Clo?

CLO TESTING

It has been many years since I have written about “clo testing” but today I have surfaced a test report paid for in December 2010 by a reseller of my sleeping bags to the Chilian military. This test was the turning point for them to buy my Super Light FTRSS (two bag sleep system). It was quite a large order at the time so they are still using them. 

I surfaced the test report since a number of foreign militaries are looking for bags and they always put in the clo reading to accomplish. They also always use the C temperature numbers. 

One clo is equal to 27.8 C or 82.1 F. 

The Over Bag (FTRSS) measured a 7.75 clo reading (average of 3 tests) which according to the Climashield "predicted temperature ratings for sleeping bags chart" (ptrfsbc) is comparable to -3.3 C or 26.1 F. I publish a temperature rating of +35 degrees F for the over bag (FTRSS) and as always say my rating are conservative. 

The Super Light measured an 8.19 clo (average of 3 tests) which according to the Climashield (ptrfsb) chart which is comparable to 3.3 C or 17 F. I rate the Super light for 0 degrees F. 

I never heard of this company, I do know they are still in operation and how far back I have not checked and I believe them to be reputable. Since I was not paying for the test, I did not contact them for further explanation as I had done with KSU in the 1980’s when I was paying for the tests. You can review the findings. 

Even though these test results are very positive for Wiggy’s I still prefer to show Wiggy temperature rating in Fahrenheit or even C and certainly not clo.

As you can see the testing organization does not equate their clo finding to For C. They start the test in a room that is a specific C temperature, here 20 degrees and a hot plate at 35 degrees C. they do not use clo. The reason being they do not actually know what one clo is. Nobody does, the Climashield chart is only based upon what Natick Army Testing Labs wants to see. According to the Natick crowd and this has gone on for years they always ask a clo insulation between 3.5 clo and 5.5c clo for their sleep system which is in their thinking good for -30 F. 

I also surfaced a test report conducted in March 1990 by Elizbeth A. McCullough, PHD, Associate Director of IER (I do not know what that stands for) Professor of Textile Science. She tested 3 Ultima Thules, washed, unwashed, and one removed from vacuum packing. All of these bags rendered clo readings of 4.7, 4.8 and 4.9, if this were accurate, they would be good for 48 degrees F and I would not ever have sold many thousands in the past 38 years. 

When I read her report, I wrote to the president of Kansas State University I would sue them for presenting false, erroneous information about me, my products and my company. This wasn’t the only erroneous report, I have others in my files. 

The Ultima Thule as anyone knows is rated for a temperature of -20 F and that is conservative. 

I do not know if the testing of sleeping bags was ended back then or not. I do know the no sleep sleeping bag crowd doesn’t use any company, they just dream up temperature ratings and slap them on the bags, hence they are of the no sleep sleeping bag variety.