Thread: Possum fur as insulation

Originally Posted by Pengy

I cant help thinking that there just has to be a down side (pun intended) to using Possum fur in this way, otherwise one of the major players would of already done it

puffer jackets/sleepingbags work on using the "loft" ability of down, it can squish down to nothing and puff up again. possum fur does not do that to the same extent like sheeps wool.
merino underwear is bloody good(but far ken expensive!) and not scratchy like the old farm fleck socks

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

puffer jackets/sleepingbags work on using the "loft" ability of down, it can squish down to nothing and puff up again. possum fur does not do that to the same extent like sheeps wool.
merino underwear is bloody good(but far ken expensive!) and not scratchy like the old farm fleck socks

Yeah man love my merino undies. Nothing like that breathability and moisture wicking. Good for avoiding those anchovy smells

I am going to experiment with the fur I have

Originally Posted by Pengy

I am going to experiment with the fur I have

I have possum fur beanies and possum fur socks,they are nice and warm and nice and soft and good for going to town on a winters night and that is about it.
Wool fibers naturally lock together and naturall oils provide some water proofing.
Duck and goose down can compress and expand up to 900%.
possum fur is nice and soft but must be blended with wool to make a garment as the fibers are too short and smooth to lock together.....been there.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I have possum fur beanies and possum fur socks,they are nice and warm and nice and soft and good for going to town on a winters night and that is about it.
Wool fibers naturally lock together and naturall oils provide some water proofing.
Duck and goose down can compress and expand up to 900%.
possum fur is nice and soft but must be blended with wool to make a garment as the fibers are too short and smooth to lock together.....been there.

Knits up into a really warm blanket, and is lighter for the amount of insulation it provides compared to wool alone....My wife is an avid knitter and uses plenty of exotic and expensive fibres, Possum / merino is probably one of the cheaper ones she uses, Alpaca, aplaca and silk, all sorts of very soft fine fibres and wools.

I am not thinking of "making " the garment from Possum fur, rather than filling it.
I know it compresses when wet, but so does down, in a big way.

Originally Posted by Pengy

I am not thinking of "making " the garment from Possum fur, rather than filling it.
I know it compresses when wet, but so does down, in a big way.

Scientific testing is what will sell it to manufacturers and consumers alike.....or else just put it on dickbook.

@Pengy could always buy a dog be, pull the stuffing out and replace it. Would work for pooch or penguins depending on the size... Beanbag would awesome filled half with fur

Originally Posted by 223nut

@Pengy could always buy a dog be, pull the stuffing out and replace it. Would work for pooch or penguins depending on the size... Beanbag would awesome filled half with fur

Jokes aside, I am going to give that a go.

One of the big advantages of down for insulation is the warmth/weight ratio, I don't know how possum fur compares in that regard but would be interesting to find out.

I don't know the answer to that one, but can tell you that she (sis) is not aware of the possum fur trade.
I have a feeling that some Goose down is plucked from the live bird and then left to re grow.

Originally Posted by Pengy

I don't know the answer to that one, but can tell you that she (sis) is not aware of the possum fur trade.
I have a feeling that some Goose down is plucked from the live bird and then left to re grow.

Ouch.....

Initial scientific tests suggest that Possum fur compresses very well, and also lofts back to original bulk . Test was done using a vacuum sealer, which obviously compressed it much harder than could be done by hand.

Originally Posted by Pengy

Initial scientific tests suggest that Possum fur compresses very well, and also lofts back to original bulk . Test was done using a vacuum sealer, which obviously compressed it much harder than could be done by hand.

Intriguing, might have to look into this as well, never seem to remember to take my fur to town to sell it when I go...
Thinking of two thin jackets, a outer shell and a fleece inner wih fur between them, guess you would need to make quite a few baffles to hold the fur in place

Swazi made (makes?) those puffer vests and jackets with wool, and they're pretty good. Can't see why a possum one would not work if looked after. Down jackets need looked after as well to be fully efficient.