FAQ'S
Answers to your questions
Your questions, comments and opinions are important to us. So if you have questions or comments about Thinsulate™ Insulation, please e-mail us and let us know what is on your mind.
- How can Thinsulate insulation keep me warm when it is so thin?
- What is Thinsulate insulation made from?
- How warm is Thinsulate insulation?
- Is Thinsulate insulation washable or dry-cleanable?
- What if Thinsulate insulation gets wet?
- Is Thinsulate insulation like Gore-Tex™?
- How was Thinsulate insulation invented?
- Why are there different weights of Thinsulate insulation?
- How do I know which weight is in my jacket?
- What is loft or thermal weight efficiency?
Question 1. How can Thinsulate insulation keep me warm when it is so thin?
The concept that makes Thinsulate insulation so effective is actually simple. All insulations work by trapping air among their fibers. The more air trapped, the more efficient the insulation. More fibers in less space provide more surface area on which air layers can form. Thinsulate™ Insulation has microfibers with a diameter of less than 10 microns, which are about 10 times smaller than a human hair and trap more air in less space than any other insulation material used in the apparel industry.
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Question 2. What is Thinsulate insulation made from?
There are different types of Thinsulate insulation designed to keep you warm in different environments. Each type is blended to keep you warm in the environment where it will be used. To learn more about the various types of Thinsulate insulation, please refer to the insulations section.
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Question 3. How warm is Thinsulate insulation?
The different insulations offer differing degrees of warmth. The original "warmth without bulk" Thinsulate insulation, for example, provides 1 ½ times the warmth of down and nearly twice the warmth of other high-loft synthetic insulations when equal thicknesses are compared.
Thinsulate™ Lite Loft™ Insulation is the most thermally weight-efficient synthetic insulation. That means it is the warmest when equal weights are compared. It is comparable to 550 fill down.
And Thinsulate™ Ultra Insulation is designed to take on some of the harshest conditions on earth. It is loftier and thicker than original Thinsulate insulation for even greater warmth and comfort.
Thinsulate™ Supreme Insulation features a special fiber coating that gives it a soft, silky, luxurious feel while providing warmth and comfort.
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Question 4. Is Thinsulate™ Insulation washable or dry-cleanable?
Yes, most Thinsulate insulations are washable and dry-cleanable. However, the shell of your garment or accessory may not be. Be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s specific care instructions before cleaning.
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Question 5. What if Thinsulate insulation gets wet?
It will still keep you warm and comfortable. That’s because Thinsulate insulation retains its insulating ability in damp conditions. Its fibers absorb less than 1% by weight of water, so it stays effective at keeping you warm – and it dries easily if it does become wet.
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Question 6. Is Thinsulate insulation like Gore-Tex™?
No, these are two entirely different products. Thinsulate insulation is designed to keep you warm. Gore-Tex™ waterproof/breathable membrane is designed to keep you dry. In many applications, they are used together.
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Question 7. How was Thinsulate insulation invented?
Thinsulate insulation began in the 1960s when 3M started experiments in microfiber technology. By 1978, 3M had introduced Thinsulate insulation into the apparel and accessories marketplace. Since then, Thinsulate insulation has become synonymous with warmth and comfort, and we’ve expanded the line to include insulations for a wide range of cold-weather applications.
Here is a brief history of Thinsulate insulation:
- 1960s: Experiments in microfiber technology started, followed by five years of lab work and two years of testing.
- 1978: Thinsulate™ Insulation introduced for application in apparel and accessories.
- 1983: Thinsulate insulation for footwear introduced.
- 1988: Thinsulate insulation helped sponsor the 1988 Olympic games.
- 1989: Thinsulate™ Lite Loft™ Insulation introduced.
- 1992: Thinsulate insulation helped sponsor the 1992 Olympic games
- 1992-95: Official sponsor of the International Arctic Project "IAP" led by expeditionist Will Steger.
- 1993: The first Thinsulate™ Ultra Insulation introduced.
- 1994: Broader product offerings for Thinsulate insulation and Thinsulate™ Lite Loft™ insulation.
- 1994-98: Sponsor of Canadian Freestyle Moguls Champion Ann-Marie Pelchat
- 1994-99: U.S. Ski Team sponsor.
- 1997: Thinsulate™ Flex Insulation and additional Thinsulate Ultra insulations introduced. Sponsorship of the Russian autonomous transpolar skiing expedition.
- 2002: Thinsulate™ Supreme Insulation introduced.
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Question 8. Why are there different weights of Thinsulate insulation?
Different applications will require different warmth (“clo”) values. To achieve different warmth levels, the insulation must increase in thickness and weight. For example, a fall jacket may use a 40-gram weight, but an Arctic parka would probably have a 200-gram version in the body.
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Question 9. How do I know which weight of Thinsulate™ Insulation is in my jacket?
3M works closely with manufacturers to ensure that the most suitable type and weight of Thinsulate insulation is used. For questions regarding a specific jacket, you may want to contact the manufacturer directly.
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Question 10. What is loft or thermal weight efficiency?
As in any industry, there is terminology specific to insulation. For reference, here are some terms that come up often as we talk about the properties of Thinsulate insulation.
- Loft – the thickness of the product
- Clo – a measure of warmth
- Thermal weight efficiency – the ratio of clo to weight
- Compressibility – the degree to which insulation will compact under pressure
- Fiber blend - composition of the insulation product
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