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Best insulating sheet material?
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Best insulating sheet material?
- This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 3 months ago by S Long.
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Dec 14, 2020 at 11:51 am #3688959
I like to use sit pads, especially in winter, for day trips as well as overnight.
For day trips they are also part of my emergency gear: to be able to stay in place for a few hours or even all night without moving.
So I am looking for the best material to make these out of.
Here are my considerations:Would prefer smooth surface, not ribbed, in order to minimize snow/mud sticking to the pad when you pack it up again.
Want maximum insulation under pressure (sitting/lying on it).
Want it fairly thin, in order to preserve pack volume.
Seeing how well Thermarest does with reflective material in the Neoair, I was hoping to find some closed cell foam with reflective layer. Anyone know of any with smooth face?
The other material that comes to mind is Aerogel. I have read some mention of poor performce with regard to moisture though. Anyone know more about that?
Other materials you can think of? Perhaps some rigid cellular materials?
Edit: Aerogel themselves list a few products that are hydrophobic:
Dec 14, 2020 at 1:47 pm #3688988Well, I have the remains of a roll of 3/16″ closed cell foam floor underlayment. I have cut some of it to match my winter air mattress outline.
So I’ll make a sit pad of it. On snow or a log it might be enough – or not. I’ll report back.
Dec 14, 2020 at 6:55 pm #3689044Found this on BPL from a couple of years ago. Could probably use some updating.
Dec 15, 2020 at 8:22 am #3689109The links still worked.
is not a bad option. 10mm is not very thick, but it’s a start.
Dec 15, 2020 at 9:41 am #3689132“The other material that comes to mind is Aerogel. I have read some mention of poor performce with regard to moisture though. Anyone know more about that?”
I bought a roll of aerogel a bunch of years ago, hoping to make some practical use of it. While its hard to describe, I don’t feel like (what I got) was ready for prime-time. It seemed flimsy, the silicone “poofs” out pretty easily, and it’s hard to wash off my hands. I do think it might be useful contained inside of a fabric liner. Currently, my wife is sewing some 3″x6″ rectangular “panels” to insert inside of my mitts.
Regarding rigid insulation, I spec a bunch of of it for homes, but I’d never consider using it for hiking. Its not comfortable and the thinner rigid products would snap apart if your not careful. Reflectix could be an option but it becomes very slippery if your on snow (makes a great sled!).
In the meantime, EVA CCF foam is probably still your best bet.
Here’s an interesting one you could easily cut down. Real thin but it has a high R value given its thickness: http://www.exped.com/usa/en/product-category/mats/multimat-uno
Dec 15, 2020 at 10:16 am #3689146I’ve always just used a cut down piece of Thermarest z-lite pad. They also make the z-seat. I mostly use it for winter trips and ice climbing. Snow and mud don’t really stick to it very well, and you can easily shake it out. I bought the kind that has a silvery side to it, but I’m not sure that really makes an awful lot of difference.
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