Outdoor Research Archives

Moving to Serfaus: Alpine Proof Outdoor Research and its new Location

Polychromelab’s Alpine Proof is a project to establish a seal of approval for outdoor gear, which is tested under extreme weather conditions in Tyrol to investigate its credibility and functioning. Alpine Proof still is at the ready, but soon polychromelab’s textiles outdoor research finds a new location in Serfaus – Fiss – Ladis.

Part 4: This is just a Slope, isn’t it?

Four men and one dog are standing on a slope nearby a ski lift of skiing region Serfaus – Fiss – Ladis. In winter there are dozens of people on this very ski slope. But how should one do outdoor research here?

textilien alpine proof forschung serfaus

Well, it won’t be an alltogether uncomplicated project, because now there isn’t a sign that in a few weeks the new Alpine Proof textiles research lab will be standing here. We’re especially happy about this professional collaboration with Serfaus – Fiss – Ladis, which makes dreams come true (soon).

outdoor jackets tyrol polychromelab alpine proof

These pictures are from the breifing. In a few weeks a platform will be built on this spot. Then we’ll have a lab with internet, meteo station, sleeping accommodation and most importantly dummies for textiles outdoor research. These we’ll use to simulate wearing of outdoor gear. This way we can scientifically prove what outdoor gear is capable of outdoors – not behind closed doors in studios – and whether there are weak spots which can be improved.

Working Day: Outdoor Gear Lab in Tyrolean Alps

We write the thrid year of ‘polychromelab on Mount Glungezer‘ and still unexpected things do happen. To run an outdoor gear lab in the Alps can be unnerving – or in other words: without beeing spontaneous and wearing high quality outdoor gear one doesn’t come too far.

For example, one needs spontaneousness, when a meteo station has to be transported up on 2610 meters in a backpack. One needs high quality outdoor gear to prevent freezing in conditions like at the Himalaya and storms of 300 km/h. It really gets unnerving, when one has to repair this meteo station, which got demolished by flying rocks in the storm, at freezing winter temperatures on 2610 meters.

Video: way to textiles research lab at Glungezer with Quad

Fortunately today wasn’t that unnerving: because of current weather situation there is less snow for a skitour to our outdoor gear lab and too much to go by feet.

This is how our way to the outdoor gear lab in the Alps looks like (including accident in a bend):

Fortunately, we have two nice helpers at mount Glungezer. Gregor, Youthhostel Gufl, lend us his quad, on which we made our way to the textiles research lab. Arriving on top we had to select meteo data, swap temperature sensors on textiles and repair some damages. Afterwards the innkeeper Gottfried kooked a hot soop to help us recover from freezing temperatures.