The e-bike craze is reaching a fever pitch. People of all ages use them to get outside and stay active, no matter their skill or fitness level. Now, we’re seeing the rise of e-hike equipment. It was only a matter of time.
Case in point: Arc’teryx and wearable robotics startup Skip have teamed up to design and bring to market what the brands hail as the world’s first pair of fully functioning electronic hiking pants. MO/GO — short for “Mountain Goat” — uses an exoskeleton, attaching to the wearer’s legs via a special pair of Arc’teryx Gamma pants.
When a person slips into a pair of the MO/GO pants and takes off on the trail, the pants add electronic assist to power them forward more like a, well, mountain goat. The brands designed this device specifically for anyone who loves hiking but suffers from mobility challenges due to aging, fatigue, or injury.
MO/GO is the latest technology from the world of exoskeletons, which have existed for a surprisingly long time. The first versions were engineered in the 1960s to help people lift heavy objects. They’ve since spilled over into the world of outdoor equipment.
GearJunkie reviewed the Dnsys x1 exoskeleton and found it to be helpful for traversing steep terrain. We also covered the Hypershell Exoskeleton when its Kickstarter hit $1 million.
Exoskeleton tech might be a headscratcher to some. But it could help a lot of people access the great outdoors who otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
“You’re always in control, but [MO/GO’s] e-assist is there to give you a boost when you need it — making whatever you’re doing more effortless, comfortable, and fun,” Arc’teryx told GearJunkie. “Think of it like an e-bike for walking.”
And, like most e-bikes, MO/GO also comes with a hefty price tag. This pair of pants will cost you $5,000. However, the brands are offering early adopters $500 off.
“[It’s] a brand new innovation — part soft garment, part tough outdoor gear,” said the brand. “Part sophisticated computer, part mighty motor system.”
Mo/Go: Arc’teryx Pants, Skip Exoskeleton Technology
The Skip-engineered robotic motor snaps onto or off of the Arc’teryx Gamma pants and weighs less than 2 pounds per leg. If you don’t need to use them, you can remove the motors and just wear the pants. Adjustable carbon fiber cuffs hug the wearer’s legs inside the pants, transferring energy from the motors to their legs.
The motors are dual function: They offer more power for climbing and absorb impact on a person’s joints. According to Skip, MO/GO provides the wearer with 40% more power on the way up, gently supports the knees on the way down, and makes you feel 30 pounds lighter when you’re on the move.
The MO/GO doesn’t just boost your muscles, though. The computer module actually predicts your movement and adjusts its assistance accordingly. If you’re walking up something steep or strolling down a sidewalk, it understands what kind of movement you’re making and how to assist in a way that feels the most natural.
The level of assist is adjusted via the unit’s three-button interface. If you want “more assist” or “less assist” as you’re hiking, just press the corresponding buttons, and the MO/GO motors will automatically adjust.
Designing E-Pants: Skip x Arc’teryx
The founders of Skip, Anna Roumiantseva and Kathryn Zealand, saw firsthand how mobility challenges can impact people’s mental health, well-being, and general quality of life. Their wearable robotics company Skip began as a project at Google X and became its own brand in 2023.
The two entrepreneurs approached Arc’teryx with the idea of a collaboration in 2020. Four years later, the design is finally hitting the market — as part of an entirely new product category for Arc’teryx called “Movewear.”
But how does one start designing a pair of futuristic motorized e-hiking pants? Arc’teryx and Skip started by talking to potential users. They interviewed hundreds of people, asking what their primary movement needs and pain points were when it came to hiking.
“We often heard that people could walk on flat ground okay, but struggled with hills, or got knee pain going down stairs,” Arc’teryx and Skip said. “This drove our decision to focus specifically on knee devices.”
Some exoskeletons primarily provide hip stability and movement assistance. MO/GO, by contrast, employs a battery-operated motor on the knee, connected to a suite of sensors and a computer module. Skip said the decision to focus on knee mobility is very unusual in this space — largely because it’s more challenging to design.
“But we found that this was the highest-intensity need, so we prioritized it in our product development process,” the brand said.
The Arc’teryx Gamma pants are fitted to integrate Skip’s leg supports and motors seamlessly. You probably wouldn’t notice someone wearing a pair of these on the trail unless you stopped and stared — which is another bonus. Many exoskeletons, including the Dnsys x1 GearJunkie reviewed, look like mechanical hip braces you wear over your pants. The MO/GO is much a sleeker design and far less obvious.
Early Adopter Discount & Demo Opportunities
As mentioned, the MO/GO is a premium robotic hiking and apparel product with a premium price tag. Right now, it is listed as having an MSRP of $5,000. If you become one of the early adopters and preorder a MO/GO through Skip before they ship in late 2025, you’ll get $500 off that price.
If you are interested in the MO/GO exoskeleton pants but can’t afford to preorder one sight unseen, the brand does offer demos. As of this writing, if you live in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, or British Columbia, Canada, you can rent a MO/GO demo for $80 per day. More locations across the western U.S. are “coming soon.”
Test the MO/GO out. Get a feel for the movement assist. It might just be exactly what you need to get back on the trail.
“Arc’teryx believes the mountains make us better,” the brand said. “We’re excited to see how the MO/GO can support people in getting back to doing what they love.”
