more info about DUCKSBACK material

HOW AND WHY DUCKSBACK MATERIAL WORKS

In order to understand why the DUCKSBACK material can work as it does even though it is not covered with water repellent chemicals, coated or laminated to a film all you have to do is look at the picture of me on my horse wearing the my Fossil Ridge parka. The exterior of the parka is frosted.

Considering that the temperature was -20 degrees F where did the moisture come from? It came from me. How did the moisture that I was generating get out of the parka? Easy, I was wearing my fishnet underwear, a loose fitting shirt that happened to be cotton and then the parka with the L-12 Lamilite insulation, the same weight I use in the Antarctic parka.

Many people ask the temperature rating of the parka, easy answer if you wear my fishnets as a base layer and then a loose fitting garment over it and then the parka -20 degrees F is a piece of cake.That is what I was wearing for 3 days while I wandered in a blizzard.

Had I been wearing the base layers that every other company in the industry sells, I probably would have frozen.

What I noted is that my moisture while in the vapor state was driven out of my parka because it was kept in the vapor state by the heat of my body. Multitudes of people who use Wiggy’s bags have noted that when the temperature is above 32 degrees F they have liquid water on the surface of their bag and if it is below 32 degrees F it is frost like on my parka; why because their body heat is adequate to keep the moisture from their body in the vapor state so it moves through the Lamilite to the outside surface where it condenses.

All mountaineers seem to me to be glutens for punishment since they wear the newest close knit base layer underwear that stops the movement of moisture away from the body and sleeping bags with down that further absorb whatever moisture gets into the down rendering the bags or parkas heavier and much less efficient.

The zippered DUCKSBACK jacket has a layer of L-2.5 Lamilite to keep the moisture from your body warm enough so it can move via ventilation through the materials and condense on the exterior of the garment. If I made the garment completely unlined any perspiration would more than likely especially if you are active would over power the fabric and condense on the inside as happens with all of the so called waterproof breathable garments. Hence

The more I think about the zippered DUCKSBACK garment the more I realize how good this jacket would be for sailing based upon my own experience. No matter how warm it is while sailing if you get into a squall the temperature drops and the ocean water or even lake water is colder than the air temperature and wearing a layer of insulation under a foul weather garment is needed. This garment is excellent for that purpose. At some time in the future I will offer a sailing bib as well.

I will be offering the Barron Grounds parka made with the DUCKSBACK material shortly too. As I learn more about this material will determine what other garments it can be applied too. Shortly I will also have samples of a heavier weight that I’ll be evaluating.