Recently, I traveled to the Swiss Alps with the outdoor brand Columbia to test out their newest technology. Omni-Heat Arctic is an insulating technology that is inspired by how a polar bear’s fur works to keep it warm in frigid arctic conditions. Though polar bears appear white, they actually have heat-absorbing black skin and two layers of translucent fur that prevent almost all heat loss.
Using a process called biomimicry – the design of structures and systems that are modeled on living organisms – Columbia developed the new technology and incorporated it into two garments – the Arctic Crest Down Jacket and Arctic Crest Sherpa Technical Fleece – that absorbs the sun’s rays while conventional insulation helps trap it there, in addition to your own body-generated heat.
