The day will be over the down is near! ? Lighter, warmer, Primaloft's built-in aerogel insulation is growing
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
It is no exaggeration to say that the evolution of insulation jackets, a representative middle layer (intermediate clothing), is an essential part of layering in winter mountain activities, is accompanied by technological innovations in synthetic fiber padding materials that are packed inside.
And did you know that this season, products using new types of padding materials are being introduced one after another in the synthetic fiber padding market? Silica Aerogel is a high-tech and unique insulating material that has been put into practical use by NASA and has been increasingly popular in various industries in recent years.
In the outdoor industry, PrimaLoft®, known as the "titan of the insulation world," announced in 2017 the PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series, a new product with aerogels in fibers, and in recent years products using this material have gradually become available.
table of contents
- The more you look into it, the more you're looking for it, the more you're built into the insulation jacket with built-in aerogel. The secret is the incredible "thermal insulation"
- Why did aerogels not become popular?
- "Amazingly light and incredibly compact" PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series
- How amazing is the PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series?
- 8 popular insulation jackets featuring PrimaLoft® aerogel technology
- lastly
The more you look into it, the more you're looking for it, the more you're built into the insulation jacket with built-in aerogel. The secret is the incredible "thermal insulation"
What's so hot about this new material? It seems like it's going to be too much of a problem to explain this from the beginning, so I'll give it a go at the key points as much as possible.
Aerogels are simply a porous structure filled with gases and have a fine, uniform framework. Aerogels are structures with more than 90% of them being made up of air, meaning they are empty inside. Aerogels themselves refer to structures, so the substances that correspond to the framework can be made of silica, gelatin, agar, cellulose, carbon, etc., and each of the properties are slightly different, but if you look into it any further, it will become complicated, so in this article, unless otherwise stated, please consider it as a "silica aerogel."
The most notable feature of this material, which is also known for its transparent appearance, is the lowest density, lightest, and highly insulating solid on the planet .
The secret lies in its structure. Because the microscopic framework divides the space uniformly, convection and molecular thermal momentum exchange occurring when gases transmit temperature within the aerogel. In other words, it is a material that is naturally made from the dead air needed for insulation, like a natural, extremely small insulated bottle.
There was a video that was easy to understand to understand the properties of aerogels, so please use it as a reference.
High insulation performance means that high heat retention can be achieved with a small amount. In other words, you can make a jacket that is lighter and warmer than it is now. The outdoor and apparel industry should not overlook such unwanted features.
In fact, the aerogel itself was invented by scientist Stephen Kistler in 1931, nearly 100 years ago. From then on, everyone knew that this material was amazing.
Despite this, it was not until the 21st century that it began to be fully applied to industrial applications. Other than the original NASA space suits, shuttles, satellites, etc., these include industrial insulation and optical components that utilize low refractive index and high transmission. Rather than being a general purpose application, it was very limited in terms of use and scale.
Why did aerogels not become popular?
Why did you have to wait this long? The reason why aerogels with excellent insulation did not become popular in the apparel industry is, of course, due to cost issues, but it is said to be mainly due to their structural characteristics.
It was said that aerogels are weaknesses that they are extremely vulnerable to impact and lack durability. For example, even if you make glass from aerogels, insects fly in and just hit them will shatter. It is said to be a material that is very sensitive to impact. If you try to increase the strength, you will have no choice but to make the bone structure thicker, which will lose all the benefits of lightness and insulation rate. In addition, it has poor breathability and the properties of the product change when wet, making it difficult to apply this dream material to clothing.
"Amazingly light and incredibly compact" PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series
After years of years of trial and error, the designers at PrimaLoft tried to use such a cumbersome but dream-like insulation aerogel on their clothing, and finally overcome these obstacles, the PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series was born.
Here's the mechanism. PrimaLoft has successfully completed the biggest challenges of aerogels, such as "impact and pressure," and "dismembering when wet" and "blocking ventilation" by adding a thin waterproof membrane around the aerogels, and by integrating the particles with the fibers (although I will not go into detail about them, I will post a link to the patent information for those interested ).
Mike Joyce, president and CEO of PrimaLoft, said:
The PrimaLoft Cross Core series
is the result of our constant efforts to push the limits of material innovation to enhance consumer comfort, a significant performance advancement, and the creation of products that boast a level of lighter heat retention, comfort and protection that have not been achieved before
How amazing is the PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series?
Now that we know the development process and the difficulties it takes, we checked out how amazing it is in terms of actual specs.
