A coated staple fiber (1) suitable for obtaining protective and floating padding, having a core consisting of at least one natural and/or man-made organic staple fiber (F) and comprising: I) a base tackifier layer (A) which covers the natural and/or man-made organic staple fiber (F) and which comprises a hydrocarbon resin II) an intermediate heat insulating and fire retardant layer (B) which covers the base layer (A) and which comprises aerogel microparticles evenly but not continuously distributed, III) a top hydrophobic layer (C) which covers the intermediate layer (B) and which comprises organosilanes, wherein the base layer (A) binds the intermediate layer (B) to the natural and/or man-made organic staple fiber (F) and the intermediate layer (B) is included between the base layer (A) and the top layer (C).