Reflectix insulation material

“I'm getting ready to buy some Reflectix (search homedepot.com for reflectix) to make insulated covers for the tent-ends of my pop-up camper - too keep the sun off. Since I love to tinker with homemade backpacking stuff I'm sure I'll use some for the trail, too. Anyone use this stuff for a while? How does it hold up to BP abuse? Effective for cozys, etc?

On a related note, does anyone want to go in with me for a larger roll? I can get what I need from Home Depot, but a larger roll online would be cheaper if 2 or more went in on it.”

“Me... I steal what little I want for free from work ;)

I've found it's pretty durable stuff... but I treat all my ultralight gear gently too. I made a cozy for my single wall Ti cup that works awsome. it wraps around and under my cup... and I hold it on with a rubber band.”

“I still have a bunch of it.
$1 a running foot (24" wide) plus $4 shipping”

“I need a 4' wide roll, since I'll need to double it up (8') to go across my tent-ends. Works out cheaper to get the 4' X 25' roll from Home Depot for $38, but thanks StoveStomper.”

“Cool, have fun with your project.”

“I've got some. I copied Q's idea...Q used his to make a cozy for his dehydrated meals so they stay warm while they rehydrate. Seemed to work.”

“Well, the stuff does degrade, I've noticed. I looked at my pouches the other day and noticed that some of the reflective stuff was starting to flake off. Places like Anti-gravityGear.com rip you off for 10 bucks for something that can be made for under 75 cents. Seeing that this stuff is starting to flake, I would een bother with anti, as replacing this stuff through them would be real costly.
I bought my material at a local hardware store for 1 dollar for a foot run that was 3 feet high and I bought a run of 3 feet. Out of that run, I was able to make about at least 6 pouches or so.”

“Thanks for the input.

I'm thinking about cutting a pad-sized piece and trying it out directly between my bag and pad on a cold trip. Might be too loud (crinkly) and not worth the extra weight/bulk, though.”

“I also have thought about this set up. I decided against it, because I felt that the insulation factor of this material wouldn't stand up like a closed cell pad, but I didn't concider the set up you suggested. I might point out that you will prolly want some material of *grippie-ness* on the material, because you might slide a little.

Also, remember that this material relies on little bubbles to insulate, so be careful where you place the mat.

I've tried to use this stuff under my alky stove for protection against the cold, no good. The bubble thingys melted down to the foil.”

“According to a web site I read about the construction of the stuff (I think the manufacturer's), the foil sheets do most of the work, the bubble wrap and other material is for stiffness and a little convection heat loss prevention. Since the foil does most of the work, I'm wondering if just using a regular mylar blanket (single ply, the cheap "emergency" type) would do the same job - between bag and pad.”

“It might. My guess is that most of the work is through reflection, which is what those blankies do.

Maybe a test on both before ya get out there is in order?”

“Sounds like a good excuse for a "home-bound" trip to the woods to me!”

“Anybody else with comments on reflectix?”

“Found a good deal on the stuff online, if anyone is looking to buy (I am, soon).

4' X 125' for about $80. That's how much two 4' X 25' rolls would be at Home Depot, so its like getting another 75' free.

http://www.buyhardwaresupplies.com/hardware_supplies.cfm?t=5&m=b1&itemNumber=5269238”

“Good deal, tech!”

“I finally got to try using some as part of my sleeping system 2 weekends ago, temps around 25. Not sure if it helped to keep me warmer or not. Theoretically it should have. Anyone else give this a try?

Current price for "radiant barrier" (the non-brand name for Reflectix) on homedepot.com is around $62 for a 4' X 125' roll. Just FYI if anyone wants any. I've used a bunch on my popup camper and it does make a world of difference when its really cold or really hot.”

“I think EarthNsky is right - a dating thread gets hundreds of posts and a gear thread gets none. Does anyone here backpack anymore?”

“techntrek - If you post a relatively obscure reference to some "gear" you tried and ask if others tried it, what do you expect?”

“Reflectix is hardly "obscure", its the best-known radiant barrier brand on the market. Many people here use it for warming coozies and in other forms for windscreens, etc. Hardly an unknown material for backpackers. Check out the other threads here on the subject for reference. Not that it will do you any good, your owner's sense of reality is so skewed I doubt he/she even knows what a tent is.”

“Not sure if it helped to keep me warmer or not. Theoretically it should have. Anyone else give this a try?

If you post a relatively obscure reference to some "gear" you tried

Reflectix is hardly "obscure", its the best-known radiant barrier brand on the market

I did not say Reflectix is obscure. If you thought everyone had used it in the same way you had in your "experiment", then you wouldn't have had to ask if anyone else tried it. If it's so common, why did you have to test its particular use? If it's such a hot topic as you claim, then why would you expect much additional discussion about it?”

“Oh, now sarge is trolling Gear threads.

What is this material? I assume it is a material that reduces radiation of heat opposed to other methods of thermal transfer. Does it also work as a vapor barrier? If so do you not wake up damp?”

“Radiant barriers are basically 100% aluminum sheeting. Thick aluminum foil, really. Beyond that the two most common forms are either 2 sheets of aluminum with nylon webbing sandwiched between OR 2 sheets with a thin layer of "bubble wrap" sandwiched between. The bubble wrap really doesn't give any insulative advantage, its just useful for some applications.

The stuff is usually used as a wrap on the outside of regular insulation around heating ducts (to keep heat in during winter and out during summer), or on the underside of the trusses in the attic of a house to keep out heat in the summer.

My experiment involved laying a sheet of it under my pad.

Edit: and yes, it is rated to reflect 97% of radiative heat. No value to it for conductive or convective heat loss, so you still need a pad for the conductive loss.
last edited: 12/15/05 9:43:20 AM”

“Homemade gear has a very small following on this board.
Most peeps here will never make anything.

Not saying that's bad, or good. Just what I've noticed.

If you want responses for homemade gear, go to backpacking.net.”

“All I can say is I love the stuff-and yes, I love making gear..though, being busy...at this point my newest cozy came from Antigravitygear....just cheaper to buy it ;-)”

“I still post my homemade stuff here.
LOL
Even if only three or four peeps look at it. ;-)

It's quality, not quantity.”

“That Reflectex insulation is pretty darned nifty.

I use it for cozies for a bowl, and for a small Nalgene. Keeps food/beverages very very hot. Pasta/Rice keeps "cooking" in the bowl, and can overcook if your not carefull.

I've also used it in my Hammock along with a foam z-rest pad at altitude. Was comfortable.

-I'm pondering using it to make a small collapseable or velcroed together cooler for my upcoming cycle tour. Will help keep perishable foods longer in the heat, as well as for chilling beer/wine in camp (mmm...). Dual/triple use (if I make it rite) will be extra insulating value for sleeping on, as well as a quick seating pad.

Quite sturdy stuff, but the mylar sheeting does rub off after extended use and rolling up (ie daily use over months).

Dandy stuff to use around the house to lower the heating bill as well. Rolls used to be relatively cheap at the home big box stores.”