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TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.Patagonia is making clothing from synthetic spider silk
Mon 04 Jul, 2016 11:07 am
Seems like it has been in development for a while...discussed in other threads
http://qz.com/708298/synthetic-spider-s ... nce-nylon/
http://qz.com/708298/synthetic-spider-s ... nce-nylon/
Re: Patagonia is making clothing from synthetic spider silk
Mon 04 Jul, 2016 1:04 pm
Awesome. Sounds like I might have to wait until Aldi starts making its budget version spider silk jackets to be able to afford it though.
Re: Patagonia is making clothing from synthetic spider silk
Mon 04 Jul, 2016 1:38 pm
It's obviously still at the novelty stage at the moment.
For a start, the emphasis has been on the advantageous characteristics of the fibre but little or no info on the physical characteristics of the fabrics produced. Until there's more info on that, there's no cost-benefit comparison possible for the potential users. Is it lighter? Is it stronger? Is it more wear resistant? Is it more breathable? We know nothing. Give it a few more years and 1-2 additional rounds of funding I'd say.
For a start, the emphasis has been on the advantageous characteristics of the fibre but little or no info on the physical characteristics of the fabrics produced. Until there's more info on that, there's no cost-benefit comparison possible for the potential users. Is it lighter? Is it stronger? Is it more wear resistant? Is it more breathable? We know nothing. Give it a few more years and 1-2 additional rounds of funding I'd say.
Re: Patagonia is making clothing from synthetic spider silk
Mon 04 Jul, 2016 10:47 pm
Striking a note of caution: has anyone thought of the potential difficulties in removing hapless insects that will inevitably become stuck on the apparel? On the other hand, perhaps it will be a godsend for bushwalkers with an interest in entomology - no need to use butterfly nets etc.
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