Exoskeletons are nothing new. We’ve seen numerous prototypes and even commercial ones come out through the years. What makes the Arc’teryx x Skip Mo/Go different, though, is the fact that it integrates the exoskeleton into a pair of pants, allowing you to walk around with motorized reinforcement without looking like a futuristic cyborg.
A leg-worn motorized exoskeleton, the device is designed to provide a boost as you walk, augmenting the functions of the quadricep and hamstring muscles while absorbing any impact on the knee joints. They’re actually positioning it as a mobility device, rather than a medical exoskeleton, which means it’s aimed at average individuals who want to experience less muscle fatigue and joint discomfort during more challenging journeys on foot.
The Arc’teryx x Skip Mo/Go consists of custom-designed pants from Arc’teryx and a modular exoskeleton system, most parts of which are designed to be installed under the pants, so you only have a minimum of components out in plain sight. That means, elements like the leg brace and cuffs are all obscured underneath, with pre-cut holes on the trousers allowing you to connect the outer components to the ones inside the pants. The pants, by the way, are a modified version of the Arc’teryx Gamma Pants, a technical pair of softshell trousers designed for hiking, trekking, and similar activities.
Outside, all you see is a pair of leg bars connected by a disc-shaped joint, which actually contains the integrated motor that powers the whole thing. Those legs bars are designed to attach to designated mounts on the exterior of the pants, which makes installation extremely easy, while also making it just as easy to remove the exterior components without having to remove what’s inside, so you can go without the reinforced assistance for a bit if you’re just going to be lounging around for a few hours.
The Arc’teryx x Skip Mo/Go has three buttons available on the upper leg component. There’s a power button to turn it on and off, as well as up and down buttons, with the former increasing the level of assistance and the latter decreasing it, so you can dial in how much extra force it provides on the fly. There are also several small knobs available at various points on the pants, which you can use to loosen and tighten the integrated cuffs, so you can quickly adjust how the whole thing fits.
How much boost can you expect from the device? According to the outfit, it’s meant to provide a maximum of 40 percent boost, so you’ll still actually need to do the walking, but you will expending significantly less energy with every step. And yes, this thing can provide it assistance on both flat city roads and mountain trails, so it can really help push you during long treks you might not otherwise be able to complete. Other details include 10 available sizes for the pants (you can choose size during preorder), a range of six miles at the maximum assistance level (if you set it lower, you can go further), and regenerative charging, which happens any time you’re walking downhill.
The Arc’teryx x Skip Mo/Go is slated to ship in 2025. Price is $5,000, although they’re offering an early bird discounted price of $4,500 for a $99 reservation deposit.