Fibre Pile
Developed by Helly Hansen engineers in the 1960s, it was brought to prominence by Swedish lumbermen, who recognised the advantages of the new fabric during their hard physical work at low temperatures. Fibre Pile has since proven to be an ideal fabric for tough and cold work environments where letting the garment breathe is more important than weather protection.
The Fibre Lock technology makes a unique hard-wearing and durable fabric. All styles are approved in accordance with ENV 342.
Air Insulation
Fibre Pile works on the principle of air insulation. Multiple curled fibres create a layer which traps air and collects body warmth. The pile is light, so provides excellent heat retention at a low weight. If perspiration is not allowed to evaporate, then condensation in the thermal layer will reduce the insulation provided. That's why Fibre Pile beneath a breathable outer shell makes the optimal thermal layer in a 3-Layer System.
Fibre Pile keeps its shape and spring by using special, resilient fibres with a large number of curls and twists. It simulates wool while retaining the quick-dry qualities of synthetic fibres, offering unique insulation, wearability and durability.
W-Pile Fibre Lock
The way the yarn is knitted is vital to Fibre Pile's success. Helly Hansen has developed and patented Fibre Lock, a cut/loop knitting technique where the fibres on the pile side are anchored to the backing. This system creates loose and elastic knits with extreme durability, making long lasting garments which are very comfortable to wear. This is known as W-pile.
Using Fibre Lock, the pile can be double-sided, so even more volume and insulation are provided without increasing weight. The thicker the thermal layer is, the more insulation is provided.
W-Pile is available in 400-500g weights with spun nylon or texturized polyester filament yarns. The high quality of the fibres provide long lasting functionality.
Compared to fleece, Fibre Pile provides more insulation because of the thickness of the layer, it allows faster heat exchange and transportation of perspiration, but it is more open and has a lower windresistance. In combination with the appropriate protection layer Fibre Pile is the perfect thermal layer for staying dry and warm at work.
V-Pile Fibre Lock
A cheaper alternative is V-pile, where the fibres are sprayed, or glued to the backing. This makes the fabric stiffer and less durable, offering lower performance at a lower price.
Flame Retardant
A flame retardant quality is also available in Fibre Pile, meeting the CE standard EN 531 and EN 533. This is part of Helly Hansen's' FR 3-Layer weather system, which includes underwear (Base Layer), Thermal Layer and Waterproof garments. Helly Hansen FR Pile is made from 80% FR Wool which is Zirpro-treated, and 20% FR polyester as a backside yarn. The jacket has a non-melt metal zipper. HH FR Pile is approved and listed by NATO.
Helly Hansen, 3326 160th Ave St Ste 200, Bellevue, WA 98008. Tel: 425-378-8700; Fax: .