Quantifying the Thermal Protection Characteristics of Outdoor Clothing Systems

Abstract

This paper describes a reliable test method for measuring and comparing the heat-transfer characteristics of outdoor garments and sleeping bags. The procedure involves the use of an electrically heated mannequin located in a climate-controlled chamber. Unlike instruments that evaluate small samples of fabric, the mannequin technique reflects the effects of fabric overlap and garment design, shape, fit, and layering in the measurements. This paper also discusses the textile and human factors that affect the heat exchange between the body and a cold environment.