HOW IT WORKS
As a biology professor at the University of Pennsylvania and expert in muscle function and biomechanics, Dr. Lawrence Rome, the inventor of HoverGlide was asked by the Office of Naval Research to try to reduce the large loads Special Operation Forces have to carry. The solution was his patented Suspended Load Technology (SLT), which allows the carried load to seamlessly move up and down with respect to the person walking or running. This keeps the load at a constant height with respect to the ground. It looks like magic or computer generated imagery, but it’s science.
How does it work?
While standing still, a 50 lb load in your backpack exerts 50 lbs of force (static weight). This changes when you walk or run, where the peak force exerted on you can be up to 3x the weight you are carrying.
Suddenly a 50lb pack can put as much force on the body and joints as if it weighed 150 lbs. With the movement of SLT, this additional force over and above the static weight can be reduced by as much as 86%! For more details, watch the video above.
Be sure to watch "It's Physics, Not Magic" with the audio on!
The HoverGlide has gone through scientific and durability testing to ensure it's incredibly effective while also tough enough to withstand the needs of the United States military.
Durability testing
Our operational consultant, former Force Recon Marine Sgt. Shawn Carmody decided to put HoverGlide to the test by running in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC while wearing a prototype of the tactical pack filled with 20lbs. He likes to say he ran his fastest marathon while wearing the HoverGlide, and he did, although, to be fair it was his first and only Marathon.