This jacket uses the same material as NASA’s spacesuits to keep you warm

Dressing for extreme cold is no laughing matter. Not only do you have to wear lots of bulky clothes, you need to ensure there’s adequate layering so that the frigid winds stay out. Severe winters are horrible for the fashion-conscious amongst us – there’s simply no alternative to looking big, banal, and boring. Unless you want to freeze to death.

Performance outerwear startup Oros is trying to reduce our reliance on bulky clothing. Its Orion series – consisting of jackets, pants, gloves, and beanies – is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, providing warmth at even -30 degrees celsius. Its flagship product is a jacket, and it’s meant to be worn as a standalone accessory. The startup claims it’s thin, svelte, and designed to make you feel completely at ease despite weather extremities.

Oros’ Kickstarter has a week left to run and has already been backed by 930 people so far.

Michael Markesbery, CEO and co-founder of Oros, tells Tech in Asia the jackets utilize Aerogel, a material used by NASA in their spacesuits. It helps with insulation and allows the apparel to be warm, thin, and lightweight. Aerogel is considered to be the most effective thermal conductor on the planet as it is 90 percent air. Oro’s jackets are, on average, only 3mm thick but give the same warmth as a 40mm Goose Down equivalent.

“We’ve spent several years working on the tech to make it applicable to outerwear,” explains Michael.

The startup says it’s put Oros gear through some pretty brutal tests to ensure the claims withstand scrutiny. It’s been worn by mountaineers in Nepal, while also being blasted with liquid nitrogen without any adverse reactions.

“Our philosophy is that if you hate being cold or you dislike the bulky look of layering, we’ve got a product for you,” he adds.

The jacket isn’t the only item in Oros’ line which has high-performance features. The gloves are self-heating without any need for battery support, while the beanies are also knitted and insulated with aerogel.

“Oros performance apparel is going to change the way you experience the outdoors,” exhorts Michael.