Those who go hiking, skiing or take part in other winter activities know that keeping warm requires a good coat, but it is also a matter of having a coat the provides warmth without feeling like its made of lead. So what is the secret to The North Face’s new coats that offer the promise of excellent warmth-to-weight ratio? Fuzzy balls it seems! This will come as good news to the geese that supply the goose down for coats.
The difference with this new synthetic insulation ThermoBall is that it uses a typical polyester insulation but it is chopped into short strands that are further frizzed and frayed, resulting in an appearance that is similar to mini-cotton balls. Inside a coat’s fabric these balls have a tendency to stick to one another, which helps trap heat, reportedly resulting in apparel that is 15 percent warmer than other non-frizzed synthetic insulation. And while still not as warn as goose down, the coat won’t lose its heat capability should the wearer get wet from sweat or worse the elements, which basically remains the biggest problem with down.
The only problem we see is that the coat won’t be available until next July, so we’ll have to endure another harsh winter without it!
[Via Outside Online: The North Face’s New Warm and Fuzzy Balls]