How Jerry Wigutow Invented Lamilite

In 1963 I started experimenting with lamination of polyester fiberfill for use in outerwear garments. At the time the only fiberfill available was the chopped staple variety. All fiber is extruded as continuous filament, and then it is cut or chopped every 2 to 2.25 inches to simulate cotton fiber so it can be formed into a web on one of several types of garneting machines. In all cases the thickness of the fiber, referred to as denier, that worked best was a six-denier fiber. Resin was sprayed on each surface of the fiber to hold the fibers in place for quilting. Each quilt stitch is a cold spot so I decided to laminate the fiber, which would eliminate the cold spots created by the stitching. Excellent idea, but it had problems. If the product currently in production was used it would break up in laundering. There was not enough resin to hold the fibers together during the laundering of the jacket. Then I tried laminating what we called “self-supported batting” which had plenty of resin to hold the fibers together, but it was unacceptable. Things were as it turned out put on hold until 1968 when the firm I worked for started to produce Polarguard. Polarguard of course is a continuous filament fiber, and as such needed very little resin to hold it together so it was soft and strong and after lamination I had a terrific product. Minor problem, when I showed it to manufacturers for use in jackets and sleeping bags, they turned me down. Although, I did sell laminated Polarguard to glove and mitten manufacturers because laminating to the fabrics they used made it easier for them to work with the Polarguard. Let's jump to 1975 when I returned to the states from a 13-month sailing sabbatical, and started my own sleeping bag company, Olam Outdoor Sports. All of my bags and jackets were made with laminated Polarguard. After two years I sold out to my partner to reenter the laminating business where I built a laminating machine that would laminate specifically Polarguard. I figured I had made a dent in the market and all of the other sleeping bag makers in the U.S. would jump on board; that was not to happen. I got the same story from them in 1977 that I heard in 1969, no one would buy a synthetic sleeping bag that looked like mine. Therefore, if laminated continuous fiberfill was to be used in sleeping bags again I had to become the manufacturer. That waited until 1986, when I started Wiggy’s Inc. Not bad for a kid from Brooklyn, N.Y. I guess I have made my point that lamination of fiberfill, specifically Polarguard or continuous filament fiber, is not only the way to use it, but also the best way to use it. WHAT I DO You may think that I am a sleeping bag and cold weather-clothing manufacturer, and I am, but that isn’t really what I do. What I really do is sell Lamilite insulation. Way back in 1968/9 I discovered that the best way to use continuous filament fiber was to laminate it, hence Lamilite was born. From its inception I found that I was up against a brick wall trying to sell my way of using continuous filament fiber to any outerwear or sleeping bag manufacturer. Therefore, if what is now known as Lamilite was to be put into the market place, I had to become a manufacturer. It is of no consequence what insulation is used, if you replace it with Lamilite it makes the product better. Because Lamilite is so good as an insulating medium I think about all of the different items that can be improved upon. You know all of the products that are produced at Wiggy’s that are used in the outdoors; however, we make insulated coverings for monitoring devices that are used in cold environments too. There are many more products that would benefit if Lamilite were used such as pizza delivery containers or coolers for canned or bottled drinks.

LETTERS

Mr.Wiggy,

I just wanted to tell you about a little camping trip that I just went on with a friend from the United States Army. My friend Kris and I had been planning a little vacation from the world after he returned from duty activation in Kuwait. Anyway, on to my story, We went camping in the Texas Hill country where the days were in the low 80's and night time temps were in the upper 30's. My friend who had preached the blessings of the new army multiple bag sleeping system to me since before I purchased your bag and continued to question my opinion of your bag till the first morning of our trip. I awakened to the smell of coffee and left my tent to find him making coffee and frying some bacon. When I asked how he slept he advised that it was cold until he added his Gore-Tex outer lining then he slept like a baby. I immediately advised him that I had slept warm and cozy in my wiggy overbag all night. I then went into sales mode. (I love preaching the blessings of Lamilite) I asked him if he knew why he was cold in his overbag? I explained that my wiggy was designed to create a warm blanket of warm air around me and not only did it hold in my heat, but pulled away my own body moisture leaving me dry and warm. I just wanted you to know Mr. Wiggy. I always exclaim when I drag out your bag "There’s my Wiggy" Like I am seeing an old friend again. I trust your bag(s) with my life...and that's the most important thing that I can say to anyone about your bag.

Dear Wiggy,

I am a Staff Sgt. In the US Air Force. I have had the pleasure of using your bags on several outings. The first was an elk-hunting trip in October, in the mountains of Utah. The second was in Arctic Survival Training School (ASTS) at Eielson AFB in the Arctic of northern Alaska. The hunting trip was mild and I used a friends 3 in 1 system. (Probably the Super Light FTRSS). During ASTS I was issued a –60 bag (Antarctic) with a bivi bag. During the school we had to spend 3 days and 2 nights in –20 temps. At no time did I have to question if I was going to suffer through the extreme cold conditions. I asked the instructors if they had a way to contact you. This is how I got your site info.

Thanks,

SSgt. G.R. Crawford

Editors comment: I have been a supplier of sleeping bags to the Armed Forces of the U.S. for many years and am very proud of that accomplishment. One of the benefits is to have my products used by people from all areas of the country, some with lots of camping experience in all weather conditions and some with no camping experience until joining the military. Therefore, my bags are given the greatest exposure to the greatest variety of people. The success rate is phenomenal with respect to keeping people warm. If I were to try and use people who are intermittent campers, I couldn’t possibly get the same results. Using the military exposes my products to people who are wearing the same clothing, eating the same foods and participating in the activities on the same days. That is a significant benefit to Wiggy’s.

In conclusion being a supplier to the military is beneficial to me and the troops get the best that is available.