By: Patrick Gensel

In 2006, scuba diver and outdoor person Nate Alder took the noble gas concept used in dry suits and started to transition it into other types of outdoor gear. Using Argon, a safe and eco friendly gas, Alder was able to create products that insulate using the lightweight and readily available gas. Using this technology, Nate created Klymit Nobletek insulation. I got a chance to take a look at a few of their products this week at Outdoor Retailer.

Klymit offers several products with their sleeping pads and vests being in the forefront. The sleeping pads are available in a few different offerings. The 3/4 length Inertia X-lite caught our attention and is perfect for weight conscious backpackers. It can be inflated with a few breaths and also comes with a bulb to hand pump it up. when deflated the pad rolls up to a mere 6 inches and weighs only 6.1 oz. MSRP: $89.99

Klymit X-Lite

The X-lite nicely distributed weight when laying on it, and the cut out design did not detract from the comfort of the pad. The really nice thing about these pads is the ability to put them inside  a sleeping back to help maintain loft and therefore warmth.

Of Klymit’s offerings. The Kinetic vest was the product that really stood out for me. This is an inflatable vest that uses the Nobletek insulation technology. What this means is that you can inflate the vest using a small argon gas cylinder. Don’t want to carry a gas cylinder with you? you can also use the inflation bulb to pump it up with good old fashioned air. When I tried the vest on, it fit well and snugged up nicely when inflated. The material that the vest is made up felt substantially abrasion resistant which made me feel better about the idea of wearing an inflatable vest around in the unforgiving outdoors. The Klymit Kinetic vest is available in a few different models that cater to differing outdoor activities and range in price from $199 to $224.99. for more information head over to www.klymit.com.

Klymit Kinetic Amphibian Vest