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Comment by dheera | Hacker News Reader

Is there any reason why aerogel (e.g. PyroGel) hasn't caught on as an insulation for winter jackets? The demos look pretty impressive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Ig8rW80uk

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The first jackets using Aerogel as insulation are just hitting the market. https://www.patagonia.com/product/mens-das-parka/85350.html?... is one example. The previous version of this jacket is a cult favorite; curious to see what reviews of the new Aerogel version look like.

As far as i remember, people wearing clothes with this type of insualtion had problems with overheating.

However things may have changed since then

https://www.outsideonline.com/1919251/forget-down—aerogel-in...

Interesting. I was wondering since I've felt cold in almost every Gore-tex jacket I have worn. Also it would seem to me that using a really thin layer of the aerogel stuff could prevent overheating, keep warm while being stupidly thin and impressive.

Gore-Tex is not meant to insulate unless you're talking about just the bare skin feel against the inside of the jacket. Some Gore-Tex jackets had a mesh liner which helps alleviate that cold surface feeling (and protect the teflon layer).

If you're interested in insulation for high-exertion activities, Polartec Alpha is now the bee's knees.

Without special treatment aerogel would be damaged by movement and moisture that is common with a jacket. It’s also very costly to produces compared to other insulating materials.

All the aerogel I've ever seen has been super fragile and flaky. It didn't even last as a desk ornament, let alone sewn into clothes.

I also to seem to recall that it is, like REALLY bad to inhale particles of, similar to stuff like asbestos

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