Topic

Stuffing Synthetic Insulation

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Matthew Bishop BPL Member
PostedApr 27, 2009 at 11:35 am

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?

Joe Kuster BPL Member
PostedApr 27, 2009 at 11:43 am

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.

Matthew Bishop BPL Member
PostedApr 27, 2009 at 12:11 pm

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.

Roger Caffin BPL Member
PostedApr 27, 2009 at 4:13 pm

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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