same old thing

ARE THESE GARMENTS A JOKE?

Did you ever hear of the “LUKLA JACKET’ for men?

I do not know who makes it or where it is made, domestically or in Asia but it is what I refer to as a miracle jacket or a joke.

This garment is made with a polyester fabric outer shell and an insulating material known as “aerogel”. I have seen and read about aerogel for several years and now it is being used in this garment. The description of the garment states, and I quote; “it is 3mm (milometers thin versus thick), that is like having 40 mm of goose down without the puffiness—but allows for extra breathability (it must be alive for that to happen, but I don’t think so), even when conditions get down to (and here is the miracle) -50 degrees C (-58 degrees F).” 3mm is 1/8^th inch thick and they claim that is adequate to keep one warm at -50 C that is a joke.

You can find the garment on the internet by typing into any search engine its name. You can also do the research on aerogel. About 1000 years from now it still will not have any value.

The second garment actually the line of garments is for bicyclists which are made by Giordana an Italian company. They are made with the miracle material trade named “eVent” an ePTFE membrane laminated to fabric. According to article published in the outdoor industry publication “SNEWS” the eVent is and I quote; “unmatched air permeable ePTFE membrane technology in both windproof and waterproof jackets that help regulate core body temperature to optimize performance and comfort.” Further in the article they state and it is stated I guess from eVent the following about eVent; “membrane technology are 100 percent waterproof and also windproof.”

Does all of this sound like Gore-Tex; it should because that is what Gore has promoted for years. Now I ask if PTFE membrane regardless of the manufacturer is the same why the eVent would work when the Gore-Tex doesn’t. Well because it too does not work either.

The garments made with this membrane have no ability to be vapor permeable to any degree that would allow the wearer of the garment to dissipate core temperature somehow regulating it. Actually regulating body temperature via an article of clothing is impossible. If you are generating lots of heat you either unzip the jacket or take it off depending upon the temperature. When you are wearing a close fitting garment as is worn by bicyclists all of the moisture that your body generates will not, regardless of what these companies say get through the material. If the ambient air temperature is above 60 degrees F you will feel clammy and if it is lower when you stop moving the chances are you will get a chill. Now if you wear my fishnets and lose clothing over it the moisture will move away from your skin surface and if you are wearing a cotton shirt that is lose fitting the moisture will be absorbed by the fabric and since it cannot touch your skin surface you will not be clammy or get a chill.

For cold weather biking I also recommend my Lamilite socks.

It is my opinion that the general public is fed from the outdoor industry a steady diet of erroneous information that sounds wonderful but in fact is just erroneous.

Imagination is a wonderful quality to have and in my opinion it is rampant in the outdoor industry.