One of the ways to measure the heat retention of clothing is the "clo value," proposed by ASHRAE (American Society for Heating and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning), which represents the thermal resistance of clothing. PrimaLoft's padding material has been published based on this standard, allowing it to be compared with the company's other lineup as shown in the table below. Of course, these numbers are only a guideline, and the performance of the numbers does not necessarily show as a real feeling, and the evaluation will vary depending on the actual purpose, usage, and the individual's perception. I am not trying to say that the evaluation given here is absolute, so please understand.
| Filling material | clo/oz/yd2 (drying) |
|---|---|
| PrimaLoft Black Insulation | 0.65 |
| PrimaLoft Silver Insulation | 0.79 |
| PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Active | 0.81 |
| PrimaLoft Silver Insulation Active | 0.82 |
| PrimaLoft Black Insulation ThermoPlume | 0.85 |
| PrimaLoft Gold Insulation | 0.92 |
| PrimaLoft Silver Insulation ThermoPlume with Cross Core Technology | Max 0.95 |
| PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core Technology | Max 1.40 |
*Excerpt from PrimaLoft press release, manufacturer catalogue, etc.
This means that PrimaLoft® Gold, which uses CrossCore™ technology, can provide up to about 1.5 times the warmth (0.92 to 1.40) of warmth at the same weight compared to PrimaLoft® Gold, the warmest synthetic fiber padding for basic insulation. This means that even though they look exactly the same, they are now able to make jackets that are significantly warmer and lighter than they did last year. It's hard to believe, but this is nothing more than fun.
8 popular insulation jackets featuring PrimaLoft® aerogel technology
New insulation jackets that use the exciting PrimaLoft® aerogel technology have begun supplying jackets in the beginning of 2018 mainly for clothing such as gloves and shoes, as well as a small selection of brands such as LLBean, but this fall and winter season have finally seen the brands used have expanded and many interesting items have appeared. We have also sourced several models on our site and have already started reviewing them, but we would like to check out the models that are attracting attention this year, using aerogel technology.
Patagonia DAS Parka
The DAS Parka, a classic Patagonia belay parka that had been out of stock for a while, has been revived this season with PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ technology. When climbing in winter, belays are not only possible to stay still in the extreme cold, but also to belays while wet from the water droplets that melt and drip when the temperature is high. In such cases, even if the down is light and warm, it will be useless if it gets wet.
The DAS Parka is an insulation jacket with the concept of being as warm as possible and not having to worry about getting wet, in order to meet the strict requirements of climbers. There is no way the current PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ technology is not suitable for that requirement. Taking into account the features of this new material, this DAS parka is fully oriented towards its "heat retention." This is truly the strongest belay parka, and can be said to be the warmest, lightweight, fiber padded jacket. This is the eco version of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core Technology, which delivers the highest Clo value in the lineup, and also features a rich, thick padding of 133 grams, and 40 grams of padding is added to key points. It's fluffy and comfortable, as if you were wearing a sleeping bag. However, I'm really surprised at how light it feels when you wear it without feeling the weight.
NORRONA trollveggen Primaloft100 Zip Hood
This extremely warming fiber insulation jacket is from Norrona, a brand for serious alpinists, and is sure to be useful for mountain climbing and climbing during the harsh winter. Norona has a closer partnership than other manufacturers, so it was released in 2019, which is a model that was released earlier. This also uses PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core Technology, giving it almost the full warmth, but the 100g volume of the padding is slightly less than that of a DAS parka, making it slightly lighter and more compact. However, the fluffy, puffy, fluffy feel when you put it on in the extreme cold is exceptional, and you can feel the warmth right away, and the lightness that you never imagined before is enough to give you a moment of relief. It's sure to have a three-dimensional cutting that gives it a great fit and easy to move around in, and it's a warm jacket that can be used not only for belays, but also for outdoor wear and mid-layer outdoors in the winter.
NORRONA lofoten Primaloft80 Anorak
It's also Nolona, but this is a technical insulation designed for skiing and snowboarding, such as freeride and backcountry. The padding here is PrimaLoft Gold, which uses the same Cross Core Technology, but it also uses materials that use biodegradable raw materials and are further environmentally friendly. The volume is slightly thin at 80g size, and has established a balance of insulation and mobility that is perfect for activities. On the other hand, by adding GORE-TEX® 2-Layer reinforcement to the shoulders, lower torso, and cuffs, it adds windproof and waterproof performance to key areas, making it highly versatile enough to be used as an outerwear. The ventilation zippers from the hem to the elbows are also interesting. It is packed with great features for skiers, such as a large hand warm pocket and a chest pocket with a goggle cloth.
