Within

Press, 6 July 1983, Page 16

Within

Insulation is “very important” for any winter jacket, according to Mike Clemes, of Southern Alps Equipment, Ltd. “A winter jacket is primarily for warmth, so there’s no point in having a top quality exterior fabric but insulation that is inadequate or unsuitable,” he says. Southern Alps Equipment uses three different insulations. “Thinsulate” is imported from the U.S.A, and only recently available here. It allows a thinner look while still providing warmth, and it does not need to be quilted.

Though only about Icm thick, it is claimed to have nearly 2cm-worth of insulation value, as the very fine microfibres provide a much larger surface area to trap insulating air, compared with the usual, larger fibres. “High Loft” insulation is much thicker and bouncier. It is a heavy-duty insulation that needs to be quilted and gives a padded look. Each fibre is hollow, so still air is also held within it, and this hollow construction gives it the ability to bounce back.

Thinsulate and High Loft are both excellent in damp or wet weather, so are ideal for New Zealand conditions.

“Needlepunch” is flat, and does not have nearly the insulating quality of Thinsu-

late, but it is perfect for bib overalls for skiers. It provides a bit of extra warmth without reducing flexibility too much, and a ski jacket worn with the bib provides sufficient extra warmth for the top part of the body. Needlepunch is created by punching down insulation material with thousands of small needles. Inside a garment, insulating air is trapped in the needle holes as well as between the fibres, and Needlepunch does not squash further, having been precompressed during manufacture.

Both High Loft and Needlepunch are U.S.A, products made under licence in New Zealand.