Remember the “indestructible” hoodie? A piece of clothing that could last you 100 years, in pretty bleak conditions, I might add? Vollebak, the company that came up with the hoodie, has just released an updated version of it, “apocalypse-proof”!
The 100 Year hoodie caught our attention three years ago for the fibers used to make it everlasting, aramid fibers used in spacesuits. It didn’t hurt that the hoodie looked soft to the touch and had a cool design.
The 2020 version is capable of repelling rain, wind and snow as well as fire, making it the toughest hoodie ever created. How was that achieved? By using a three-layered fabric, originally developed by Polartec for use by the elite military.
Each layer plays a distinct role. The outer layer is a stretchy, fireproof and windproof softshell. The middle layer is a waterproof membrane. And the bottom layer next to your skin is a soft, engineered fleece that keeps you warm, dry and comfortable.
The outer layer is also abrasion resistant, water repellent, stretchy and fireproof. Vollebak says it’s designed to protect you in the most dangerous situations, from flash fires to arc flash. If you’re wondering what an arc flash is, let’s just say it’s a type of fire capable of generating temperatures of 19,400°C, normally able to set clothes on fire even at a distance.
The design of the hoodie itself has changed, the new version adding four practical pockets and a full-length zip. The pockets are on two levels, with one high and one low; that might come in handy if you want to stash your phone and keys in the two higher pockets and leave the lower ones free for your hands. The zippers themselves are waterproof.
As much as this hoodie resembles the first version, Vollebak’s co-founder Nick Tidball says the latest one “is infinitely tougher. So the full-length zip is rubberised and waterproof. The durable draw cords are more like rope in their texture and thickness, and are finished with heat moulded rubberised ends. And the material started life in a warzone.”
But Vollebak doesn’t do just hoodies. In the 100 Year line, you can find pants, a jacket and a vest.
“All are designed to be highly resistant to things like fire, time, water and abrasion. So our 100 Year Hoodie sits alongside 100 Year Pants made from a material so tough it was originally built to enable the military to walk through burning buildings; our 100 Year Jacket, which is the most waterproof jacket on Earth; and our 100 Year Vest, which is the ultimate utility vest – fireproof, water repellent, and with enough pockets to carry your life with you. Worn together this system will protect against almost anything.”, Steve Tidball, co-founder and CEO of Vollebak told TechTheLead.
Wondering how much is this piece going to cost? Well, there’s a steeper price this time around, as the new Vollebak hoodie is selling for £395 / €445 / $495 here. Will the next iterations be any cheaper? Possibly, but price changes will happen “but on a timescale of years rather than months.”. Why? “Whenever you’re working with something cutting edge, there are inevitably high costs attached to it at the early stage, and this is where we are now. “, explained Steve.
Updated on 3/17 with statements from Steve Tidball, co-founder and CEO Vollebak.
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