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Stuffing Synthetic Insulation


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  • #1235917
    Matthew Bishop
    BPL Member

    @mattsbishop

    Locale: Iowa

    Maybe I'm not searching well enough, but I'm having trouble finding guidelines on how much one can safely compress synthetic insulation. The most I've seen is "use the manufacturer's stuff sack" which doesn't help when I'm the manufacturer.

    Any ideas? I'd like this quilt I'm making with Climashield XP to withstand 5 years or more of occasional use without substantial degradation. Is there some level of compression that will do that? 50% of fully-lofted volume? 25%? As much as you can cram in a silnylon stuff (not compression) sack without bursting the seams?

    #1497303
    Joe Kuster
    BPL Member

    @slacklinejoe

    Locale: Flatirons

    There isn't a set compression amount for synthetics. It depends on the type of synthetic, how long it'll be stuffed and what your personal trade offs are on volume of item in pack vs expected life of item.

    Subjective and probably useless to tell you, but personally, I stuff it by feel and go from there. It should never feel hard, instead a bit firm and stop there.

    #1497310
    Matthew Bishop
    BPL Member

    @mattsbishop

    Locale: Iowa

    Subjective but a place to start. I have -zero- experience with synthetics and anything will help. I should also mention that I'm looking for the on-trail just-in-pack stuff sack size; I'd store the quilt fully lofted.

    #1497360
    Roger Caffin
    BPL Member

    @rcaffin

    Locale: Wollemi & Kosciusko NPs, Europe

    Light synthetic fills don't usually last for more than a couple of years according to many reports. Stuffing them to any significant compression does reduce their loft quickly. Stuffing very lightly is important.

    Cheers

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