What to choose: Hollofiber or Thinsulate?

It has long been known that not every jacket can keep you warm. You need to know how to choose a good one. But how you want to have light, warm and practical clothes! Such that it breathes, creates a feeling of comfort in a wide range of temperatures, easily survives washing / dry cleaning and costs reasonable money.

If you are looking for a winter jacket and don't know which insulation is better, then this article will help you. From it you will learn the answer to the question: "What to choose: Hollowfiber or Thinsulate?".

Why these particular insulation materials? Because today these are the best solutions among all existing artificial insulation materials used as fillers in the production of demi-season and winter outerwear. The only competitor to them is natural down, but with a big stretch.

HOLLOPHIBER OR TINSULATE? WHICH IS BETTER?

Just recently, the question was: "Natural fluff or synthetic padding: what to choose?" And the clear favorite was fluff, because it has a minimal thermal conductivity coefficient: K = 0.008 W/(m K).

For comparison:

• For synthetic padding K=0.031 W/m °C.
• For air K=0.026 W/m °C.
• For goose down K=0.008 W/m °C.
• Thermal conductivity of a vacuum is zero.

That is, fluff insulates heat better than air, and in terms of weight/thermal insulation ratio, it leaves Sintepon (and not only it) far behind. Unfortunately, both materials lose their practical and durable properties when wet. In addition, they can cause allergies. And these are their main disadvantages. Therefore, the chemical and textile industries "gave" us Thinsulate and Hollofiber - innovative artificial insulation materials, which are said to be waterproof synthetic alternatives to fluff. So!

Thinsulate

Thinsulate is a patented American trademark that unites a whole family of synthetic non-woven materials that differ in fiber thickness and production features. It is made of very thin polyester fibres (up to 10 microns, for comparison, the thickness of a human hair is from 40 to 120 microns) in the form of a spiral, impregnated with silicone and fixed between two layers of interlining using heat treatment.

In English, Thinsulate means "thin insulation". The effectiveness of the material is explained by the increased density of fibers with their smaller (compared to more traditional insulating materials) size. It is considered the warmest thin insulation for clothing. With the same thickness, it is 1.5 times warmer than down, and about 2 times warmer than other insulating materials.

In short about the characteristics, the material has absorbed all the best: practically weightless, elastic, absolutely safe, universal, moisture-resistant, breathable, wear-resistant and easy-to-maintain insulation with low thermal conductivity. Works effectively even at -273°C - proven by NASA!

Thinsulate is used in the production of a wide range of items, including: clothing, footwear, gloves, hats, and coats. It effectively reduces not only heat loss, but also noise levels, which is why it has found application in the upholstery of Porsche, Ford, Buick, and even F-16 fighters. But most importantly, Thinsulate retains its insulating properties when wet! The material has been used in US Army clothing since the mid-1980s.

Hollofiber

Hollowfiber is patented in Russia. Translated from English, "hollow" means hollow, "fiber" means fiber. Indeed, the non-woven synthetic material consists of hollow spirals made of polyester and bonded together into a fabric under heat treatment. The material can also be produced in granules and sheets.

If we talk briefly about the characteristics, they are no worse than Thinsulate. The material has low thermal conductivity, high strength and elasticity, is resistant to bacteria, fungi and mold, hypoallergenic, fireproof and easy to care for.

Like Thinsulate, Hollofiber is widely used where good thermal protection and vapor permeability are required. It is used in the manufacture of outerwear and bedding, as a filler for upholstered furniture and toys, for the production of sound insulation and air filters, in aviation, mechanical engineering, construction. It effectively protects against cold at - 25 ° C (and even lower, it all depends on the thickness of the insulation).

A LOT IN COMMON, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES.

In terms of heat-saving qualities, both Thinsulate and Hollofiber are not much inferior to each other. Both materials work well in our winter conditions, are not subject to wrinkling and shrinkage, restore shape well after deformation, are breathable, are created using safe technology, and therefore do not cause allergic reactions. And yet there are differences between them.

1. Price: Thinsulate is significantly more expensive than Hollofiber. This is due to the fact that Thinsulate fibers are coated with silicone. This increases the cost of production technology.
2. Thinsulate has a number of better characteristics. The high cost of the insulation is fully justified by:
   • Higher durability (compared to Hollofiber).
   • The material practically does not absorb water (Hollofiber has slightly worse hygroscopicity, but it dries as quickly as its competitor).
   • Better thermal insulation properties with small thickness.
3. Thinsulate 4-5 mm thick will keep you warm in the coldest frost. Against the background of a more voluminous jacket made of Hollowfiber, a thin coat made of Thinsulate will look elegant and attractive.
4. Thinsulate accumulates static electricity, but Holofiber does not.
5. Caring for Thinsulate requires a little more attention than for Holofiber. We will talk about this below.

RULES FOR CARE OF THINSULATE AND HOLLOFIBER ITEMS

Manufacturers claim that both materials fully retain their volume and properties, even after repeated washings, provided that they are properly cared for.

In our opinion, the "capriciousness" of Thinsulate does not pose any problem. Household chemical stores offer a large selection of detergents for both materials at affordable prices, and washing machines have long had special washing modes. So, it is unlikely that a small difference in care rules will be decisive when choosing products.

WHAT TO CHOOSE: HOLLOFIBER OR TINSULATE?

If you are not afraid of the price and want to get the maximum quality and practicality, buy outerwear on Thinsulate. Jackets and coats from this material are often sewn in a fitted style. They look great, are very comfortable to wear, so light and thin that they may seem demi-season. But, as you already know, Thinsulate is the warmest thin insulation. Such clothes are loved by athletes, drivers, young mothers. With careful care, it will last up to 10 seasons.

Things with a lining made of Hollowfiber are more from the category that people like to talk about price-quality-affordability. They are quite enough for 3-4 seasons. Jackets and coats provide excellent protection from the cold, breathe well, are easy to care for, but they are a little heavier and much bulkier than Thinsulate items. This is why they look significantly different. But this is a small price to pay for getting good quality on a limited budget.

For lovers of elegant style and laconic design, adherents of street fashion, fans of spectacular images, athletes and lovers of active recreation, the Freever.ua online store offers a wide range of demi-season and winter models of jackets on Thinsulate and Hollofiber. High quality, branded design, prices from the manufacturer! Boys click here, girls follow this link, and all the best for children is presented here! Enjoy your shopping!