Robotic outerwear for hikers
National Geographic spotlighted Kathryn Zealand’s Skip robotic outerwear — a mobility‑assist jacket inspired by her mom’s trail‑limiting health issues to help hikers stay on rough paths. (x.com)
Skip formally spun out of Google’s moonshot X program into an independent company in 2023, and Kathryn Zealand is listed as a co‑founder and leader of the venture. (techcrunch.com) The product collaboration with Arc’teryx that produced the MO/GO powered trouser system was announced in July 2024 by both brands as a joint effort to bring consumer movewear to outdoor users. (blog.arcteryx.com) Skip and partner materials state the system can deliver roughly a 40% power boost on uphill walking at its maximum assistance setting through integrated actuators. (skipwithjoy.com) Press coverage has reported retail pricing in the mid‑thousands — roughly $4,500 in one technology review and about $5,000 in outdoor gear coverage — as the product moved from demos to limited public availability. (fastcompany.com) The companies described MO/GO as analogous to an “e‑bike for hiking” and noted the project’s roots inside Google X under earlier internal names before the spin‑out. (fastcompany.com) Skip and Arc’teryx made MO/GO available for rentals and public testing in select locations in 2024 with an official consumer launch slated for 2025, and Skip’s product materials carry a clear notice that MO/GO is not an FDA‑cleared medical device. (townlift.com)
