Flexible, monolithic and superhydrophobic silica aerogels were obtained by combining methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) and tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS) (50:30:20 mol%) in a one-step base-catalyzed co-precursor sol-gel procedure. Polybutylacrylate (PBA) and polystyrene (PS) were grafted and cross-linked in the gel aiming to enhance the mechanical performance. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry analysis and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of the polymers as a binding coating on the 3D silica network, primarily formed by firmly connected 3-5 mu m secondary particles. When compared to the MTMS-based aerogels, the VTMS-MTMS-TMOS-derived aerogels, either reinforced or not, show a threefold increase of the bulk density (to similar to 150-160 kg m(-3)) and a consequent decrease in the surface area and average pore size; the thermal conductivity also increases to 60-70 mW m(-1) K-1, a 50 % increase over the values of MTMS-derived aerogels. Although these tendencies are more marked in the polymer-reinforced materials, the change of the silica skeleton from MTMS to VTMS-MTMS-TMOS is responsible for the main differences. The VTMS-MTMS-TMOS underlying structure gives a fourfold increase in compressive strength relatively to the MTMS-derived aerogels, even when not reinforced. In addition, it retains a high elongation at break (40-50 %) and flexibility-modulus of 25 kPa for the PBA-reinforced aerogel, the more flexible aerogel, and modulus of 91 kPa for PS-reinforced aerogel, the stiffer and stronger material. The obtained aerogels have touch feeling that resembles that of expanded polystyrene foams, and also show negligible particle shedding, which is a valued characteristic for aerospace applications.