a little knowledge can be dangerous

PROOF OF THE OUTDOOR INDUSTRY NOT HAVING PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING!

Wiggy's

I too have must agree with your statement about "unqualified" people making assessment's about products they never use, or in areas in which they have never actually participated. We as a nation have progressed into a country where we believe everything we read on the computer or see on the TV.

I own a Wiggy's bag, and have used it very successfully at temps far below zero while winter camping on Alaska's Yukon River downriver from Russion Mission Alaska. I also own a pair of your new Insulated boots. While they haven't been out long enough for me to test at below zero temps, they are very comfortable and work well at above zero temps. I have complete confidence I will be able to replace my time honored and proven bunny boots with your boots coupled with the Wiggy's socks and over boots I purchased. Keep up the good work!!

It’s refreshing to see a company still operating under the standards of our fore fathers, and with the same integrity that made the USA. Stand out in the first place!

Thanks for your time

Ralph Ramey

Bethel, Alaska

I just received an e mail from a customer asking me if I knew of this new (?) insulating material “Pinneco Core” a product of the company Pinneco. I have been in the insulation business since 1961 and I have never heard of this company, maybe because they are located in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

Here is what they say about their product, I quote; “Pinneco Core represents a revolutionary, eco-friendly, synthetic insulation technology that features a breathable membrane and fiber layers fused together permanently by a CoreFusion process; effectively magnifies the thermal and moisture control ability, while providing structural support for its revolutionary design, maximum warmth, optimal dryness and eco engineering. The four key features to this technology are; 1-all-time dryness, 2-durable loft, 3-eco engineering, 4- efficient warmth”.

There is nothing about this product that is particularly revolutionary except the lamination of the fiberfill to the membrane. The fiberfill is the age old chopped staple polyester fiber that has been in use for polyester battings since 1960. The construction used to hold the fibers together is I suspect nothing more than a blend of high melt and low melt so when the blended fibers go into the oven the low melt fiber in the “core” of the batting melts to hold the fibers together. Hence their calling it CoreFusion process, this method of bonding polyester fiber has been in use for 40 years. By inserting the membrane on the inside of the product whether it is a sleeping bag or jacket means that the moisture that comes out of the person wearing the garment or using the sleeping bag is guaranteed to retain the moisture they produce inside of the product. When the Gore Company first brought Gore-Tex to the market they were excited to have Marmot make sleeping bags with Gore-Tex laminated shell fabric. No moisture ever got out of the bag! Also, the lamination of the chopped staple batting to the membrane does give it structural stability. I know this because I was laminating scrim to polyester fiberfill 40 years ago specifically to give the polyester fiberfill “structural stability”. I would say they are a day late and a dollar short. At the expense of “TOOTING MY OWN HORN” there is not a thing that can be presented to me today about using polyester for insulating purposes that is new!

They further claim when used for outerwear the quilted construction reduces bulk; yes it does and less bulk means less insulation; plus each and every quilt stitch is a cold spot. Terrific that they admit this fault of the product, and somehow they try to make one believe, that this is a benefit.

Now for an astounding attribute and I quote; “The CoreScreen membrane works as a virtual air pump, actively drawing moisture away while retaining warmth within. This membrane-fused insulation utilizes body movements to compress the insulation system and push moisture through the breathable membrane”. What you have just read is remarkable gibberish. I felt that I should be wearing chest waders and have a shovel while I read this paragraph. The only materials that can draw moisture are materials made from natural fibers such as wool, cotton, down, silk or rayon. Polyester or films cannot draw in moisture. If your body compresses the insulation you lose insulation! Body movement pushing moisture through these microscopic holes just does not take place. Again they are contradicting what actually does happen, moisture stays in the product and insulation capability is compromised.

The company that is, and to the best of my knowledge the only company that is using this chopped staple polyester fiberfill for insulation in jackets and sleeping bags, is “Big Agnus”.

I am no longer surprised when I read such misleading erroneous information from marketing companies (Big Agnus is NOT a manufacturer of the products) that have product made for them in Asia. They do not have people in their employ who have any foundation of the materials especially insulation that know what they are doing. Is it any wonder that they grasp any charlatan that comes along with a new form of insulation that will potentially cause their products to sell? The people involved with the creation of this product haven’t any more of a clue as to how insulation works than the Primaloft people or the 3-M Company people involved with Thinsulate.

Education, education, education is what these people so sorely need if they are to become successful with respect to making anything. I believe it is wide spread certainly in the outdoor industry and I wouldn’t be surprised to find the same holds true in other industries. These young people are in a hurry to accomplish things unfortunately in my opinion they are just going in circles following those who are of the same age group who also need an education. The corporate heads at the top have no idea of the needs necessary to make good products they just want flash in the pan that sells and when the product dies they go on to something else and quite often with someone else who tells the they can fix things.

Age has its benefits because you can see what is wrong, however that in and of itself may not be a benefit because you know that you can’t change it back.

Maybe when this Big Agnus is no longer selling sleeping bags someone there may remember that I offered to make bags for them in the good old USA.

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