Is Aerogel in L.L. Bean’s Packaway Jacket the World’s Best Lightweight Insulation?

Courtesy of NASA via Flickr Commons and L.L. BeanL.L. Bean’s new Packaway Jacket contains aerogel—a nearly weightless material engineered for NASA by Peter Tsou—as an insulation.

Aerogel is a nearly weightless super-insulator, used by NASA in satellites and other space technology. A commercial version, Primaloft Gold Aerogel, first hit the outdoor gear market in 2017 as a synthetic and ultra-warm insulation. L.L.Bean had exclusive rights to use it during its first year of release, notably in the company’s Packaway Jacket ($169, hooded $189; llbean.com), although now it is commonly used by many outdoor brands. This season L.L. Bean is offering an upgraded version that includes a waterproof outer shell, multiple fleece-lined pockets, and a longer length for more coverage.

LEARN MORE:

• Read more about Primaloft Gold Aerogel, which turns a NASA material into a super-insulator for gear heads.
• Follow these tips to avoid over-layering.
• Dress for extreme Northeast cold with these tips.
• Learn how to manage your winter clothing layers.
• Browse all of our gear tips in our Packlist archives.