation is a wear-resistant long-fiber fleece, the only difference being that it is not laminated to the outer surface of the product, but is the filling of a fabric “sandwich”. Such measures by the developers have led to the fact that the product dries much faster, approximately twice as fast as its closest competitors, and has a low weight.

In addition to this, Polartec has a very flexible approach towards manufacturers - they will be able to choose the face fabric themselves, from ultra-light materials such as Pertex to Softshell. All this determined the main area of ​​application of the Polartec Alpha material - jackets used as an intermediate or top layer of clothing. The compromise in this solution was the heat/weight ratio. According to the majority of testers and outdoor publications, Alpha is still inferior to fluff and the latest development by Primaloft – Thermoball.

The latest synthetic insulation from Primaloft, which very accurately copies the structure of down. Externally, the new product resembles a rolled-up cotton ball, which is where the name came from – Thermoball. Until this development, all synthetic insulation was a mixture of hollow fibers that bore little resemblance to fluff in appearance and only partially replicated its properties.
In release new technology The North Face has announced that the new insulation will have the same general properties as Primaloft One, but will be 15% warmer per unit weight, corresponding to down with a Fill Power of 600. This means the ability of down to recover its volume after compression and retain an equivalent amount of air between the fibers, which serves as a heat insulator. The North Face currently has the exclusive right to use Thermoball in its products until 2015, as the company actively assisted in its development.

As with Primaloft One, the developers placed special emphasis on maintaining the Thermoball's insulating properties when wet, which was confirmed by numerous field tests. Tester Sean McCoy, editor of gearjunkie.com, particularly distinguished himself by thoroughly soaking his ThermoBall Full Zip Jacket and going for a walk in it in temperatures just below zero. The new material passed the test with flying colors, surprising even such a sophisticated user. The editors of Outside magazine also praised it, calling ThermoBall “the most heat-insulating synthetic insulation they have ever tested.”

Despite obvious successes in the field of improving synthetic insulation, even Primaloft Inc. does not want to abandon the use of down. However, all experts are well aware of its main disadvantages - low thermal insulation when wet and slow drying, to which is added the disadvantage mentioned above - high price for the manufacturer, and, as a consequence, for the end consumer. The creation of Primaloft Down Blend was designed to overcome these shortcomings.

The essence of the technology comes down to mixing natural down and artificial fibers Primaloft Ultra-Fine, which are close to it in their ability to restore their volume after compression and retain the maximum amount of air between the fibers. In addition to this, the down is treated with a water-repellent compound. These measures made it possible to reduce the cost of hybrid insulation without loss of quality, ensure acceptable thermal insulation properties of the wet mixture, and also increase its drying speed in comparison with conventional down by 4 times!

PrimaLoft ® Performance Down is available in two versions:

• – PrimaLoft Gold Insulations Down Blend – Goose down 70% (feather down 90/10) – synthetic fibers 30%. 1.23 ClO dry vs. 1.18 CLO wet.
• – PrimaLoft Silver Insulations Down Blend – Duck down 60% (feather down 85/15) – synthetic fibers 40%. 1.14 ClO dry vs. 1.07 CLO wet.

Thus, the new combined insulation corresponds in its thermal insulation properties to high-quality down with an index of FP 750 and FP 600, respectively. At the same time, thanks to the inclusion of synthetics and water-repellent impregnation of down, it continues to work even in a wet state with virtually no loss.

"Infrared" insulation PrimaLoft Kodenshi

Perhaps the most exotic way of insulating clothes from all presented. Attempts to select or create from scratch the right material that could accumulate the heat of the human body, and then slowly return it back like a stone heated in the sun, have been made by manufacturers more than once. So far, not a single company has achieved unambiguous success, although development is being carried out both by industry giants - The North Face, and not so well-known brands, such as the American manufacturer of clothing and accessories for alpine skiing Powderhorn.

The closest to implementing this idea were specialists from Picture Organic, a French manufacturer of eco-friendly clothing for skiers and snowboarders, with BioCeramic technology - ceramic particles contained in the membrane material accumulate heat and slowly radiate it to the wearer of the equipment. However, the manufacturer itself positions this development not as an element of insulation, but as a technology that improves muscle tone.

Lamination of the membrane with ceramic particles is actively used by the young manufacturer of premium ski clothing, Mountain Force. Their exclusive development of Ceramic Membrane has high thermal insulation properties, which allows for additional comfort on a frosty slope without the need to use an additional layer of insulation, which increases not only the weight of the product, but also its volume.

By the way, ceramics have been used in Primaloft for several years now. Their Primaloft Ceramic and PrimaLoft Kodenshi insulation are made with ceramic microfibers that help reflect heat back to the body. This type of insulation is significantly more effective. Its main consumer is the Goldwin company. However, now you can also find products from other brands using PrimaLoft Kodenshi. Among them are Black Diamond and Reusch, which use insulation in ski gloves and mittens.

