Arc’teryx’s $5K USD Robotic Hiking Pants Use an Exoskeleton to Offer an Uphill Boost
The brand partnered with robotics startup Skip to engineer the MO/GO pant.
Arc’teryx has teamed up with robotics startup Skip to engineer a pair of hiking pants that aid its wearer in uphill ascents. The MO/GO is being billed as the world’s “first pair of powered pants.”
The pants are outfitted with wearable robots – essentially an exoskeleton on the exterior of the pant leg – with the aim of preventing the fatigue and injury that can come from hiking, along with offering an alternative to those with mobility challenges.
The development of the MO/GO was a four-year-long process. Skip was originally founded as a part of Google X before becoming an independent company last year, where it continued to collaborate with scientists, engineers and designers from Arc’teryx’s Advanced Concepts team.
Using a battery-operated motor, the MO/GO apparently delivers a 40% boost to the leg muscles when its wearer is climbing uphill while supporting the legs on the way down. The exoskeleton itself is a futuristic black attachment that runs from the mid-calf to the mid-thigh, affixed onto Arc’teryx’s flagship softshell Gamma Pant.
The companies say that the concept was inspired by the movement of the mountain goat and its ability to take on elevation with ease.
The MO/GO is available for reservation now with the first shipments expected in late 2025, though robotic hiking pants don’t come cheap as the pants run for $5,000 USD.
