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ARC’TERYX PRESENTS: OUT ON A LIMB

Ever wondered what it would be like to design the perfect foot (or feet) for climbing?

In the short film Out on a Limb, Craig DeMartino—an American climber with a lower limb difference and the first amputee to climb El Cap in under 24 hours—and inventive industrial designer Kai Lin do exactly that.

There’s plenty of comedic content that compares climbers to the fearless mountain goat, but this film takes it a step further. The story follows a partnership between Craig and Kai, who set out on a quest to create the perfect climbing prosthetic.

Typically, prosthetics are created to reflect a specific range of human movement, but these two crazy kids decided to break the mould and create a climbing foot inspired by the stability of the humble mountain goat.

Perfect for pre or post (or even during) a training session, the dialogue is open, friendly and honest. Despite their impressive achievements, Kyra and Allison come across as warm and relatable. Their personal stories give insight

And don’t switch off before the blooper reels at the end—they’re sure to give you giggle.

Check out their first 10 episodes on Spotify.

As a parathlete, this reviewer might be biased towards paraclimbing content, but this is truly a testament to the diversity of universal and accessible design—and the creativity that comes with solving problems as a person with a disability.

You’ll see the process from design to test phase (and retest phase, and retest phase, because whoever gets it right the first time?) I watched in fascination as Craig and Kai worked to evolve a typically static prosthetic ankle joint into a mobile, responsive one.

With Craig and Kai never actually having met, but rather introduced by mutual friends, the entire process takes place virtually through video calls, recorded outdoor climbing tests and design reflections. It’s heartwarming to watch the friendship develop alongside the design prototypes.

Produced by Arc’teryx, this movie is one to watch if you’re looking for a little creative inspiration. It’s a welcome reminder that if you can’t find a solution to your problem, you can always try making one.

Head to the Arc’teryx Youtube or Vimeo channels for the full film.