I have used insulbright a lot in potholders and never have heard complaints that they were unusable because they got too hot. I don't pay much attention to right side and wrong side because most pot holders get used with either side being the right side. In some I have put an extra layer of batting and others not. I have small hands so I don't like my potholders to be too thick as they are clumsy in my hands. I use potholders for trivets on the table and haven't noticed any problem with condensation.