honesty

HONESTY

I have a difficult time with honesty exhibited by companies. Actually, it is the fact that I believe many companies do not exhibit honesty, at all.

For 50 years I have written primarily naming gore that waterproof material that is also breathable [vapor permeable] does not exist but they and a myriad of other companies have followed making the same claim. I am of the belief that every one of the people employed at these companies knows that their product does not work as they claim. Therefore, I do not believe they are being honest when they promote their product in person as happens at trade shows they take in or via written information shown on their web sites. Therefore, they are in opinion DISHONEST.

I have also written about insulations such as primaloft for about 50 years as well that do not perform as advertised. However, bad a product as primaloft is we now have a new contender in the marketplace working very hard to convince the world i.e., the USA government, as I could care less about the rest of the world.

What you are about to read turns my stomach. This company oros in the world of insulation represents the worst of the worst who have ever entered into the business of selling an insulating medium for use in outerwear and sleeping bags. they have approached the Air Force at Wright Patterson AFB with their product for use in ejection seat survival kits. I wrote about this once before. I told the captain who told me about it that he should never come to me for vacuum packing.

The following article comes from the “inside outdoor publication.”

“OROS, the brand behind SOLARCORE insulation that incorporates aerogel, has recently been awarded a multi-million-dollar subcontract under an Other Transaction Authority prototype agreement (pOTA) from the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC-SC) division of the US Department of Defense and Northeastern University’s Kostas Research Institute (KRI). Effective immediately, the contract encompasses a three-year partnership between OROS, Northeastern University and the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC-SC) division of the US Department of Defense.

The contract award is $10,000,000,00, sickening waste of money.

“OROS has developed an R&D program that is unmatched in the industry. We have created this program with the sole focus of pioneering apparel and tech, so you can push your boundaries,” says Jeff Nash, CTO and VP of product at OROS. By creating a proprietary technology that integrates aerogel, the same material NASA uses to insulate Mars Rovers, OROS has moved beyond what was previously thought possible in insulation tech.

An R&D program that is unmatched, incredible, companies for years have done R&D testing of insulations, is it possible they have created a method never before done? Of course, maybe they are going to go to mars to do their testing. On their web site they show a picture of the solarcore which is a combination of 4 layers of material. One of them is a foam. The following comment came to me from a person in customer service. “The aerogel is added to the foam to make up the insulation. Adding the aerogel to the foam helps gives it durability and rigidity.’’

Aside from the layer of foam there are 3 layers of material very similar to the mesh that I use to make the second layer garment. As I was told the 4 layers are combined when they are sewn. As for the aerogel being added to the foam it must be when the foam is made. This means you can’t see the aerogel. The customer service fellow also told me the solarcore insulation when used in a jacket is good with minimal layering to a temperature of zero degrees. I am dubious of the claim. I am quite sure the jacket will never perform with minimal layering at zero degrees. Unless you live in a cold environment such as Minnesota you really do not know how cold zero degrees is. This company is located in Portland, OR.

What does jeff nash actually do?

“This contract will aid OROS’ R&D initiatives and help bring to life OROS’ next generation insulation tech,” says Michael Markesbery, co-founder & CEO of OROS, “we are honored to be awarded the contract, as we continue on our mission to pioneer insulation technology.”

The contract will line the oros ownerships pockets. They do not have a first generation insulation so, how can they come up with a next generation insulation.

Markesberry and his partner have absolutely no background in the world of insulation. If they did, they would know it is necessary to have loft to trap air so it stagnates and warms like stagnant water. Further if they had done their homework, investigation into the field of insulation they would have ultimately learned of all the insulating mediums available today and since 1968 continuous filament fiber was/is the best insulating medium with no equal. But they never learned about insulations again if they did, they would know aerogel is not suitable for what they want to make.

This article is reprinted from “snowsports” publication

OROS, the brand behind SOLARCORE - a ground-breaking insulation that incorporates aerogel, the least conductive material known to humankind - has recently been awarded a multi-million-dollar subcontract under an Other Transaction Authority prototype agreement (pOTA) from the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC-SC) division of the US Department of Defense and Northeastern University’s Kostas Research Institute (KRI).

As I recall they received a one million dollar award maybe two years ago from this same authority, but now its 12 million. What happened with the r and d from the last award? NOTHING but they are getting close so 12 million more should do it. Last time northeaster university was not involved if I remember correctly. What do they know about insulation? NOTHING!

Established in 2015, OROS was born out of the desire to create pioneering apparel and technology. With an unmatched focus on material science and proprietary technology that incorporates aerogel - the same insulation utilized by NASA to insulate space shuttles - OROS developed a breathable and durable material known as SOLARCORE. By integrating aerogel, the least conductive solid known to humankind, SOLARCORE provides unparalleled insulation, in just 2mm, a giant leap for technical outdoor apparel

Maybe NASA did have an insulating form of aerogel that is used in building put in the space shuttle which is not what these guys concocted. They just like to play off of NASA.

The idea that a 2mm thick insulating layer means anything in a cold weather jacket is idiotic. // is the distance between the hash marks two millimeters? If so, how much insulation do you have, enough for a 40 degree fall day without wind.

I obviously do not know who the person or persons are who have approved authorized this gross waste of my tax dollars with people who have absolutely zero knowledge of insulation. The people from oros have wiggled wangled their way into this and who knows how many other government agencies with their bogus story of an insulating medium that will replace all others.

Well, it is not going to happen because the most efficient form of insulation to ever have been developed is continuous filament fiberfill. Today you can call it CLIMASHIELD or Lamilite basically one and the same.

How dare these no nothings convince civil servants that they have special knowledge that will revolutionize the world of insulation. Three years from now they will not have developed anything from their aerogel fiber that will have any value. They are lowest form of snake oil salesman that has yet to live. But I believe will have pocketed a small fortune. I do not believe honesty exists here.