An insulated article, comprising: an article having a surface; a first insulation region (14, 24) substantially covering the surface of the article, the first insulation (14, 24) region having a first thermal conductivity and a first volumetric heat capacity, the first insulation region (14, 24) comprising a first polymeric material and at least 10% by volume first hollow ceramic microspheres, based on the total volume of the first insulation region (14, 24), wherein the first polymeric material has a second thermal conductivity and a second volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first thermal conductivity is no greater than the second thermal conductivity, and wherein the first volumetric heat capacity is in a range from 60% to 90% of the second volumetric heat capacity; and a second insulation region (16, 26) substantially covering the surface of the article, the second insulation region (16, 26) having a third thermal conductivity and a third volumetric heat capacity, the second insulation region (16,26) comprising a second polymeric material and second hollow ceramic microspheres, wherein the second polymeric material has a fourth thermal conductivity and a fourth volumetric heat capacity, wherein the third thermal conductivity is not greater than 90% of the fourth thermal conductivity, wherein the third volumetric heat capacity is less than 60% of the fourth volumetric heat capacity, and wherein the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are independently selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof with at least one of (a) the proviso that at least one of the first polymeric material or the second polymeric material is a thermoplastic or (b) the proviso that the first insulation region (14, 24) is interposed between the article and the second insulation region (16, 26). an article having a surface; a first insulation region (14, 24) substantially covering the surface of the article, the first insulation (14, 24) region having a first thermal conductivity and a first volumetric heat capacity, the first insulation region (14, 24) comprising a first polymeric material and at least 10% by volume first hollow ceramic microspheres, based on the total volume of the first insulation region (14, 24), wherein the first polymeric material has a second thermal conductivity and a second volumetric heat capacity, wherein the first thermal conductivity is no greater than the second thermal conductivity, and wherein the first volumetric heat capacity is in a range from 60% to 90% of the second volumetric heat capacity; and a second insulation region (16, 26) substantially covering the surface of the article, the second insulation region (16, 26) having a third thermal conductivity and a third volumetric heat capacity, the second insulation region (16,26) comprising a second polymeric material and second hollow ceramic microspheres, wherein the second polymeric material has a fourth thermal conductivity and a fourth volumetric heat capacity, wherein the third thermal conductivity is not greater than 90% of the fourth thermal conductivity, wherein the third volumetric heat capacity is less than 60% of the fourth volumetric heat capacity, and wherein the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are independently selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosets, and mixtures thereof with at least one of (a) the proviso that at least one of the first polymeric material or the second polymeric material is a thermoplastic or (b) the proviso that the first insulation region (14, 24) is interposed between the article and the second insulation region (16, 26).