JohnInCarolina said:  
I think the question is whether or not you're better off just using the air in the cooler as an insulator or filling the space with towels (ostensibly warm ones I guess) and then paying the price of the higher heat flux courtesy of conduction.  

Many small pockets of air (as exists in towels) provide a much higher R-value than a similar volume of clear air.  This is why we fill our walls between the studs with Dow-Corning pink stuff.
 
Disclaimer:  None of this makes a whit of difference, it's just how us geeks have fun.  

HeavyG said:

bhedges1987 said:

Step one to making good BBQ is to stop overthinking things. 

When your to a point debating the type of towel used for FTC, your probably way overthinking other parts of the cook. 

Yet lots of folks go to great lengths to get the "proper" color butcher paper to wrap with because...reasons...

This sort of thing seems to be an intrinsic part of the bbq game.

Quite a big difference between going after a $50,000.00 grand prize and posting on a forum saying "newbie question" don't ya think....

When you say "BBQ game" that implies that cook A has been competing for grand championships and prize money.

The OP has stated this is not the case for him.  

The correct answer is ... Any towel that won't piss your wife off when she finds out that you got meat drippings on it.

Botch said:

JohnInCarolina said:  
I think the question is whether or not you're better off just using the air in the cooler as an insulator or filling the space with towels (ostensibly warm ones I guess) and then paying the price of the higher heat flux courtesy of conduction.  

Many small pockets of air (as exists in towels) provide a much higher R-value than a similar volume of clear air.  This is why we fill our walls between the studs with Dow-Corning pink stuff.
 
Disclaimer:  None of this makes a whit of difference, it's just how us geeks have fun.  

Do towels really have lots of trapped air pockets in them like insulation?  I guess it's possible, I hadn't really thought about it.  Maybe you just have much nicer towels than I do.  

But the reason we use insulation is because it traps the air, and still air is difficult to beat as an insulator.   At some point convective effects become an issue, such that the air is no longer still.  In sealed areas, I think that occurs roughly when the gap is more than a couple of centimeters.  So maybe you wrap the brisket until the gap drops below that, and then stop?  

I still contend we're probably debating a difference of a few minutes over several hours of hold.  

https://youtu.be/PDBOwPORHGU

GrateEggspectations said:

I hear Aaron Franklin uses Canadian goose down duvets after warming them up between a virgin's thighs. 

He has really caused a spike in the market for virgins.

JohnInCarolina said:

GrateEggspectations said:

I hear Aaron Franklin uses Canadian goose down duvets after warming them up between a virgin's thighs. 

I just spit bourbon all over the porch!

Mission accomplished. Hope it was something cheap. 

@nick50. Btw, when I started this journey I had the same question.  Don't take our fun with your question as being malicious.  It is a great question.  Much more fun than Sell By dates.

I concur with Ozzie. We're just joking around (and not at your expense). Many of us are here for the laughs as much as we are the knowledge exchange. 

lousubcap said:

protracted

That's a mighty long word there brother Cap. Have you been hanging out with hippy? He is notorious for such

SGH said:

Don't listen to that nonsense. Towel selection is one of the most important decisions that you can make. My case in point for the proper towel

Proper towel selection can go along way my friend

Honestly, I could do without any of those towels being in the photos! You are slipping my friend. 

Just surfing to see what next and the tolerance of a Sunday PM buffalo.  Btw-most eggcellent towel quality right there.  Package deal??

bgebrent said:

Easily the best thread of the night.

The night is still young my friend. I may skip my meds tonight 

Amateurs