Downmat 7 or ProLite 4 ?

[percious]

I use a combination of a Prolite 3 and a Thermolite pad. You put the pad on top if it is really cold, or under the prolite if its just a little cold. You gotta PM me if you want more info on Thermolite though.

-percious

 

[DougPaul]

Doug -

I had a "senior moment" when I referred to a brand/type of closed cell foam pad sold by MEC as Ensolite. That was in error - the pad is made of Evazote (OK, it was an "e" word - I was close!).

Kevin,

No problem--I get them every now and then too...

Just for the heck of it I did a froogle search on "ensolite sleeping pad"--nobody seems to be selling them any more.

They (MEC) also has an interesting R-Value chart which compares several brands/models of pads.[/QUOTE]
Thanks--a useful table. I've compiled similar tables from manufacturer's info.

The R-value (2.06) on the 1.5cm thick Evazote pad is lower than I would have expected, assuming the evazote has similar insulating characteristics to the pad materials of 25 years ago. Back in those days, a 1/2 in (1.27 cm) pad was considered sufficient in winter.

Doug

 

[lumberzac]

The R-value (2.06) on the 1.5cm thick Evazote pad is lower than I would have expected, assuming the evazote has similar insulating characteristics to the pad materials of 25 years ago. Back in those days, a 1/2 in (1.27 cm) pad was considered sufficient in winter.

Doug

I wonder if the manufacturing process changed. This happened with ISO (rigid foam insulation) for buildings. The processes for manufacturing changed to (I believe to reduce environmental impact) as a result the R-value was reduced.

 

[DougPaul]

I wonder if the manufacturing process changed. This happened with ISO (rigid foam insulation) for buildings. The processes for manufacturing changed to (I believe to reduce environmental impact) as a result the R-value was reduced.

Interesting.

The materials were different so the manufacturing processes are also likely to be different. Around 1975, white and green ensolite (soft and rubbery) were in common use and a new light-weight spun-polypropaline pad (my first closed-cell pad) came into use. Stiff, blue and delicate--you had to carry it in a stuff sack or you would leave little blue tufts in the trees as you passed. The structure looked like many small threads fused together. Many of the modern pads seem to be based upon evazote and have a foam cellular structure.

I have some catalogs from that era and wish I could get a trade-name, but they are as yet unpacked following a move.

FWIW, I have slept on snow on a 1/2in evazote pad plus a 1.5in thermarest and been warm. Don't remember if I have slept on the 1/2in pad by itself.

Doug