The Outdoor Retailer '09 Summer Market has started, and the Salt Palace Convention Center was packed wall to wall with exhibitors, retailers and press, all looking for the next big thing in outdoor gear and technology. Klymit is one company in particular that stood out with their novel way of using gas as insulation as opposed to down or synthetics.
Klymit is a Utah company based out of Ogden that makes climate controlled outerwear by using this gas technology. Klymit was founded in 2007 by Nate Alder, a BYU student who came up with the idea of using noble gases as insulation while he was on a diving trip in Brazil. While there, he discovered that deep sea divers use noble gases in dry suits to keep them warm in cold water. Alder figured that the same premise could be used in winter sports activities and industrial applications.
Noble gases such as Argon, Krypton and Xenon are known by scientists to retain heat over long periods of time, and these gases are what will soon be used to keep people warm in the future. The problem for Alder was figuring out a way to get the gas into the jackets.
After hiring a team of developers, and designing jackets and vests capable of being inflated with gas, a simple way of delivering noble-gas insulation into a piece of clothing was found, and it only required the touch of a button. They invented a small gas canister that attaches to the jacket to inflate the interior lining. With the touch of another button, the jacket deflates, so body temperature can be controlled almost instantly. That means no more layering with fleece, down or synthetic insulation.
Klymit is preparing to partner with several outdoor gear companies who are committed to using this cool new technology in ski wear, camping gear and even military outfits. An inflatable camping pad is also in the works along with a line of insulating vests.
Although Klymit products are not in stores quite yet, Alder says they will be within a few months. In the meantime, the Klymit website is taking pre-orders from anyone who is interested in experiencing a new and completely innovative way of keeping warm.
As well as being the talk of the Outdoor Retailer '09 Summer Market, Klymit was also recently featured in a KUTV 2 News report which can be watched below.
