Oros Apparel is a high-quality performance outerwear company that uses NASA spacesuit insulation technology to keep a wearer warm without the bulk or layers. Using aerogel, the lowest thermal conductive solid on the planet, in proper formulation the company developed its SolarCore technology that is up to eight times more effective than traditional insulation and measuring in at just 3mm. The technology helps the company to create a line of jackets, gloves, pants and hats that are thinner and warmer than almost anything on the market.

IDEA AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

The brains behind Oros Apparel are Michael Markesbery and Rithvik Venna. The idea of the world’s warmest and lightest outdoor jacket came to Michael Markesbery in 2013 while hiking to the summit of Säntis, a mountain in Switzerland. As the bulky jacket hampered his movements, he realized that there were no thin and flexible, but warm apparel on the market. Michael shared his idea with his friend Rithvik Venna, the zoology major and neuroscience minor. Rithvik, who was fascinated with aerogel and its insulating properties, suggested the material to be used in outerwear. Using the same technology applied by the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) as insulation in their space suits, young entrepreneurs created a lasting line of performance apparel that could conquer harsh winter weather. In 2015, they established Lukla company and raised over $310.000 during its Kickstarter campaign. The business was supported by Miami's Institute for Entrepreneurship, where the team received business and marketing training and guidance from a wide array of mentors.

In 2016, in response to the customers’ requests the team decided to expand its line of clothing. In addition to jackets, it introduced the pants, gloves, and beanies under the Oros Orion Series name. The company was titled Oros Apparel due to the expansion of the business into workwear and licensing of its aerogel technology for new product line. The company turned to the crowdfunding site again to promote the Oros Orion Series and successfully raised over $360.000.

TECHNOLOGY

Aerogel was invented by Samuel Stephens Kistler, American scientist and chemical engineer, in 1930, but it was first used in commercial products only in the 1950s. Aerogel is an open-celled material similar to glass in its structure with gas or air in its pores instead of liquid. Typically it consists of more than 95% of air. The pores are a few nanometers in diameter (less than 1/10.000th of a human hair). Aerogel’s nanoporous nature makes it the lowest thermal conductive solid on the planet and thus the world’s best insulator. It is capable of blocking high levels of heat and also insulating from the cold. The most common kind of aerogel is silica aerogel, lightweight, very brittle and almost completely translucent. In fact, it takes 40 brick-sized pieces of aerogel to weigh as much as a liter of water.

The material attracted NASA for its low density, light weight, and high insulating ability. The Agency required advanced technology to provide cryogenic insulation for space shuttle and space exploration. For example, to fuel a shuttle hydrogen and oxygen must remain a liquid, staying at -253°C and -183°C respectively. But aerogel was too fragile to handle in its monolithic form. In 1992, James Fesmire, NASA senior principal investigator, introduced a flexible aerogel material. The technology is used today for suit insulation and the Mars Rovers in outer space, where the temperature is -271°C (only 2°C above absolute zero). It is also used on the Earth to blanket oil pipelines, prevent ice from building up on airplanes. The U.S. Navy is exploring the use of aerogel in wetsuits.

Lots of companies, like the North Face and Champion, tried implementing aerogel in apparel. In 2010, a Canadian mountaineer was outfitted with a Champion jacket 12 times thinner than the regular jackets. It never went into production, as the company claimed it to be very expensive and difficult to work with. The aerogel particles were embedded in a fiber. With movement, they came loose from the fiber and its thermal performance decreased. The aerogel particles also dried skin significantly when contacting with it. Such aerogel-insulated jackets led to overheating when person’s natural heat was trapped inside. Oros Apparel recognized the problems and eliminated them in its line of superior winter garments.

