Bushwalk Australia

Just Wondering how many of you guys and gals use Thinsulate to keep you warm, I know it isn't as good as wool, to what temperatures of cold would Thinsulate handle, I bought some normal gloves and fingerless and a beanie of Thinsulate, but have not tested them in the field yet.


Just need some feedback on how many of you guys and gals use Thinsulate and on what temperatures you have been using it and still keeping you warm.

Cheers.

I have a 40gsm Thinsulate lined synthetic beanie that I've worn winter backpack camping several times down to about -3 or -4 degrees C. It seems to work OK but I still suffer a bit from cold ears (but I also tend to also have chronically cold toes, fingers etc in winter so assume it's more a circulation issue than anything wrong with the gear I use).

I've had some thinsulate gear over the years and it served me well but these days most of my gear is down. Im allergic to the stuff but you can't go past it for warmth to weight ratio. That being said I do like some synthetic layers and will definitely favour it in wet/humid climates over down (for obvious reasons).

Another point is the types of synthetic insulation are for ever improving. Some other good ones that come close to down are primaloft (there are various types with different clo/loft) and climashield (again varieties of). I've made something with climashield apex and found it to be really warm.

Which Thinsulate?? There are many types these days and my answer would depend on whether I was willing to sacrifice warmth for bulk

most thinsulate should be good for sub zero, depending on if it has a shell it can get clammy if you're hiking.

I've got a really old thinsulate beanie I have no idea if it is any warmer than an acrylic or wool beanie but it's lasted years, is warm and very comfortable. I bought a mountain designs bonfire jacket with a thinsulate fill a couple of years ago for skiing and I find it very warm. Again, allegedly other fills are better if you belkieve the advertising (and I think MD have produced their new jackets in hollofill or something like that). I think that thinsulate is old technology now but it still seems pretty warm to me, at least for windy subzero days in the snow in the Oz alps anyway.
I'm happy with my thinsulate jacket, it scrunches up small and is warm enough for me, it has a windstopper shell which renders it pretty well snow proof, windproof and water resistant which I think helps a lot with it's warmth. The only time I have felt it's limitations is standing around not moving in the snow for a few hours on a very chilly day. I had to put a down vest on underneath.

The best insulation to use under a drysuit. Good beanies.