Even the most benign spring days mean frigid mornings, sultry afternoons, and evenings fending off bone cracking cold at camp. It’s a season of riddles requiring layers that can keep you cozy on cross-country rambles, stow neatly for uphill slogs, and be easily accessible for s’mores and stargazing sessions. Ideally, it will also be capable of resisting moisture so a little water won’t thwart your insulation.
On Performance and Design…
For more than 100 years, L.L.Bean has prided itself in developing best in class products utilizing next generation technologies all aimed at keeping outdoor enthusiasts comfortable regardless of Mother Nature. The brand’s line of Packaway Jackets and Vests beautifully represent this design paradigm and have earned essential-to-the-kit status by being warm, lightweight, compressible and weather-resistant. So how do you improve on gear that’s already an equipment staple?
You introduce the only outerwear in the world featuring PrimaLoft Cross Core technology.
Since 1990, PrimaLoft® and L.L.Bean have partnered to debut multiple PrimaLoft technologies, including PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation Active, PrimaLoft Yarn and PrimaLoft Insulation for footwear. This Spring the two industry leaders are at it again, partnering up to offer the only outerwear in the world featuring PrimaLoft Cross Core.
To put the new technology through the paces, our friends at L.L. Bean sent out their updated Packaway Jackets (available for men and women) for us to test.
So what exactly is Cross Core™ PrimaLoft® Gold Insulation with Cross Core™ combines PrimaLoft Gold Insulation synthetic fibers, known for having the industry’s best warmth-to-weight ratio, with aerogel fibers to achieve both enhanced warmth and decreased weight. Originally developed by NASA for use in aeronautical applications, silica aerogel is a highly porous, low-density structure that forms a temperature barrier locking out cold and heat.
PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core is the first product to combine aerogel with other fiber technologies for use in a batted insulation. In laymans terms, what all that means is simply this: Cross Core is a platform that fuses multiple PrimaLoft technologies to create next-level comfort and performance. The result is apparel that offers an increase in insulation value by 11 to 52 percent over existing insulations.
To bolster its versatility, the Packaway features a 100% recycled polyester shell and lining that offers respite from cold winds and errant moisture, while providing you the peace of mind that comes with choosing a product that protects both you and the environment. All the while, 60-grams of PrimaLoft Gold Insulation with Cross Core™ technology provides adaptive warmth when damp. And of course it wouldn’t be part of the “Packaway” Collection if it wasn’t able to easily pack into its own pocket.
L.L.Bean’s Ultralight Aero Sleeping Bag and Packaway line of coats, jackets and vests are the first products to feature the Cross Core series, arriving at retail spring 2018. The new Cross Core series will be available industry-wide fall 2019.
Bottom Line…
Whether you choose the updated L.L. Bean Packaway Jacket or any L.L. Bean product featuring PrimaLoft Cross Core, rest assured you’re getting industry leading innovation to provide you the ultralight warmth wherever you roam.