Save the Duck Collaboration: Pioneering Vegan Mountaineering Gear
Kuntal Joisher’s partnership with Save the Duck represents a groundbreaking moment in the world of high-altitude mountaineering, proving that ethical, animal-free gear can perform at the highest levels.
The Challenge
For years, climbing the world’s highest peaks required gear made from animal products, particularly down feathers for insulation. This posed a significant challenge for Kuntal as a vegan mountaineer committed to ethical choices.
Kuntal’s Quest for Ethical Gear
In Kuntal’s own words:
“I went on and reached the very top of Mt. Everest on May 19th, 2016 wearing a Down suit. Ever since that day, I spent my time in serious guilt about my actions of using a Down suit, as well as mittens with leather palms, however guilt was not the solution. Solution was to find a reliable and safe vegan alternative to both Down and leather that would keep me warm and safe while above 8000 meters inside the Death zone in thin cold air.
Once I was back home from Everest, I was contemplating a climb to the top of Mt. Lhotse in Spring 2018. And this time around I was not going to compromise and wear a dead animal on my body. So I started my search for an animal-free suit again. I wrote to a company in Italy called Save the Duck which specialized in building down free jackets. They didn’t have mountaineering gear in their catalog, but they agreed to work on one for me, for we both shared the same vision. I was ecstatic! After about 8 months of R&D, they made the world’s first ever one piece suit for 8000m mountains; Down-free and 50% of the suit was made from recycled materials – discarded plastic bottles and fishing nets. Good for the animals, and the planet.”
The Innovation
In collaboration with Save the Duck, an Italian company specializing in animal-free outerwear, Kuntal helped develop the world’s first vegan suit capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of Mount Everest.
Key Features of the Save the Duck Suit
- 100% animal-free materials
- Innovative synthetic insulation technology
- Designed to withstand temperatures as low as -50°C
- Rigorous testing in extreme conditions
Historic Achievement
On May 23rd, 2019, wearing the Save the Duck suit, Kuntal became the first person to summit Mount Everest using completely animal-free gear. This achievement not only marked a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for ethical mountaineering.
Beyond Everest
The success of the Save the Duck suit on Everest has implications far beyond a single climb. It demonstrates that:
- Vegan alternatives can perform as well as traditional gear in extreme conditions
- Ethical choices don’t require compromising on performance or safety
- Innovation in sustainable materials can revolutionize outdoor sports
The Future of Mountaineering Gear
Kuntal’s collaboration with Save the Duck paves the way for more sustainable and ethical choices in extreme sports gear. It challenges the industry to innovate and consider animal-free alternatives across all types of outdoor equipment.