Oros’ latest clothing line uses aerogel to protect you from -321F cold
New materials are the key to unlocking many of tomorrow's futuristic products and technologies and this isa just one example ...
Key takeaways
- Staying comfy at -321F while being sprayed with liquid nitrogen, crazy!
- The video from a few years ago shows the jacket being tested at sub-zero temperatures via liquid nitrogen which gets the exterior jacket down to an absolutely barmy -321F while the wearer shrugs it all off.
- The new jacket weighs 2.5lbs which is 38 percent lighter than the previous version.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2021) 'Oros’ latest clothing line uses aerogel to protect you from -321F cold', 311 Institute, 10 July. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/oros-latest-clothing-line-uses-aerogel-to-protect-you-from-321f-cold/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Recently I showed off how the world’s most insulating material, an aerogel that’s feather light but can be ten times stronger than steel, managed to keep a YouTuber safe when he used it to touch molten lava. And now Oros, an innovative cold weather clothing company have introduced a new winter jacket that uses it to protect wearers from the extreme cold, and when I say extreme cold I mean it can keep them comfy in temperatures as low as a barmy -321F as their video shows.
This isn’t the first time the company has launched a product using the material, it launched a winter coat a few years back, but this is their first full line using it and this time around the team has launched a full line of products that, while featuring aerogel as well, are lighter and thinner than in the past, keeping winter adventurers warm without weighing them down.
Staying comfy at -321F while being sprayed with liquid nitrogen, crazy!
Oros new line is called the Orion Series, and it uses SolarCore aerogel, a substance that insulates the wearer from cold external temperatures without becoming too hot on the inside. Said Oros’ founder Michael Markesbery: “Oros performance apparel brings something completely different to the game of outerwear and insulation and that is our SolarCore aerogel. Aerogel is an amazing insulator; it has to be since NASA uses it in outer space where the temperature is only 2 degrees above absolute zero … The new line of clothes gives you complete flexibility and comfort, a slim profile, are very lightweight and great looking so they are perfect for everything you want to do in the cold.”
According to Oros, 3mm of aerogel in the Orion jacket has an equivalent warmth of 40mm of goose down, which would be incredibly thick if used. The video from a few years ago shows the jacket being tested at sub-zero temperatures via liquid nitrogen which gets the exterior jacket down to an absolutely barmy -321F while the wearer shrugs it all off. The new jacket weighs 2.5lbs which is 38 percent lighter than the previous version.
The company’s “SolarCore” aerogel appears to be more of a fabric in contrast to the legacy aerogel they used being flexible and breathable while offering “hydrophobicity, durability, [and] sound absorbency,” according to Oros.
Other jacket features include a pair of interior pockets, one of which is a media pocket, adjustable wrist cuffs, large “pit zips” in the armpit region, and a hood. The jacket is presently offered in black, but Oros teases a second (not yet selected) color could also be made available. The jacket is joined by a pair of gloves equipped with the aerogel and an insulated beanie.
What this means for your organisation
Thinner insulation changes the product.
Oros says 3mm of aerogel matches 40mm of goose down. That gap lets designers cut bulk and weight without losing warmth. Any firm that sells warmth, from clothing to equipment, should check how a slimmer layer would change its range.
The material is ready to scale.
Aerogels are at technology readiness level 9, and the first products date from 1950. Our data puts wide use at 2035. Oros has moved from one coat to a full line, which shows the step from a niche item to a product family.
Cold is a growing design brief.
Extreme weather is a trend we rate as Act now. Insulation that stays slim and breathable, and also resists water and absorbs sound, suits harsher conditions. Teams that serve people outdoors should test such materials early.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where could a thinner insulating layer improve our products or our customers' work?
- Which of our current materials would aerogel replace, and which would it only support?
- How are we preparing for harsher weather in our product and supply plans?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
New materials are the key to unlocking many of tomorrow's futuristic products and technologies and this isa just one example ...

About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Oros orosapparel.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 10 July 2021. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2021). Oros’ latest clothing line uses aerogel to protect you from -321F cold. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/oros-latest-clothing-line-uses-aerogel-to-protect-you-from-321f-cold/
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