Exoskeleton clothing has been making its way into the professional world for a while now. The innovative gear can help to make physical work more bearable. Yet now, the technology will also be used for a more leisurely purpose.
Outdoor gear company Arc’teryx and startup Skip, a spinoff of Google’s X Labs, have joined forces to create the MO/GO pants. Short for Mountain Goat, the pants feature a small electric motor at knee-level, boosting a hiker’s strength by up to 40% when ascending and absorbing shocks when descending.
When all parts are attached, the pants weigh around 3.1 kilograms. The Arc’teryx Gamma hiking pants are used as a base for hiding the carbon fibre braces, to which the power-boosting module and three-hour rechargeable batteries are attached.
They feel as good on the stairs of the Eiffel Tower as on that epic mountain peak you’ve been dreaming of – the steeper and longer the climb or descent, the more they support you.
According to the companies, the exoskeleton device could make the wearer feel up to 13 kilograms lighter despite the added weight. The wearer’s gait and leg movements are monitored at all times in order to adapt to the amount of assistance provided. Yet, if you want to increase or decrease the assistance manually, a simple press of a button will do so.
Even though a pair of exoskeleton pants might sound like something for a niche public and might have a slight medical connotation, the MO/GO pants are marketed as a simple mobility device. Just like an e-bike does for a bicycle ride, the gear is supposed to make your hiking experience easier and more accessible.
The MO/GO pants are expected to launch in 2025 for the rather high price of $5,000. By making a pre-order avid hikers can bring that down to $4,500 with an expected delivery date of early 2026. Those living in the Western United States and Canada can already rent a pair for eight hours for $80 to try out the MO/GO pants.
