Helinox South Africa

Outdoor equipment must be functional and reliable. It must also be strong and very light. That's where Helinox leads the world. Helinox equipment is engineered by the world leader in advanced high strength alloys - DAC Featherlite. DAC has been leading the world in lightweight alloy technology for more than twenty years. All the best lightweight tents in Europe and the USA feature DAC poles and pegs as standard equipment because they are universally regarded as the very best - the strongest and the lightest. You will find the DAC logo on the best brands wherever ultra lightweight strength is required - trekking poles, backpacks etc.

DAC developed the amazing material - TH72M - which is the "significant point of difference" that makes Helinox equipment the strongest and lightest in the world. Helinox equipment is made from TH72M.

But the best material is only part of the story. We've operated at the very centre of the outdoor adventure industry for more than 20 years. We've absorbed a huge amount of experience by working closely with the world's most active adventurers - some of whom work in our own design office. Our design engineers are the sharpest and the brightest. Helinox blends experience, innovative design and the world's most advanced material technology to lead the trends.

Helinox is the outdoor adventure equipment industry leader. Helinox innovates – others follow.

The reason is simple – Helinox has the most technically advanced and comprehensive research and development facilities.

The Helinox test facility is "state of the art" and the envy of all in the industry. Wind tunnel testing to simulate the worst alpine conditions and robot testers simulating repetitive stressing of equipment in use is daily routine.

Innovation begins in the wilderness – nothing beats actual user experience – however, putting a new concept through a simulated lifetime of stress can speed up technical advancements by decades. This allows Helinox to make the major strides in technical advances while others cautiously add incremental improvements to old concepts.

For example, the unique "rest zone" on a Helinox lever mechanism overcomes the deformation problem caused when a polymer (plastic) is subjected to continual compressive stress. The problem only becomes apparent after some considerable time, but this issue was discovered and solved at the Helinox Lab so that you don't have to deal with it when you're alone and a long way from home.

Helinox is the "best", but always striving for "better". The Helinox Lab produced the lightest and strongest alloy for the world's best outdoor adventure equipment. The Lab is increasing the gap between Helinox and the next best.

The nature of outdoor equipment changed with the development of TH72M – the lightest and strongest alloy in the wilderness.

Titanium is a wonderful material, but no stronger than steel – just 45% lighter. Lightweight alloys are created by carefully blending titanium with aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, silicon, zinc etc. The result is a material that has qualities of strength and lightness far beyond any single component. Seven years of intensive research created TH72M – substantially stronger than all previous lightweight alloys.

TH72M also broke through a major technological barrier. Previous alloys have suffered from the phenomenon of "stress corrosion cracking" – a major limitation in small diameter alloy tube. Thicker walls were required on small diameter tube to overcome the problem. The extra wall thickness added no extra strength – just extra weight. TH72M was developed to eliminate the issue. Small diameter alloy tube can now be produced at optimum wall thickness (but only if it is TH72M).

TH72M is both STRONGER (due to superior mechanical properties) and LIGHTER because it can be produced at optimum wall thickness.

What about carbon fiber?

Carbon fiber or "graphite" has excellent strength to weight characteristics. It is, however, brittle. Carbon fiber lacks the robustness required in the wilderness. Even a small impact can create an invisible hairline crack that eventually produces a sudden and dramatic failure. Experienced adventurers avoid carbon fiber where unpredicted dramatic failure could be a major inconvenience or even dangerous. The first choice for robust reliability is TH72M.

Lightweight tent poles are subjected to incredible stresses. TH72M by DAC is the first choice of pole material for the best brands of lightweight tents.

Alloys are "anodized" to protect the surface. This normally requires the use of acids. The unique TH72M surface treatment process uses no acids. The TH72M "green anodizing" also produces more durable protection and improved appearance - WIN WIN WIN!

Helinox products are engineered from TH72M.

LIGHTER and STRONGER and GREENER – the Helinox advantage.