some history that you do not know!

“NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY”

The above phrase was made popular by Paul Harvey and is very appropriate as applied to the following article. The original relationship between these two companies was not a very profitable relationship. As you read the article you will learn why I have stated this.

PrimaLoft Partners With L.L.Bean

Posted by SGB Media | Oct 24, 2017 | Apparel, Outdoor, SGB Updates, Update

PrimaLoft Inc., a provider of high-performance insulations, fabrics and yarns, partnered with L.L.Bean to debut PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core technology. Patent-pending PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core fuses aerogel technology with PrimaLoft Gold Insulation.

Primaloft Company uses what I consider poor quality fiber to make their batting regardless of what each product is named. Now they are adding to it this aerogel product. Aerogel has been around for years and I can only accept it has a place where it is used, but as an additive to their polyester it will not make a difference as to making the product more efficient, which is not the case.

L.L.Bean’s Ultralight Aero Sleeping Bag and Packaway line of coats, jackets and vests will be the first products to feature the Cross Core series, arriving at retail spring 2018. The new Cross Core series will be available industry-wide fall 2019.

I looked on the web site and it does not exist. I then called and it appears no one at the company even knows about it. I then read that these items will not be available until spring of 2018. That tells me the sleeping bag will be a summer weight product. As for the garments they will also be I expect spring weight at best.

“The PrimaLoft Cross Core series is a significant advancement in our technological capabilities,” said Mike Joyce, president and CEO of PrimaLoft Inc. “This first iteration in the series results in apparel that is warmer than existing insulations by 11 to 52 percent, while remaining just as lightweight. L.L.Bean has been a long-term partner since the late 1980’s. In fact, in 1990, L.L.Bean brought the first commercially available PrimaLoft insulated garment to retail. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with an iconic brand and trusted partner.”

I think this fellow the noted spokesman for the company has delusions because thinking that adding these minuscule particles is going to make the fiberfill product better just will not happen. When they say warmer than existing insulations, they do not clarify the weight of the existing insulations versus the weight of their insulation. What does he mean when he says “cross core”, it should have some meaning. I suspect it has to do with the way the aerogel is applied.

As for the 1990’s I believe that Bean was the major sponsor of the peace climb of Mount Everest ledby Jim Whittaker the first American to summit Everest.

As I recall all of the outerwear was insulated with primaloft. As I also recall the climbers had to get replacement garments because they were in a word “freezing”.

A very dear friend of mine was the head of manufacturing at Raven Industries who was making outerwear for Bean. He was making a jacket and vest insulated with primaloft which he said was a headache to work with so they charged them more money for these garments than the same garments made with down. I believe Bean closed out the program after the one season.

A few years later a guy I worked with who actually got me into the vacuum packing of sleeping bags chose to stop working with me and started his own company. I was prepared to work with him to make his own brand of Lamilite bags. However he asked me for $15000.00 for advertising, I said absolutely no. He then told me that Albany International offered him that to make primaloft insulated bags. I told him very quickly he was now my enemy and that he would fail. Some time went by and he sent me an email advising me that he had an order for about 112 primaloft sleeping bags from Bean. They failed and were discontinued before the end of the season.

“Icon” is something or one who is idolized. The idea that these companies are idolized is a massive misrepresentation as I believe. The primaloft product as an insulating medium is in my learned opinion an unacceptable form of insulation because again in my learned opinion its ability to perform in temperature below 40 degrees F are almost no-existent. As for Bean, they are a retailer just like Macy’s or Walmart. Maybe we should idolize them as well. Retailers are all drug stores wanting to sell everything they can, and get as much promotion as they can.

Since 1990, PrimaLoft and L.L.Bean have partnered to debut multiple PrimaLoft technologies, including PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Active, PrimaLoft Yarn and PrimaLoft Insulation for footwear.

I do not know dates but I am very sure the variety of names about did not exist in 1990.

“PrimaLoft is the leader in insulation innovation providing solutions for our consumers, which is why we continue to collaborate,” said Tom Armstrong, senior vice president and chief merchandising officer at L.L.Bean. “L.L.Bean prides itself in developing best in class products utilizing next generation technologies keeping outdoor enthusiasts comfortable regardless of Mother Nature. We are committed to aligning ourselves with industry leaders – PrimaLoft is an easy choice.”

Primaloft is NOT by any stretch of one’s imagination the leader in insulation innovation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This product is NOT a next generation technology, it is in my opinion a desperate ploy to get someone to buy the product regardless if it works or not, and in this case not! It is not necessary for anyone to believe what I have to say about what has been going on for the past 30 years with respect to insulations in the industry that make insulated apparel or sleeping bags because I know that continuous filament fiber is absolutely second to nothing else on the planet for use as an insulation in these products. Further the absolute best method of using it is to laminate it before trying to use it versus every other form of insulation has to be quilted. I challenge each of these companies to bring to me sample garments made with this insulating medium and PROVE to me they have a worthwhile product worthy of being purchased by consumers. I do not believe they do and therefore the products should be ignored.

I wonder if there are any employees at Bean who remember the peace climb.