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  1. #1
    New Member Yetee's Avatar
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    question regarding IX vs. straight plastic sheeting

    Ok, I am fairly new to hammocks and have been lurking here for a while just trying to learn. I have a question regarding underquilts made with IX vs one made of thin polyethylene sheeting. Since IX is basically a vapor barrier with perforations couldn't one use plastic sheeting that was perforated in its place? (this stemmed from a thread where IX was replaced with perforated PEF).

    IX has an R value of 1.76 and a thickness of .02 inches while 2 layers of 5 mil PE have an R value of 1.5 and a thickness of .01 inches.

    Has anyone tried this? or am I missing something important as to why no one has tried it? I may just be over thinking this and it wont work at all.....

    I think I may try it out sometime as I have a plethora of PE sheeting, just a matter of finding the time to put it all together.

  2. #2
    Senior Member dejoha's Avatar
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    I think Mac would be the one to answer here -- I think he has the most experience working with IX and variants. You might ping him with a PM too.

  3. #3
    MacEntyre's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yetee View Post
    Since IX is basically a vapor barrier with perforations couldn't one use plastic sheeting that was perforated in its place?
    Insultex is PE foam quilted with a polypropylene scrim on both sides. PE sheeting doesn't insulate as well as PE foam.

    Quote Originally Posted by Yetee View Post
    (this stemmed from a thread where IX was replaced with perforated PEF).
    PEF = PE Foam. The perfs help you pack it, by letting air esape... otherwise the perfs had no effect. PPEF is difficult to distinguish from Insultex, once it is encased in nylon.

    Quote Originally Posted by Yetee View Post
    IX has an R value of 1.76 and a thickness of .02 inches while 2 layers of 5 mil PE have an R value of 1.5 and a thickness of .01 inches.
    IIRC, 0.03" (1/32") Insultex and PEF both have an R value of 3.

    Quote Originally Posted by Yetee View Post
    Has anyone tried this?
    Ed Speer did some testing using PE sheet as an outer cover for his winter rig. He is a very cold sleeper... not certain if he came to any conclusions.

    I would be reluctant to use a vapor barrier outside my insulation in real cold, for fear of condensation getting the insulation wet. However, for mild weather, it should do pretty well.
    - MacEntyre
    "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
    www.MollyMacGear.com

  4. #4
    New Member Yetee's Avatar
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    yeah I was unsure if the perorations aided in reducing condensation at all, if they just make it pack better and PEF is not a true vapor barrier than my idea wont work I suppose.

    the R value of 1.76 came from insultex's web site. they list it as .02" and a Clo value of 2.0, which when converted gives R1.76 for a single layer.

    Thank you for helping me understand a little better how IX works.

  5. #5
    MacEntyre's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yetee View Post
    ... if ... PEF is not a true vapor barrier than my idea wont work I suppose.
    PEF is a vapor barrier.

    Insultex, being perforated, is vapor permeable to a very small extent. However, for all practical purposes, it is a vapor barrier!

    - MacEntyre
    - MacEntyre
    "We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." - Ben Franklin
    www.MollyMacGear.com

  6. #6
    Senior Member greggg3's Avatar
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    Wow, I didn't realize the R value of this stuff was so high. From cascadedesigns website, a z-rest has an R value of 2.2 and its 3/4" thick while the IX has an R value of 1.75 at 0.02" thick? Am I confusing the ratings? 2 layers of IX is warmer than a z-rest?

  7. #7
    Senior Member greggg3's Avatar
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    Oh yeah, where do you buy this stuff at?

  8. #8
    Member The Wolf in a Hammock's Avatar
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    You can get insultex here http://diygearsupply.com/
    I made an under quilt and top quilt and they work pretty well so far

  9. #9
    Senior Member greggg3's Avatar
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    Thanks Wolf - is the R value right? It seems incredibly high - maybe I don't understand how the rating works, do you have to multiply by the thickness to get the total insulative value?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by MacEntyre View Post
    PEF is a vapor barrier.

    Insultex, being perforated, is vapor permeable to a very small extent. However, for all practical purposes, it is a vapor barrier!

    - MacEntyre
    Is this a vapor barrier? If not will the UQ create condensation if you use a UQP made by 2QZQ that is breathable?

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