As an internal R&D project, Logistik Unicorp has developed an extreme cold weather mitten which combines traditional materials with new high tech features. Designed to protect the wearer to -50°C and beyond, they are worn as part of a handwear system.
I bought up with the design team at last week’s CANSEC in Ottawa. The team explained that after having evaluated numerous materials, they found that beaver pelts are the optimal material for this application. They looked at several animal hides, including seal, but nothing held up to the Arctic temperatures quite like beaver pelts. In fact, the skins add Canadian content to the system, the pelts harvested and prepared by First Nation craftsmen.
While First Nation tribes live in the far north, they concentrate on survival, avoiding raising a sweat as much as possible. A Soldier on the other hand, isn’t going to be able to avoid moving and other hard work that causes sweat. Beaver not only insulates, but it is inherently waterproof. What’s more, it is extremely comfortable meaning you can use it to warm your face and if you wipe a runny nose, the frozen mucus just slides away, with no build up.
Although the beaver is combined with a Cordura shell and synthetic insulation, the team continues to consider other sustainable materials such as salmon skin, although there are currently challenges to keeping the material supple in such extreme conditions.
According to Logitik Unicorp designers, you might yet see salmon skin integrated into future iterations if they can get the material processing down to meet the challenge.
Editors Note: First paragraph updated to remove reference to DND Operational Clothing contract and clarify that the mittens are being developed in-house.
