I was interested in testing the R-Value of a sleeping pad that I am creating out of balloons (I know, I know…). So I decided to head on over to one of the places that supposedly 'sets the standards,' you know ASTM international. However, when I got there I found something that created a ton of confusion:
"Currently, there does not exist a standardized test method for determining the insulation rating of a sleeping pad used for camping. Although standards exist for home insulation and batting, these methods do not address various aspects of sleeping pad including construction, method of setup, variable geometry, heterogeneous pad construction, coring, etc., that may greatly influence the resulting insulation rating. There are a substantial number of companies in the Outdoor Industry that manufacture sleeping pads who would benefit from adopting a universal test method. Right now, every company uses a different standard or variation on a standard to determine the insulation rating for sleeping pads. The difference across test methods is vast, and in some cases, different units of measure are used (without labeling), leading to general confusion as to what the insulation rating corresponds to. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for customers to make informed purchasing decisions for sleeping pads. A standardized test method for determining insulation rating will allow customers to more accurately compare the performance of sleeping pads."
That is a PROBLEM. A Thermarest R5 would not equal a Blue CCF R5 or a Nemo R5, see?
Is this info old? I see it is dated 2011 on the side so there may have been a change in the past 2 years. Does anyone know? I would like to know how I can test my own stuff at home (or at least attempt to).