The company used a proprіetary formulatіon of aerogel called SolarCore. Іt іs the fіrst aerogel suіted for apparel. The team uses aerogel wіth aіr percentage between 97% - 99.9%. Іt has the hіghest surface area of any non-powder materіal and very low thermal conductіvіty. SolarCore іs flexіble, hydrophobіc, durable, breathable, sound absorbіng. The porousness of the materіal keeps the cold from transferrіng іn and also prevents body heat from transferrіng out. To maіntaіn thermal performance most іnsulatіons requіre loft, volume. When compressed they faіl to perform effectіvely. SolarCore іs one of the few іnsulatіons іn the world that keeps the cold out but refraіns from becomіng too bulky or heavy. Besіdes, SolarCore іs compressіon-resіstant and waterproof. Oros also incorporated vents into its jackets that can be unzipped under the arms. This allows a person’s body to breathe normally and efficiently.

The team put its products through a series of durability tests. Oros apparel was battle tested by a mountaineer in Argentina and in Nepal, a hiker across Europe, a snowmobiler in Northern Michigan. Oros jacket went through a liquid nitrogen test. In the testing, it was blasted with liquid nitrogen with the temperature of -196°C. The temperature inside the jacket remained +31.6°C and the test subject reported not even the slightest sensation of feeling cold.

ADVANTAGES

PRICES

The Oros Apparel products are available at the company’s official website.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The initial idea of the brand’s products was to introduce outdoorsy apparel that reduces the number of layers but keeps thermal performance. The company though sees the market for aerogel apparel as a $48.7 billion a year market including consumer goods, athletic apparel, modular sleeping systems for the military, fire and EMS suits within workwear.

REVIEW IN MEDIA

“The jackets provіde wearers wіth unprecedented protectіon and flexіbіlіty only means so much, so naturally, the Oros team put іts apparel through the rіnger of durabіlіty tests. Be іt the mountaіns of Nepal or a lіquіd nіtrogen test, no trіal was too large for Markesbery, Venna, and Squіre’s jacket. Іn the lіquіd nіtrogen test, the trіo blasted the lіne at temperatures regіsterіng a frіgіd -321 degrees Fahrenheіt, wіth the test subject reportіng not even the slіghtest sensatіon of feelіng cold.” Digital Trends

“Cincinnati, Ohio’s Oros is taking technology used to keep astronauts warm in space and applying it to cold-weather gear here on Earth. The company creates apparel using aerogel, a NASA spacesuit technology that is one of the best insulation materials on the planet. Oros’ apparel allows customers to stay warm without multiple layers beneath their outerwear, and the company’s products are virtually weightless.” TechOhio

“The SolarCore aerogel insulating the Oros jackets and apparel allows for clothing that’s just 3mm thick. That 3mm of SolarCore aerogel has laboratory-equivalent warmth of 40mm of goose down. I’m excited by the prospect of warmth without the added loft. I presume others will be as well, considering many outdoor enthusiasts want to avoid looking like the Michelin Man during high-energy activities.” Cold Outdoorsman

FEEDBACK

“Oros jacket is by far one of the best things I have ever owned. I enjoy the snow a lot and I can’t take my new jacket boarding. I bought it on Kickstarter and it was well worth the wait. It is extremely well-insulated without being drenched in sweat. I feel like I could go lay down in the snow and fall asleep comfortably. The price is very reasonable for what you’re getting - a solid jacket that looks good in winter sports or just going out and it feels well-made enough to last a very long time.” Bob Franson

“This jacket is amazing. I can literally wear only a T-shirt under this jacket and walk out in -15 degrees snowy/icy weather and feel so warm. I love how thin it is. I also received the beanie and it’s everything I wanted, warm and trendy. I will definitely be buying the snow pants and gloves soon. Highly recommend Oros and their products.” Amazon Customer

“This jacket has so far kept me warm on 2 outings in the mountains of southern West Virginia and on South Mountain in Maryland along the Appalachian Trail. Anyone who has been out there knows how the weather can turn on a dime in the fall, and I've weathered blistering winds and rain so far with no ill effect. The weight isn't bad, especially considering that you don't need to layer as much given the unique insulation of the jacket. If you find yourself getting too warm there are vents you can open as wide or as thin as you need. The detachable hood seals the deal for me and it fits well into any number of the plentiful and generously sized pockets on the piece. If you are looking for a great cold weather jacket that allows freedom of movement and is darn comfy, look no further!” T0m0