Dune's Stillsuits: Surprisingly Practical in Real-Life Desert Conditions, According to an Expert

Summary

Desert expert Les Stroud explains why Dune's stillsuits make sense in real life; in the desert, more clothing is better for retaining moisture and protecting against the sun.

Liet Kynes discusses the process of extracting water from sweat through stillsuits and the prevention of overheating in the desert of Arrakis. However, the lack of head protection in the suits is compensated through characters' improvised methods, as per the insights shared by Dune's costume designers. The endorsement of a survival expert further validates the effective functionality of the stillsuits.

Desert expert Les Stroud believes that the concept of stillsuits in the movie Dune is actually a practical idea. Based on Frank Herbert's popular science fiction novel, the film follows the story of Paul Atreides, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, who experiences visions of the future and gets caught up in a planetary war on Arrakis. Alongside Chalamet, the star-studded cast includes Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellen Skarsgård, Zendaya, and Javier Bardem. The stillsuit, a unique piece of equipment used to navigate the harsh conditions of the Arrakis desert, enables the characters to endure extreme heat and other planet-specific challenges. In a recent video for Insider, Stroud analyzed the stillsuits in Dune and explained the practicality behind their design. During his discussion on attire, the survival expert emphasized that in desert environments, reality often contradicts our intuition. He elaborated on the advantages of layering and how the choice of clothing can impact moisture retention. To learn more about Stroud's insights on the stillsuits in Dune, read his comments below.

In the desert, it is counterintuitive that more clothing is actually beneficial due to the phenomenon of convection. The dry desert wind rapidly depletes the moisture from your body, but wearing more clothing can help retain it. Similarly, protecting your head and body from the harsh sun in the desert is highly advisable to prevent sunburn and rapid scorching.

Dune's Stillsuits Explained

In the movie, Liet Kynes (played by Sharon Duncan-Brewster) explains the purpose of stillsuits, highlighting their ability to recover water from sweat. She also mentions that as long as the wearer keeps moving, they will not lose any water. With Stroud's comments in mind, it is interesting to consider how much moisture the Fremen and other characters can preserve each day while wearing the suit. Kynes emphasizes that without a stillsuit, an average person would not last more than a few hours in the Arrakis desert and the suit prevents overheating.

Although the suit does not provide head protection, as revealed by Stroud, many characters have found their own ways to cover their heads. Last year, Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan, the costume designers for Dune, described the appearance and function of the stillsuit. They discussed the various materials used to create it and explained how certain components were attached to the water source.

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It is intriguing to explore a survival expert's perspective on stillsuits and their practicality in real life, despite Dune being a work of science fiction. The upcoming release of Dune: Part Two might offer enthusiasts of Arrakis a plethora of knowledge to anticipate.

Source: Insider