Twin Brothers Take on Himalayan Expedition to Compare Century-Old Explorer Gear with Modern Technology

Published: 06 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Two adventurers from Devon, United Kingdom, are embarking on an unusual yet scientifically significant expedition in the Himalayas that seeks to bridge the past and present of mountaineering. Twin brothers Hugo and Ross Turner, widely known as the Turner Twins, have launched an experimental climb designed to compare the effectiveness of century-old expedition clothing with the advanced technology of modern-day mountaineering gear.

In their latest challenge, one brother will climb Mera Peak in Nepal outfitted with state-of-the-art clothing and equipment, while the other will wear a replica of the garments and kit used by the legendary British explorers George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine during their fateful 1924 Mount Everest expedition. Mallory and Irvine’s ill-fated attempt nearly a century ago remains one of the great mysteries of mountaineering history, as it is still unknown whether they reached the summit before their deaths.

Hugo and Ross Turner are no strangers to extreme adventures. The pair have previously broken a world record by achieving the highest-ever flight in a tandem electric paramotor. Their expeditions often merge adventure with scientific inquiry, and this Himalayan climb is no exception. This time, the focus is not only on reaching the summit but also on testing endurance, physiology, and the ability of different generations of clothing to withstand some of the harshest conditions on Earth.

The brothers deliberately chose Mera Peak, one of Nepal’s highest trekking peaks, instead of Everest. At 6,476 metres, Mera offers a formidable environment while being more accessible for scientific measurements. Everest, currently overwhelmed with climbing expeditions, would have made controlled comparisons and research difficult to manage.

The scientific preparation for the expedition has been rigorous. At the Extreme Environments Laboratories of the University of Portsmouth, the twins underwent simulations in a cold chamber at -24°C. During these sessions, physiological measurements were taken as they tested the contrasting outfits. Hugo, trialling the replica of Mallory’s attire, described the experience: “The feet are feeling alright at the moment, legs a little bit cold, upper body’s fine, mittens here are good. I’m feeling a lot of air around my neck, but then I am getting used to the kit and that’s going to be the big challenge on this expedition. I think the kit is good, but I’m going to have to learn to use it while climbing on the mountain.”

The experiment has drawn considerable interest from scientists because of the rare opportunity it provides for authentic comparisons. “It’s one of the unique things from a physiological perspective that they share the same genetics,” explained Associate Professor Joe Costello, an expert in exercise, environment, and physiology at the University of Portsmouth. “So in terms of this particular project, comparing the old historic Mallory clothing from over 100 years ago to the more modern technology clothing of today, it allows an authentic comparison because the phenotype and the genotype of the twins are so similar.”

The Turner Twins’ undertaking also shines a spotlight on the evolution of mountaineering over the last century. When Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached Everest’s summit in 1953, it marked the triumph of modern climbing techniques and equipment of the time. Yet the mystery of Mallory and Irvine’s attempt continues to fascinate climbers and historians, and this experiment indirectly honours their legacy by revisiting the physical demands of mountaineering with the clothing they relied on.

The brothers are expected to spend around three weeks on the mountain, beginning their expedition on Monday. Alongside scientific analysis, their journey will offer insights into the resilience of the human body under different conditions, the role of technology in survival, and the profound contrast between the mountaineering experience of explorers a century ago and that of adventurers today.