LLBean Primaloft Packaway Hood Jacket
LLBean has been in good partnership with PrimaLoft for many years, and it seems that he was able to quickly commercialize this new material. LLBean's Primaloft Packaway Hood Jacket, which was released in spring 2018, is a lightweight yet warm model that fully utilizes the "lightweight" of the new aerogel-containing material. The 60g volume of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core Technology may not be enough to withstand winter weather clothing, but it can be said to be just right when considering it as autumn and winter or street wear. Plus, it's packable, allowing you to turn the pockets inside out and fold them into a bag-like shape. The image is similar to Patagonia's nano puff. I'm currently trying this one too, so please wait for a trial review for details.
THE NORTH FACE Wonder Last Hoodie
It looks almost like a down jacket, but the contents are the latest, mostly packed padding that is built into the aerogel. This THE NORTH FACE Wonder Last Hoodie is enclosed with the latest, built-in padding. What's distinctive about this model is that it uses a type of padding called PRIMALOFT® Silver ThermoPlume® PRO, which is mixed with a padding that is almost the same as the down that was introduced a few years ago, rather than the typical plate-like padding of Gold. Although its insulation performance is inferior to PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core Technology, this type has the same fluffy feel and resilience as a down jacket, offering the advantages of combining heat retention, lightweight, and design. Additionally, by using a thread-free adhesive method for the baffle, it reduces the cotton from falling off, while reducing weight, and prevents cold air leakage. The use of eco materials in various places makes this a versatile piece for users, making it a safe item for both the town and the outdoors.
THE NORTH FACE Polaris Insulated Hoodie
This is a pure expedition model that uses the same PRIMALOFT® Silver ThermoPlume® PRO as the Wonder Last Hoodie above, while increasing the amount of padding, and also uses the highly durable PERTEX® Quantum made of 100% nylon for increased protection. As explained, "It is intended for long-term mountain hiking in winter," the advantages of ThermoPlume, which is compact when stored, maintains high restoration power while not losing insulation even when wet. In addition, it has a fold-shaped baffle structure that reduces cold spots, and can be washed at home without any worries, making it such a high-performance and easy to maintain, but also has a stylish look that blends in with the city, making it a very high-performance piece.
THE NORTH FACE Red Run Pro Hoodie
A jacket made with the aerogel padding "THERMOBALL® PRO" that the North Face has been commercialising for a long time before the current Primaloft. Yes, this is a padding with built-in aerogels, but strictly speaking it is not a PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series. However, when I opened the lid, I actually checked the product specifications section for the THERMOBALL® PRO, and when I looked up this year's product specifications section, I found the words "THERMOBALL® PRO (PRIMALOFT® CROSS CORE™), which were not available until last year. In other words, it is unclear why, but the aerogel padding, which the North Face was developing in collaboration with PrimaLoft, is thought to be a different padding material that was eventually output under each concept, using the same technology in the roots of the PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series. In fact, the THERMOBALL® PRO enclosed in this jacket is a round, spherical padding, and it appears to be different from the PrimaLoft® Cross Core™ Series padding. The key impression is the Red Run Pro Hoodie, but it has a high resilience that is hard to believe it is synthetic. The ball-shaped padding is less likely to be uneven, and I also like the shape when you put it on. This year's model has a 4-way stretch fleece under the armpits that extends under the sleeves, making it easier to use when exercising. This is a piece you'll want to use for running or trail running in the cold season.
OMM Barrage Jacket
All previous models have only been covered in durable water-repellent (DWR) outer material, while OMM's Barrage Jacket is a completely waterproof insulation jacket made of Point Zero H2O fabric with a water resistance of 10,000mm (breathability of 10,000g). This alone is irresistible for mountain lovers who are sensitive to specs, but the filling inside is 80g made from PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core Technology, which is large enough to be used in the winter. Originally a brand for fast and light activities during the snowy season, it can of course be used on snowy mountains and skiing, but it is also worth noting that it has many features that make it easier to use as trail running or as a street wear. It also comes with a connector that can be combined with the company's Mountain Raid series to form a sleeping system, and can be used as a sleeping bag when sleeping. Another attractive feature of this brand is that it allows you to build rational equipment that eliminates waste under a clear concept.
lastly
Aerogel padding has gradually become popular over the past few years, but as you see the excitement of this season, we can't take our eyes off the momentum that will finally become the first year of its standard. On this site, we have actually purchased a popular model to check its abilities and are currently conducting our own comparison tests, so we will compare and review them as soon as they are ready, so please look forward to it.
