Yama Labs Announces First-Ever Ultralight Obsidian Dyneema Luggage

Yama Labs, a subsidiary of Yama Mountain Gear, announced the development of wheeled ultralight luggage made using Dyneema Composite Fabrics. Founder Gen Shimizu forecasts strong consumer demand for the company's ultralight travel luggage because "consumers are sick of using conventional wheeled travel luggage that weighs more than the stuff they've packed."

Part Japanese and part Pennsylvanian Dutch, Mr. Shimizu is renowned for his out-of-the-box design ideas in the ultralight backpacking world where hikers have been known to cut off the handles of their toothbrushes to reduce the weight of their backpacking gear. "The original idea for Ultralight Wheeled Dyneema Luggage came from my finance, who's a petite concert cello player. She's always struggled with a heavy cello case when traveling, so I decided to make one that was ultralight and wheeled, but that would also be sturdy and safe enough to transport her 18th century cello."

While fiberglass and carbon fiber cello travel cases exist today, the Yama's Wheeled Dyneema Cello Case is much lighter weight, only weighing 1.5 pounds, including wheels and hardware. "I've been working with Dyneema Composite Fabrics for over five years," says Shimizu, "and the stuff is magic if you know how to exploit its molecular structure."

Yama Labs developed a proprietary heating and molding process that anneals multiple layers of Dyneema together to create a hard case "that's stronger than steel, but light as a feather," says Shimizu. After extensive product testing, the company discovered that a black colored formulation was the most durable, hence the name "Obsidian Dyneema," which Yama has trademarked.

The first set of bags and cases made using Yama's Obsidian Dyneema includes a wheeled carry-on, hard golf-club case, hard ski case, and a hard cello case. Priced between $350 and $1200, they're available for pre-order today, with delivery later in 2018. For ordering information, contact Yama Mountain Gear, 1304 East Market St, Suite V, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

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