Relative Warmth of Synthetic Puffy Pants
A CLO value is a measurement of the warmth provided by a garment. It serves as a means of comparing the relative warmth of various clothing insulated with synthetic materials.
A good explanation of CLO values can be found on Adventure Network:
Developed in 1941, [CLO] was the first real attempt to explain the insulation value of clothing so people would know how much clothing they might need to stay warmer or cooler in a given temperature environment. A CLO value of 1 is defined as the amount of clothing required by a resting human (in other words, sitting, lying down or standing, but not moving) to be comfortable at a room temperature of 21 degrees C, or approximately 71 degrees F. That single value of CLO is equivalent to a typical business suit worn by a man -- shirt, undershirt, trousers and suit jacket. The higher the CLO number, the more insulating value is provided.
I recently put together a list comparing the CLO values of various synthetic puffy pants for a forum that I belong to. Some of you may find it useful as well, so I’m posting it here.
All of the weights given are manufacture weights. They might not be entirely accurate. I found the CLO values for the various insulating materials by searching online. Some of them are provided by the manufacturer, some by third parties.
Kifaru PackLock Pants (Arctic)
- Weight
- 27 oz
- Shell
- RhinoSkin (.9 oz/yard2)
- Insulation
- 6 oz Climashield Combat (CLO: .79/oz)
- CLO
- 4.74
Patagonia Micro Puff Pants
- Weight
- 17.4 oz
- Shell
- Ripstop polyester (32-denier, 1.5 oz/yard2)
- Insulation
- 3.2 oz of PrimaLoft One (CLO .84/oz)
- CLO
- 2.69
Rab Photon Pants
- Weight
- 15.8 oz
- Shell
- Pertex Microlight (30-denier nylon, 1.3 oz/yard2)
- Insulation
- 3.5 oz of Primaloft Sport (CLO: .74/oz)
- CLO
- 2.59
Backpacking Light Cocoon Insulated Pant
- Weight
- 7.3 oz
- Shell
- Pertex Quantum (.9 oz/yard2)
- Insulation
- Unknown (Polarguard Delta?)
- CLO
- 2.5
Integral Designs PLQ Pants
- Weight
- 11.4 oz
- Shell
- Pertex Microlite (30-denier, 1.3oz/yard2)
- Insulation
- 3 oz of Primaloft Sport (CLO: .74/oz)
- CLO
- 2.22
782 Gear Smokin' Chaps
I previously had 782 Gear's Chaps listed as using Climashield Combat. Now I'm told by a retailer that they actually use Primaloft (what type of Primaloft wasn't specified). This agrees with 782's technology page, which lists Primaloft as one of the products that they use. Yet 782 has recently updated the Chaps' product page to specify that the pants use "Climashield" (what type of Climashield isn't specified). Until this is cleared up, I'm leaving the Smokin' Chaps off this list.
Kifaru PackLock Pants (Standard)
- Weight
- 17 oz
- Shell
- RhinoSkin (.9 oz/yard2)
- Insulation
- 2 oz Climashield Combat (CLO: .79/oz)
- CLO
- 1.58
Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Pants
- Weight
- 10.2 oz
- Shell
- Ballistic Airlight (15-denier nylon, .9 oz/yard2)
- Insulation
- 1.6 oz of Exceloft (CLO: .683/oz)
- CLO
- 1.09