A jacket was launched last month that might help people cope with “black lava, flash fires, and chemical erosion”. The jacket was made by UK-based Vollebak with some pretty interesting features. It was built with a material originally invented in the late 1950s by Dr. Carl Marvel for NASA’s Apollo program, according to NASA.
Dr.Marvel created a material called polybenzimidazole (PBI), a fiber that according to Vollebak, was having “exceptional thermal and chemical stability.” The material has the capability to retain its integrity after it is exposed to high heat, chemicals, and abrasion and won’t stiffen and crack, unlike other fire-retardant materials.
Vollebak also mentioned it as “insanely fireproof” and “tough enough to survive in space”. It was made for astronauts. Actually, the jacket’s design was inspired by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2021 – “Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse” report and a zombie apocalypse are unlikely to ever really happen. The report states that: “if you’re prepared for a zombie apocalypse, you’re prepared for pretty much anything.”
As far as the detailed design of the jacket is concerned, its hood is based on a design made for the US Air Force in the 1950s. It allows the wearer to protect the face from any harm as he can seal off the entire face apart from a hole for breathing.
This jacket is having 23 pockets. These pockets can help to carry all the essentials you would need to survive a doomsday scenario or can be filled with extra insulation to keep you warm in extreme temperatures.
Another compelling feature of this jacket is that one can transform it into a sleeping bag. Moreover, it is actually comfortable to wear. The jacket is made to hide dirt. So it can be taken on any trip where you get dirty. But one drawback to the jacket is its price and that is $1295.
“In the event that there is no zombie apocalypse, this is still one of the strongest and most fireproof jackets ever built. We don’t know of any other commercial pieces of clothing where the main material can survive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere and black lava,” states Vollebak.