At the ISPO 2014 exhibition, insulation from 3M, which imitates natural down, was presented. 3M Thinsulate Featherless synthetic insulation is supposed to be a hypoallergenic alternative to natural down. He imitates appearance and thermal insulation properties of natural down. 3M Thinsulate Featherless insulation is as light as natural down, breathes freely and guarantees good protection by cold.

In addition, it retains heat even when wet; corresponds to Fill Power 600, has greater elasticity at the same weight as natural down.

On this moment It is not yet known which of the leading outdoor manufacturers has decided to use the new insulation for their products, but it will certainly be in great demand among manufacturers of sleeping bags and insulated clothing.

Clothes with heating elements

The use of electric heating elements in equipment cannot be called 100% new. Heated insoles from the companies Sidas or Therm-ic have long been firmly established in the everyday life of many skiers and snowboarders. However, such technologies began to be successfully used in clothing relatively recently.

The first major company to launch such a product was Columbia with its Thermal Electric line of clothing and footwear, released in 2011. The essence of the technology was the use of batteries and carbon fiber heated by them, woven into the fabric of the product.

Alas, this collection was not particularly successful in the sports industry - the company’s shortcomings affected it, as well as the rather high price - Columbia Thermal Electric jackets and parkas were sold at prices ranging from $750 to $1,200 and, alas, were not very suitable for sports use. Sales in Russia were hampered by a completely embarrassing situation - the entire line of clothing was recalled by the supplier in 2012 as a result of a defect in the heating elements.

In 2012, Cayenne gloves, with heating elements and Therm-ic batteries, were introduced by Black Diamond. Unfortunately, this development suffered the same fate as Columbia products - unreliable electronics led to a temporary disappearance from the company's catalogs.

The Outdoor Research company is known primarily as a manufacturer of very high-quality accessories (gloves, hats, etc.) and clothing for active recreation in the mountains. And it is not surprising that in their winter 2014 collection a line of their two models of Lucent Heated Glove and Stormtracker Glove gloves and one model of Lucent Heated Mitts, equipped with heating elements, appeared. The batteries are located in the cuffs, and there is also a button for switching heating modes. In maximum mode, the battery charge lasts for 2.5 hours, in minimum mode – up to 8 hours of operation. As with Columbia products, thermal elements are woven into the glove material and heat the entire palm, not just the fingers. With this technology, it is possible to wash gloves with the batteries disconnected. Charging from an outlet.

It is too early to talk about the success of this undertaking, but unlike its predecessors, OR started with such exotic products much more confidently. This is also evidenced by the fact that the entire line of gloves comes with a lifetime warranty.

So far, the prospects for such technologies in clothing are quite vague, but with the development of electronics, we will probably see many more successful examples of their application.

Behind the abbreviation PCM lies the innovation of Swiss textile specialists Schoeller. The material with schoeller®-PCM™ technology contains countless tiny microcapsules filled with so-called Phase Change Materials, i.e. a substance with a variable state of aggregation, such as water. This is a thermal adaptation technology, its essence is that the contents of microcapsules change their state of aggregation at certain temperatures, accumulating heat in the liquid state and dissipating it, turning into the solid phase. If the body or temperature environment increases, the capsules accumulate excess heat. If the temperature drops again, they transfer the stored heat to the body again.

A little theory

The amount of thermal energy generated by a person depends on the person’s individual characteristics, well-being, and even on how well he ate and slept. The role of clothing with insulation is to preserve this same energy.

Thermal insulation is the process of reducing heat transfer between the body and the environment. It's not for nothing that English language Insulation materials are always defined by the word Insulation.

A vacuum environment has minimal thermal conductivity, and the most accessible heat insulator with low thermal conductivity is dry air. It is dry, since moisture is a good conductor. The more air molecules the insulation holds in one cubic centimeter, the better its thermal insulation properties.

Air is always in motion - warm air tends to rise, cold air goes down; this factor must also be taken into account when developing insulated clothing.
Thus, the main task of clothing insulation is to keep the air warmed by our body inside, and not let the cold air outside.

Important quantities that allow us to describe the qualities of insulation:

But, despite technological progress, the best insulation there's still fluff left. Most often, goose down is used in the manufacture of down jackets - it is more durable than duck down, and also cheaper than eider down. Goose down high degree cleaning has high Fill Power performance and is optimal in terms of price-quality ratio.

