New Outdoor Research Climbing Gloves Get Space Age with Aerogel Insulation Gear News

Outdoor Research is combining its decades of experience building highly dexterous, durable gloves with an innovative new material – super-insulating PrimaLoft® Gold Aerogel, a first in the outdoor glove category. The result is a sophisticated skiing and climbing glove that ups the ante for tactility and warmth.

Originally developed by NASA to insulate space suits, Aerogel is a truly remarkable substance that takes the form of a malleable solid made of more than 98 percent air (often referred to as 'frozen smoke'). Unlike traditional insulation, which traps warm air, Aerogel has a low thermal conductivity and acts as a barrier to heat transfer, effectively retaining warmth and blocking cold. It's also extremely compression resistant and maintains similar insulation (CLO) values under pressure of grip or weight bearing. PrimaLoft® Gold Aerogel sees this unique material encapsulated within a water resistant membrane to form ultra light layers of insulation just 1.5mm - 3mm thick.

The game-changing design of Outdoor Research's Bitterblaze and Women's Ouray Gloves places multiple panels of 1.5 mm PrimaLoft® Gold Aerogel across the palm, fingers and thumb where Aerogels slim-line warmth best supports the smooth operation of equipment such as ski-bindings and karabiners, prevents freezing elements seeping through, and reduces the force needed to grip ice-axes and poles; a problem associated with traditional lofty insulations which can limit dexterity and impair warmth when gripping tightly around them. Both the Bitterblaze and Ouray feature a pre-curved construction that mirrors the natural curvature of the hand and a durable stretch-nylon shell fabric for freedom of movement. Primaloft Gold Insulation adds warmth across the back of the hand and protects against general exposure to harsh weather as well as cold when clearing snow. The trusted weather protection of GORE-TEX® XTRAFIT inserts and Pittards® Oiltac goat leather palms guarantee the best all weather grip around.

ABOUT OUTDOOR RESEARCH

Outdoor Research® is Designed by Adventure®. We provide Innovation and Inspiration for the Relentless Adventurer. Based in Seattle, Outdoor Research was founded in 1981. We are dedicated to building technically innovative, state-of-the-art clothing, headwear, gloves, gaiters, packing systems and shelters informed by real-world testing. All of our products are backed by the Infinite Guarantee®. We are committed to our core sports: alpinism, rock and ice climbing, hiking, backpacking, paddling, trail running, and skiing and snowboarding. Outdoor Research supports several organizations advocating environmental protection, education and the interests of mountaineers and alpinists. WEBSITE: https://www.outdoorresearch.com/gb/en


For more information www.outdoorresearch.com



21 Dec, 2018

Cool stuff! Aerogel wasn't first produced by NASA though- it's earliest production was in 1931, so preceded NASA by 27 years. 


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