more hype about an "insulation"?

CAN IT REALLY BE SO? NO!!!

The following article appeared in the October 30, 2018 SGB online magazine.

UNITED BY BLUE
B100
The Sustainable Alternative To Down Or Synthetic Insulation

The first mistake I note is their lack of knowledge about the very fact that the only synthetic fiberfill that is sustainable for an indefinite amount of time is Continuous Filament Fiberfill (CFF) otherwise known as Lamilite/Climashield.

The ranching industry considers Bison fiber a waste by-product. For United By Blue, it is the future of sustainable outerwear. Today the brand dropped the Bison Puffer Jacket and Vest. Both garments contain B100 the brand’s first fully insulated and naturally temperature-regulating, hypoallergenic and lightweight down alternative using Bison fibers.

They also do not know or care to know that CFF is not the future of sustainable outerwear but is now sustainable insulation for outerwear and that will be the same as we look into the future. They lie when they say bison wool insulation is “naturally temperature-regulating” insulation. I also question the validity of it being hypoallergenic. Insulation is inanimate so it has no ability to “regulate” anything.

Bison fibers offer high-performance properties that are far too good to waste. United By Blue has spent the past five years creating a chain of suppliers for the product rather than letting it be dumped in a landfill.

I think it is admirable that they have found a use for the bison fibers but they do not have the high performance that they elude too.

The American Bison’s shaggy coat consists of a layer of hollow, compact-able, resilient hair that allows the animal to stay warm and dry in harsh winter weather. Both the Puffer Jacket and Vest include B100. They are waterproof and designed to keep you warm and dry from zero to minus 50°F.

The bison animal is a living entity and as such it has developed a means of survival which includes a specialized fur coat as have a multitude of animals that live in the same environmental conditions. Virtually all furry animals living in these conditions have fur that is hollow. This fur works extremely well as has been the case for thousands of years regardless of the animal species while they are alive. Virtually or literally every company that has presented to the market place a hollow fiberfill product, natural or synthetic has had a failed product. In order for these natural occurring hollow fibers to work they have to be attached to a living species. So long as the bison is alive the hollow fiber fur on their body does well. It will shed water and keep them warm \at -50 degrees. Now for their big lie; it will not keep you warm in a -50 degree situation, unless of course you are in a heated house when the outside temperature is -50 degrees.

“It should come as no surprise that the most important part of a jacket is what you can’t see—the insulation inside. We don’t use duck or goose down at United By Blue. Despite progress in traceability, the down industry’s live plucking practices remain too controversial to consider a viable option. We ventured into the world of synthetic insulation, but were never able to find something we could truly stand behind both technically and environmentally. Our only solution was to create something entirely new. Enter B100 … our very own sustainable insulation.” — Brian Linton, founder & CEO, United By Blue

To the best of my knowledge the bison batting is blended with polyester fiberfill. I know this because I used to quilt it for them and of course as we know quilting will mean a significant number of cold spots. If Brian really ventured into the world of synthetic insulation he stopped short of discovering CFF the best insulation that has ever been and will ever be. As for sustainability, you do not cut the fur off of a bison as you do sheep that is sustainable. The bison is killed just like ducks and geese; is that sustainable? I do not think so.

We still live in a free country where we are free to make mistakes and anyone who happens to believe that this bison wool batting is a good product let-a-lone capable of doing what Brian says is going to use their freedom to make a mistake if they happen to buy into his product. But then there are people who have bought into the nonsensical rantings associated with all of the other fiberfill products such as primaloft or thinsulate. The choice for all those interested in owning an outerwear garment that really performs as advertised is but to one, and that is a Wiggy parka. However, that can change if and when other companies chose to buy Lamilite/Climashield and use it for their own garments. One more pipe dream on my part.

Welcome to the world of freedom of speech or to make mistakes. And no it can’t be so!!!