PrimaLoft is a synthetic material that has high thermal insulation properties. When creating it, Albany Interional very carefully studied the structure of goose down and put it into the base of the PrimaLoft material. The fibers of this insulation are very thin and resemble goose down more than the fibers of any other synthetic material. It is this similarity that gives it the thermal properties of down. The thermal resistance coefficient for goose down is 2.18, and for PrimaLoft it is 2.15. This is a very high figure, because... other synthetic fibers don't even come close to this value.
PrimaLoft filler has a long-fiber structure, thanks to which it restores its volume better and faster than similar materials. Even after a huge number of washings and drying, the material does not deform. The fibers are endowed with water-repellent properties that help any liquid drain or evaporate. This ensures that PrimaLoft insulation products stay dry at all times.
Laboratory tests have shown that PrimaLoft has the same softness as goose down and is much softer than similar insulating materials. Thanks to this characteristic of the material, all products made from it take the necessary shape: clothes fit the figure, and the blanket fits the sleeping person’s body exceptionally.

Another great advantage of this material is that it breathes and allows moisture to evaporate. Its air layers are very small for the penetration of moisture, but large in order to allow the moisture formed inside to evaporate. A small volume of PrimaLoft is sufficient to keep a person warm.

It can be strongly compressed, and this will not affect the quality and structure of the material. In a short period of time, the material completely returns to its original volume. According to the above parameters, PrimaLoft is superior to all its synthetic and natural counterparts. Of all the world-famous insulation materials, only PrimaLoft has the ability not to retain moisture due to silicone treatment of the fibers. This insulation, compared to similar materials, absorbs 3 times less moisture, it is 14% warmer when dry and 24% warmer when wet.

There are several types of PrimaLoft insulation

PrimaLoft Sport- insulation created by combining ultra-thin fibers and fibers with variable diameters, which makes thermal insulation even more effective. Ultra-thin fibers ensure the material is waterproof, and fibers with variable diameters ensure the formation of its volume.

PrimaLoft One– this is a material that is created from microfiber, which is as close as possible to goose down in all parameters and characteristics. This is a filler in which each individual fiber has a moisture-resistant treatment. It is one of the best heat-insulating materials. The main properties of this type of insulation are the retention of 14% more heat in a dry state and 24% in a wet state.
PrimaLoft Eco– insulation created for lovers of environmentally friendly materials. It is made from 50% recycled ultrafine fibers and standard PrimaLoft fibers. When combined, the fibers create an effective heat-insulating and moisture-resistant structure. Clothing made with PrimaLoft Eco will provide its owners with dryness, warmth and comfort.

PrimaLoft Infinity- These are thermal insulating blocks that can compress 20% more than similar insulating materials. This type of insulation has a fairly light and soft structure due to the use of ultra-thin fibers in the production. PrimaLoft Infinity has high thermal insulation and moisture resistance. The fibers, united together by a single thread, prevent the appearance of cold spots in the insulating material and ensure uniformity of the insulation structure over its entire surface. PrimaLoft Infinity provides excellent protection from the cold even when completely wet. This material retains its shape and quality even after numerous washings and dryings.
PrimaLoft Yarn- These are threads that are a mixture of PrimaLoft fibers and sheep wool. This combination is most suitable for making outerwear. PrimaLoft Yarn fibers are twice as fine as cashmere fibers, resulting in a soft feel. This material has the property of quickly absorbing moisture from the surface of the skin and bringing it to the surface of the fabric, and this provides additional dryness and comfort.

PrimaLoft SYNERGY is an advanced thermal insulation material, which is created based on the interweaving of thin and ultra-thin fibers and combining them into a single thread. The insulation has excellent thermal insulation characteristics. PrimaLoft SYNERGY is a moisture-resistant material that is used in the manufacture of sleeping bags and outerwear.

Update 01/21/2013

PrimaLoft continues to innovate with the announcement of two new technologies, PrimaLoft 4Flex and Grip Technology.

PrimaLoft 4Flex - innovative technology creating insulation that can stretch in all four directions and immediately recover easily without loss of insulating and water-repellent properties. This insulation is ideal for use in outerwear and gloves - items where maximum stretchability is important. free movement. Including clothing for winter sports.
PrimaLoft Grip Technology provides maximum grip for gloves and shoes. It is designed to prevent gloves and shoes from slipping where you need a secure and stable grip. This technology is especially relevant for mountain climbers, ski racers, motorcyclists or golfers and anyone who needs warm, comfortable, waterproof clothing or shoes with additional opportunity firmly hold the handle of the desired projectile or tool.

Update 12/26/2013

PrimaLoft will launch on the market in 2014 new series hybrid insulation called PrimaLoft Performance Down Blend. Performance Down Blend is a mixture of synthetic insulation with natural down and the addition of a water-repellent treatment.
Performance Down Blend insulation will have the same insulating properties as natural down with a density of 750 FP, while the hybrid insulation dries 4 times faster and will continue to retain its properties after 10 washes. The developers managed to effectively weave natural down with hydrophobic impregnation and high-quality synthetic fibers PrimaLoft Ultra-Fine.
The Performance Down Blend series will include three types of insulation, which will differ in cost and characteristics: Gold (70% natural down, 30% synthetics), Silver (60% down, 40% synthetics) and Black (50%-50% down and synthetics ).

