A Vancouver Island company developing high-performance composite materials is working with two of British Columbia’s most iconic outdoors outfitters on premium gear for the Canadian elements.
Residing on the island, ALUULA Composites is the brainchild of a cohort of seasoned chemists and engineers united by zeal for outdoor exploration and adventure.
Breaking the mold of conventional coated and laminated woven fabrics, ALUULA ventures into the realm of ultra-light and ultra-durable materials, which are possible due to the company’s proprietary process of co-polymer layer bonding, yielding composites that are lighter but still dimensionally stable, and resistant to damage.
While initially intended for specific applications, the benefits of ALUULA composite materials have found relevance across a broad range of markets. The company’s reach extends from extreme wind-sports to aerospace—and now to the gear of Durston and Arc’teryx.
Durston’s new Wapta 30 backpack competes in the high-end “ultralight” category of backpacking gear, where every gram is carefully considered by both maker and buyer. For this reason the BC-born brand selected Aluula’s advanced Graflyte material, which is a weight-focused fabric that is durable and recyclable.
The fabric is woven using ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. ALUULA’s innovative heat-bonding process doesn’t require adding polyester film to the polyethylene, which is the current standard.
The result is a lighter material with a superior strength-to-weight ratio that is eight times stronger than that of steel, according to Samuel White, a material scientist at ALUULA.
“ALUULA Composites are not only creating extremely light, strong, and durable fabrics, but materials that are recycle-ready,” he stated.
“As a mono polymer material, our fabrics allow for groundbreaking no-sew and welded construction techniques, ushering in a new era of product design possibilities,” added Dave Westwood, Director of Partnership and Design for ALUULA.
Arc’teryx is another emerging parter of ALUULA exploring this new era of possibility.
Greg Grenzke, senior director of design for advanced concepts at Arc’teryx, says he is looking forward to collaborating with the composites innovator on the future of outdoor gear.
“We’re excited to partner with ALUULA,” he stated, “working together to combine their next-generation composite materials with Arc’teryx’s expertise in creating durable, high-performance products for extreme mountain environments.”
Grenzke sees alignment between the visions and principles of the two companies.
“Like Arc’teryx, ALUULA is a company of engineers, scientists, and passionate outdoor experts,” he says, “and they share our commitment to innovation and unparalleled athletic performance.”
Westwood agrees.
“Arc’teryx’s deep understanding of materials and construction can help ALUULA redefine the boundaries of sustainability and performance,” he stated in October, when the companies initially unveiled their partnership.
He said the two firms are “driving innovation for the future of circular outdoor products.”
Following a “rigorous development process,” Arc’teryx will be releasing the first mainline product using ALUULA materials in Spring 2025, the company announced.
The outdoor equipment sector generated US$25 billion in sales last year, market data shows, and the sector is expected to grow 6 % annually through 2028.
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