Working in any scientific field means continuous learning, and being in the Outside Lab at CU Denver is no different, no matter how much fun we’re having popping sleeping pads or overstuffing backpacks. This year, we put over 150 pieces of gear through the wringer using controlled, repeatable experiments to test their performance limits. Needless to say, we collected a lot of data points and learned a lot about the products and how different design choices affect performance.
When we weren’t purposely trying to destroy jackets, packs, and shoes, we were researching and scheming how to create our own tests to fill specific voids in the gear testing space. Along the way, we questioned if industry-standard test methods and machine setups were actually giving us results that matched real-world use. Here are our key takeaways from a year of trial and error at the Outside Lab.
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