The e-bike was yesterday - now comes the e-hiking trousers from Arcteryx

Everyone knows that going uphill can be exhausting. Especially for people with injuries and limited mobility. Outdoor manufacturer Arcteryx now wants to change that. Together with the Google X spin-off Skip, it has developed a pair of hiking trousers called "Mo/Go" with an exoskeleton and motor to support you while hiking.

Carbon components and computer control

According to the company, the components of the hiking trousers should provide around 40 per cent more power on the ascent. On the descent, they should take the strain off the leg muscles to protect the knees. The load is measured, calculated and predicted by sensors and an algorithm-based computer control system.

Thanks to the lightweight construction and the carbon elements in the exoskeleton, the trousers are said to weigh less than two kilos. According to the company, the battery lasts for several hours.

The robot-like elements were integrated into the softshell "Gamma" trousers from Arcteryx. Arcteryx and Skip have focussed in particular on ensuring that the high-tech trousers are comfortable and suitable for everyday and outdoor use.

The trousers are set to establish a new category of clothing

The Skip company started as a project at Google X, the search giant's in-house research department. The aim is to use robot-assisted technologies to help people who are restricted in their mobility due to age, illness or a lack of fitness, for example. Skip chose Arcteryx as a partner as the company has extensive expertise in functional outdoor clothing.

The founders started Skip after experiencing first-hand how the quality of life suffers when mobility is restricted. "We experimented with many ideas and finally settled on a new product category called Movewear, which actively supports movement but is just as comfortable and intuitive to wear as clothing. We are starting with knee support for hiking, but are also conducting research studies for a variety of more medical movement challenges," explains Kathryn Zealand, CEO and co-founder of Skip on request.

According to market research, the market for such devices is likely to grow. For example, Skyquest predicts that global sales of exoskeletons will rise from USD 2.35 billion in 2023 to USD 23.6 billion by 2031.

The market for exoskeletons is likely to grow.

The "Mo/Go" trousers can be pre-ordered from Skip at a special price of USD 4500. However, they are currently on sale until the end of the year and will not be available to order again until January 2026. It will later be available at the regular price of USD 5000.