PAKA’s Mayu Ultralight Outerwear Collection Brings Warmth Without the Weight

Warmth usually comes along with extra weight, as plump puffers and floor-length anorak parkas are padded with insulated buffering material to trap and circulate the body’s heat. But PAKA wanted to change that — what if warmth could be offered without the extra weight? The answer to that question came in the form of PAKA’s lightest collection yet: the Mayu Ultralight Outerwear range.

The Mayu jacket and vest are the latest evolution of the brand’s revolutionary PAKAFILL® material, its now patented insulation material made from traceable alpaca fiber. The material was already as light as ever — rivaling heavier and less sustainable down feather options on the market. But now it has been further refined, and each detail, down to the precise stitching on every Mayu piece, is meant to keep the wearer warm and supported from mountain trails to worldwide travels. Thanks to those intentional details and advanced insulation, Mayu offers a better warmth-to-weight ratio than many other competitors.

When taking on challenging hikes or backpacking through winding roads, hikers must keep their packs light. Every ounce matters, so the PAKA team dedicated extensive amounts of time to prioritizing ethical materials while maintaining a lightweight feel. The Mayu vest weighs approximately seven ounces, while the jacket measures up to about nine with a CLO value of 1.6. Additional accents like an interior cinch system, lightweight cord locks and a recycled nylon shell and lining trap the body’s warmth and allow for ease-of-wear while traveling. The pieces can also fold down into their own chest pocket, making them easy to stow for camping or travel (and a great pillow on the plane).

To launch this new collection, PAKA decided to put the outerwear to the test by tapping campers, hikers, travelers and even paragliders to step into the elements in the Mayu collection. “The jacket was surprisingly just as warm as my 800-fill down jacket, while being more breathable as well. It didn’t restrict my movement, and I could hardly tell I was wearing it,” professional paraglider Michael Niedrich shared.

PAKA’s Mayu Ultralights are dropping on paka.co today, with limited quantities and exclusive first access to advance sign-ups. The jacket ($249 USD) and vest ($189 USD) are available in Men’s and Women’s silhouettes and come in three colorways: Black, Fossil and Burgundy.