Stay warm this winter
A new clothing technology is helping those who love the great outdoors keep themselves warmer and drier. Woody Blackford, design director at Columbia Sportswear, has developed the Omni-Heat technology specifically for this purpose.
Blackford says he got the inspiration for the technology from space blankets.
'Space blankets are commonly used when people are at risk of hypothermia or feel really cold but it is not at all comfortable to wear on the body. The challenge for us was to create a material that feels nice and yet is able to keep the body warm,' he says.
There are two special features on the inside of clothing featuring the technology. The reflective lining in the clothing is the key to regulating warmth. It reflects body heat to keep the body warm even when it is cold and dry.
The dotted matrix on the lining allows heat and sweat to pass through the gaps in between dots to make the user drier and more comfortable. The dotted matrix has a soft and tender texture which feels good on the skin.
Blackford says he spent around 18 months developing the technology and that it has gone through loads of tests to determine how effective it is.
'I have tried the material on many people and many are satisfied with it. I am really happy with it and I hope to extend the use of the technology to other aspects in the future,' he says.
'This is a unique and innovative technology in clothing. I see it as a great solution to stay warm without being too bulky and to stay warm consistently.'
