Cold comfort?

In a move that takes field testing to new levels, Ergodyne, a maker of protective clothing often used in warehouses and DCs, outfitted explorers Eric Larsen and Ryan Waters with its high-performance gear for their recent expedition to the geographic North Pole. The two reached their destination in early May, following an unaided trek of 53 days. St. Paul, Minn.-based Ergodyne supplied the adventurers with insulated clothing, foot protection, hats, duffel bags, and custom-designed gloves. The company has been working with Larsen—the first person to successfully complete expeditions to the South Pole, North Pole, and summit of Mount Everest in a continuous 365-day period—for the past three years.

Just how tough was the trip? Larsen and Waters traveled across shifting sea ice using skis, snowshoes, and at times, swimming through open water. Larsen had high praise for his sponsor's products. "If Ergodyne's stuff can keep me warm in -34 degrees Celsius [-29 degrees F] weather, they can certainly keep workers warm across the globe," he said.