From Cotton and Wool to High-Tech Synthetics
Standing on the Mount Everest summit in 1953 was a different world. Comparing the gear of the first Mount Everest expedition to modern kit reveals how much safer the mountain has become.
Hillary and Tenzing wore leather and wool boots that were prone to freezing. Today's Mount Everest expedition 'triple boots' are lightweight, waterproof, and keep feet warm in -50 degrees.
Old sets were heavy and often failed. Modern masks are light, comfortable, and highly reliable, allowing more people to experience the Mount Everest summit safely.
In 1953, the world didn't know the summit was reached for days. Now, you can tweet from the Mount Everest summit. This connectivity is the biggest change in the Everest trekking and climbing world.
Modern tech makes the mountain more accessible, but it doesn't make it any smaller. Respect the pioneers who reached the Mount Everest summit with a fraction of the gear we have today.
