A year ago, I spent some time with the PAKA Mayu Jacket, and it quickly became one of those pieces of gear that was easy to keep reaching for when the temperature dropped. If you want the full rundown on the jacket, including my thoughts on the fit, warmth, alpaca insulation, packability and those earthy PAKA colors, you can check out my original review.
Rather than do a completely new review, I wanted to take a look at what has changed.
And while PAKA hasn’t reinvented the Mayu, the company has made a pretty interesting update to the materials.
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The biggest change is the shell and lining.
The Mayu now uses Pertex fabric made with NetPlus recycled nylon, which is created from discarded fishing nets collected from coastal communities in South America. In other words, some of the material that could otherwise become ocean waste gets another life as part of your jacket. That seems like a pretty good trade.
The recycled nylon still provides the wind and water resistance you want from a lightweight outer layer, while PAKA has kept the PAKAFILL insulation that made the original Mayu awesome in the first place. PAKAFILL uses traceable alpaca fiber from Peru, so the basic idea behind the jacket hasn’t changed: use alpaca for warmth without adding a bunch of bulk.
The Mayu remains lightweight, warm and remarkably easy to pack down. The alpaca insulation is still the star of the show, and the jacket still has that nice combination of being something you can throw on for a chilly morning run, wear around town or stuff into a bag when you’re traveling.
I also still like the overall look. PAKA tends to lean toward earthy, understated colors rather than making everything look like it belongs in a highlighter collection, and the Mayu fits right into that aesthetic.
PAKA has also expanded the Mayu collection since my original review. The jacket and vest are now available in both men’s and women’s versions, and there’s a new hooded version as well. The hooded Mayu keeps the same lightweight, packable concept but adds another layer of protection for those colder or windier days.
So if you liked what you saw in my original Mayu review, that hasn’t really changed. This is more of an evolution than a replacement. Now, there’s just a little less fishing net floating around in the ocean and a little more of it keeping you warm.
