Three times Everest summiteer Kenton Cool used clothing made from a revolutionary impact-resistant fabric which combines protection with low bulk and flexibility. Interesting stuff.
An interesting side story from the recent glut of Everest summits
with the news that three-times British summiteer Kenton Cool was
using a revolutionary d3o impact resistant hat and baselayer.
Cool needed seven stitches to a head wound after being struck by a
rock on the mountain last year and, keen to avoid a repeat, utilised
the British-made protective fabric for this year's expedition.
Produced by d3o lab, the garments consisted of a d3o base
layer prototype garment that has d3o protection across the shoulders,
top of the spine and elbows, and a soft hat, designed to protect the
head from falling rocks and ice.
The garments were developed specially for Kenton and claim to
offer the holy grail combination of good impact protection combined
with low bulk and flexibility. The material has 'intelligent
molecules' that flow with you, yet on shock lock together to absorb
impact energy.
How Does It Work?
The manufacturers say that d3o works in a similar way to wet sand.
When you move wet sand slowly with your hand the grains will flow
over and around each other, but try to make it move suddenly and the
grains lock together.
This happens at a molecular level with d3o in a fraction of a
second and apparently the harder you hit it, the more it reacts.
After his record-breaking third ascent of the world's highest
mountain, Cool commented:
"There is no doubt that I felt more confident knowing that I had
d3o protection - I had very clear memories of my last climb when I
needed 7 stitches in my head!"
The material has also been used most recently in the Winter
Olympics in the US Giant slalom ski team race suits made by Spyder
and by Jerzy Dudek (goalkeeper for Liverpool FC and Poland) and Helen
Mortimer (World mountain biking champion).
It's a fascinating proposition for climbers and mountain bikers
who need to combine impact protection with garments that still allow
fluid movement.
More information from www.d3o.com.
Details of Kenton Cool's own guiding services at www.dream-guides.com
