Vindel - security during hikes

Project information

Natural environments have a positive effect on human health. Through research, nature has been shown to have a calming effect on us humans. Just a few minutes in nature contributes to a lowered heart rate and blood pressure and reduces stress, and people feel a strong sense of belonging and presence in nature, which increases the feeling of well-being and quality of life. But nature is a place that also comes with different risks, risks that we can’t control and suddenly can put us in vulnerable and dangerous situations. Today, there’s many different outdoor equipment we’re dependent of to bring out in nature for security such as food, water and extra clothes. For a day's hiking, we don't prioritize bringing more than we need for the day, and ignore equipment that we potentially won't need. This can lead to equipment compromises regarding safety, which can be life-changing in an emergency. In the mountains, you can be suddenly surprised by tough weather, as changing altitude meters, valleys and mountains can quickly cause both larger and more local weather changes drastically. Access to rescue can be far away when you are in the mountains, as mountain huts and mountain destinations can be several kilometers away. As more inexperienced hikers venture into these environments, the risk is greater that more people may end up in dangerous situations. Based on our basic needs for survival, I have chosen to focus on how to provide people with protection and warmth in those conditions.

Method

With a great need for users perspectives and experiences of hiking in nature, I have interviewed different people with a wide variety of knowledge and experiences of hiking. I wanted through my interviews gain a deeper understanding of people's behaviors and experiences of being out in nature today, and to understand what needs exist in today's outdoor life and need to be improved in case of safety in the future. By working with wearable equipment that puts high demands on functionality and security, I have worked with full scale physical prototyping and testing though my process. Through involving the users in both interviews and user tests, I have been able to make decisive decisions in order to create a product that is as understandable, functional and secure as possible.

Result

The result is Vindel, a conceptual backpack with an integrated and easily accessible protection against harsh weather conditions that can provide people with safety and security in an emergency situation that occurs out in nature during hikes. With water and wind resistant materials, the wind shield can protect hikers against harsh weather conditions through its durable structure and design. Through the use of heat-insulating materials, the protection can preserve people's own body heat for a longer period of time and resist cold, strong winds and wetness. Through this project, I hope to guide people to an increased awareness and safety around exploring nature, so that in the future people will be able to keep enjoy and explore the beautiful nature in a safer way.