The Science of Making a Sleeping Bag

SCIENTIST

A DEFINITION FROM THE DICTIONARY

a branch of knowledge or study dealing with a body of facts or truths systematically arranged and showing the operation of general laws:

the mathematical sciences.

1. systematic knowledge of the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.
2. any of the branches of natural or physical science.
3. systematized knowledge in general.
4. knowledge, as of facts or principles; knowledge gained by systematic study.
5. a particular branch of knowledge.
6. skill, especially reflecting a precise application of facts or principles; proficiency.

My article “THE PERFECT SLEEPING BAG” was written based on true facts that are gained through scientific observation [1].

I have a particular branch of knowledge [5] which incorporates insulating materials and methods of how they are used.

The knowledge I have gained is of the materials involved by systematic study of the materials involved. [4]

To make the product it takes [6] skill especially reflecting a precise application of facts or principles, proficiency. This entails combining all the components necessary to make the complete product. These materials used are the result of acquisition of knowledge of them.

I have learned over the years that I have been a manufacturer of sleeping bags there is a misconception of what it takes to manufacture a “sleeping bag”.

In all these years, 56 I just calculated, I have heard the same complaint from sleeping bag users, “I was cold”. Hence the reason I refer to what people have bought is “no sleep sleeping bags”.

As I look back on my time selling to or rather trying to sell Lamilite to these companies I learned that the guys in charge of making the sleeping bags were not interested in the insulation and how it performed. They were more interested in marketing support if they used the product, not how it worked. Technical knowledge was meaningless to them.

Overall, over these years what I have observed about the industry is that sleeping bags were a second cousin for them after their jackets. Truly it really did nor does matter if they work as they advertise them or not.

Even the bulk of the consumers are oblivious to what it takes to make a sleeping bag. They generally purchase on price, weight for temperature rating or cosmetics [appearance]. Technical data is of no interest. The temperature ratings are outrageously incorrect.

A sleeping bag has one specific purpose; to keep someone warm so they can sleep. Of course, they are made for use in different temperature environments so there are some modifications made from the initial bag.

The question now is how this gets accomplished. There are two primary components of a sleeping bag. The lining and shell material [1] and of course should be the same quality. Then we have a zipper. And finally, the insulation [2].

Technically a fabric made from 70 denier yarns has proven to be the most efficient. For its weight it is the strongest. When the weave is 100 by 160 yarns it is not waterproof but water resistant, it is also vapor permeable. Sleeping bags should always be made from materials that are vapor permeable, you never want your body perspiration to stay in the bag. Scientifically it is proven that body heat trapped in a sleeping bag is sufficient to cause perspiration while vapor moves away from you, this constitutes the shell and lining.

For the moisture while in a vapor state to stay that way the insulation must be capable of retaining the body heat.

Scientifically you must find the best insulation that will function to allow this to take place. [Lamilite]

Scientists examine all candidates that can do what they want done. If they review chopped staple fiberfill products, they will find that the chopped fiberfill fiber construction is such that it inhibits the movement of moist vapor. These product developers are not scientist, so they review nothing.

For all the years I have worked in the industry I have never met one product developer working with polyester fiberfill who is a scientist. They have not developed a systematic approach to what they are doing. They treat sleeping bags as they would a winter jacket. They do not have any knowledge of fiberfill construction making a batting of it.

These people paid little or no attention to what constitutes insulation. It is an item used in the making of a sleeping bag and that is that. I can tell you from experience visiting with literally all the product developers that existed in the industry from 1966 until 1974 in their factories. It stopped because I got on my boat and sailed away. When I returned in late 1975, I started Olam making sleeping bags as I do today. What I learned from them was what not to do.

I showed them the scientific evidence why they should use the Lamilite, but it fell on deaf ears. The science behind what they would be making was not of any interest.

For the past 20 years or so the marketers of the “no sleep sleeping bags” have had their products made in China. The insulation they use is exclusively chopped staple fiberfill. To use this product, it must be quilted. Whatever the loft of the product is quilting reduces it by 20 percent, it also causes the fibers to clump closer together. Essentially creating a wall of sorts that inhibits moisture movement. The quilt stitching lines are one continuous cold spot. When you put body weight on this fiberfill product it collapses very easily and when you relieve the pressure the loft does not come back. The top half of the bag lays flat on you never filling in along your sides.

One characteristic of down that I like is how it loves you right away. The science behind how Lamilite is made is the use of lamination when constructed in a sleeping bag allows it too also loves you. When you lay in the sleeping bag on your back you crush down the Lamilite but when you roll over the Lamilite re-lofts.

If you were to ever see the machine that makes the Climashield that I convert to Lamilite you would see a marvelous scientific achievement. There is science in every aspect of the making of the fiber that is used to make the Climashield fiberfill.

Other attributes that are attributed to the Lamilite are its durability, resilience and heat retention. No other synthetic fiberfill used as an insulation in sleeping bags is launderable. Lamilite insulation as is constructed in a sleeping bag can be but is laundered dozens of times. The durability of the Wiggy’s bags longevity is 25 to 38 years. The loft has remained all these years.

Scientists carry out experiments looking for positive results that may take years to show themselves. Wiggy’s bags were my experiment. I knew most of the qualities of my bags and have learned more of them. My sleeping bags had, as it has turned out, a welcome audience to test out my bags not that they knew I was using them as testers who welcomed the opportunity to do so.

I have had the luxury of seeing the successful results of my experiment many times over for the past 38 years. I do not know how many sleeping bags I have sold; I am guessing over 100,000 by now so that many people must be right about them.

Science even made a sleeping bag.