I was skeptical of e-bikes until I realized the numerous advantages of installing a small motor on a bicycle. Suddenly hilly routes were no longer scary, and places that were impossible for my 36-year-old legs were no longer impossible for me. Even better, friends who normally wouldn't accompany me on a brisk bike ride around the city were willing to do so when I offered them the option of renting an e-bike.

Essentially, the best e-bikes open up new possibilities, making the act of riding a bike less intimidating and giving riders more control over the intensity of exercise on each ride. In many ways, EV bikes are a democratizing force in cycling, making it easier than ever for people to try cycling.

And now Arc'teryx is trying to replicate the e-bike concept with hiking pants.

Priced at $5,000, Arc'teryx's MO/GO hiking pants (short for "goat") will ship in 2025; secure your preorder with a $99 deposit. Doing so will get you early bird pricing and bring the overall cost down to $4,500.

Not sure? You can also sign up for a trial run for a one-day trek for $80. Or, if you're in Squamish, British Columbia, you can get a free 20-minute demo at the Arctic Climbing Academy.

The MO/GO pants represent the future of outerwear that we deserve, where factors such as age, athletic ability, and overall fitness level are not an obstacle to achieving our dreams of outdoor adventure.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, where many of my favorite mountain hikes require significant elevation gain. When my retired parents come to visit from the East Coast, I love to take them out into nature, but I also know their limitations, so I avoid strenuous climbing.

But what if my parents could keep up with my favorite trek without straining themselves? That's where the Arc'teryx MO/GO hiking pants come in.

Arc'teryx partnered with wearable tech company Skip, a Google spin-off, to create the MO/GO. It is a modified version of Arc'teryx's Gamma hiking pants, with roughly three hours of battery life from a (presumably) removable rechargeable battery pack. Billed as a mobility device rather than a medical device, it will help push the limits of hiking.

Electric joints in both knees and ultralight motors provide power to aid hikers on level terrain and uphill hikes. e-pants also soften the impact of trekking downhill.

While walking, the onboard software analyzes your stride and gait and provides optimal assistance in a way that feels natural. The intensity of the electric assist can also be adjusted.

According to Arc'teryx, wearing MO/GO pants can make one feel up to 30 pounds lighter. Each power module weighs about 2 pounds, and the overall weight, including pants, motor, and batteries, is about 7 pounds.

The power modules connect to carbon fiber attachment points hidden under the pants. And while the device is far from modest looking, it does not look ridiculous at all.

This is not the first company to launch a motorized exoskeleton to support hikers, but it is the first product from a major outerwear brand that is fully integrated into the pants.

[28] Ultimately, the MO/GO hiking pants seem more like an expensive proof of concept than a mass-market product, but the simple fact that one of my favorite golware brands is pushing this kind of advanced clothing technology does nothing but excite me I can't help but be excited. Way to go, Patagonia.

Now, if only I could scrape together a few thousand more dollars to buy myself a piece or two...

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