Update 10.03.2015

PrimaLoft Aerogel - the insulation is based on a soft, flexible, vapor-permeable, hydrophobic and wear-resistant Cryogel gel with a thickness of about 5 mm, which can operate effectively in temperatures from -260 to +90C degrees. Synthetic thermal insulation effectively blocks high and low temperatures.

Update 07.12.2016

PrimaLoft has announced the launch of a completely new insulation called PrimaLoft Black Insulation ThermoPlume. The first products with the new synthetic filler will appear closer to the autumn-winter season of 2017-2018. The new insulation more accurately inherits the fiber structure of natural goose down. The developers managed to achieve almost the same weight indicators in relation to density, volume and general thermal insulation properties, which are similar to natural insulation of 550-density padding. At the same time, the insulation is completely hydrophobic, does not lose its properties when in contact with water and does not require any additional impregnation.
In its structure, ThermoPlume replicates natural raw materials so much that it requires almost the same from the clothing manufacturer production cycles, as when creating traditional down jackets, including blowing out the insulating filler in sections. Thus, soon it will be possible to distinguish a jacket with ThermoPlume from a down jacket with 550FP goose down only by the tag.

Update 10.07.2018
The release of new brands of insulation materials has been announced, including a series PrimaLoft PCR(Post-Consumer Recycled), namely PrimaLoft Silver Insulation - 100% PCR and relatively budget insulation PrimaLoft Black Insulation - 100% PCR. The new insulation products are distinguished by the fact that they are made entirely from recycled materials, which are based on used plastic bottles. Insulation will have a lower cost and have all the necessary characteristics of modern synthetic insulation, and will become part of the PrimaLoft Silver and PrimaLoft Black series.

Update 10/23/2018

A new line of thermal insulation materials has been introduced PrimaLoft Bio. The new insulation is created exclusively using recycled synthetic fibers, while the new technological process made it possible to create this insulation completely biodegradable. According to tests carried out according to the ASTM D5511 standard, the new synthetic insulation is capable of biodegradation (under the influence of certain microorganisms) by almost 80.3% in 394 days.

Originally developed for the US Army, PrimaLoft insulation is used by many brands today. The company offers several variations of thermal insulation, from maximum, intended for harsh conditions, to lightweight - for the city. The North Face was one of the first to pay attention to Primaloft Black technology. It is a water-resistant synthetic alternative to down filling. It's light enough to wear on casual wear, jackets and boots. The insulation brand is also often used by Helly Hansen.

Features Primaloft Black

Primaloft has been producing synthetic microfiber insulation since the 1980s. The insulation is designed to imitate all the properties of down, but have less weight, volume and will not lose its properties when wet. The fibers do not retain water, so the owner of such equipment remains dry and warm, regardless of the weather. The essence of the technology is to create many air pockets that actually trap and retain body heat.

Primaloft has three main types of insulation: Gold, Silver and Black. And if the first and second are more related to serious equipment for harsh conditions, then the latter is applicable in everyday life.

Primaloft Black is most suitable for everyday wear. It has a CLO rating of 0.65. This is the unit of measurement thermal insulation properties product. For example, a down filler with a rating of 550 will have a rating of 0.7. That is, a jacket with Primaloft Black is equivalent to a warm down jacket.

There are three types of Black insulation. All are breathable, moisture resistant and provide warmth without the bulk.

PrimaLoft Black Insulation Eco- lining made from 60% recycled material. It is obtained from recycling plastic bottles, packages and other raw materials.

PrimaLoft Black Down Blend consists of 50% synthetic fibers and 50% down. Thanks to this, the loss of thermal insulation properties when wet is minimized, but the jacket is more voluminous due to the down.

PrimaLoft Black Insulation Hi-Loft with fibers that provide high insulation, similar in feel to down filling, but not down. The insulation is more compact and soft, while all key properties, such as warmth when wet, are fully preserved.

For the new winter season, the company announced PrimaLoft® Black Insulation ThermoPlume. It is made using small, silky bundles of fibers that are woven together. This filler is suitable as an intermediate layer for mountaineering equipment, as well as for warm city jackets.

Clothing Primaloft Black

The North Face brand, known for its collections of warm and reliable clothing, quite often resorts to the use of synthetic filler. Their jackets are lightweight but still keep you warm in cold and wet weather. When choosing outerwear, you should pay attention to the specified characteristics. The North Face Primaloft Black uses predominantly 60, 80 and 100 grams. Of course, the more popular “silver” insulation is more common, since it is equally good for outdoor activities and the city. It's housed in the iconic Back To Berkeley boots and a variety of jackets. However, Primaloft Black is even lighter and is used in demi-season clothing during the period when winter gives way to spring or warm autumn turns to frost.