Arc'teryx X Skip, World's First Powered Clothing

The startup company Skip, founded by Google X, Google's secret research organization, and spun off in 2023, has partnered with the Arc'teryx Advanced Concepts team, composed of scientists, engineers, and designers, to unveil move-wear supporting people facing mobility challenges. 

Skip has been developing "Smarty Pants," which can be worn like regular pants. This exoskeleton device combines robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) to predict where the wearer intends to move and where to exert force accordingly. 

Skip's exoskeleton device has been developed with Arc'teryx's Gamma hiking pants into the world's first powered clothing and move-wear called "Mo/Go Powered Pants." Mo/Go refers to the mountain goat, one of nature's best climbers, and is designed to enhance endurance and reduce pain, allowing users to be more active in outdoor activities. 

The exoskeleton device is secured to ultra-lightweight carbon fiber cuffs installed inside the Gamma pants. The cuffs are aligned with the holes in the pant legs, allowing the external power module to be attached and detached as needed. A motor with up to three hours of operation, connected to a set of sensors and a computer module that predicts and supports user movements, is used. 

The combination with the Gamma pants adds breathability, abrasion resistance, and stretch functionality, creating a perfect synergy that reduces metabolic rate when running or walking and decreases the force on the quadriceps and hamstring muscles by about 40%. It also enhances knee support, making activities on inclines easier. 

Arc'teryx and Skip's innovative Mo/Go Pants will initially be available for hikers as rentals, with deliveries expected by the end of 2025. They can currently be reserved through the Arc'teryx Academy website. More details and usage instructions for the Mo/Go Pants can be found on the official Skip website.