Materials have long been the source of outdoor gear innovation, and among all the ripstop and rubber, Dyneema still stands out as one of the most impressively futuristic (despite being around for a while now). If you're unfamiliar, Dyneema is an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene with super-strong intermolecular bonds, but what you really need to know is that it's a fabric, and that taken ounce for ounce, it's stronger than steel.
You'll find Dyneema most commonly in ultralight backpacks and shelters and more rarely in things like trail running shoes or denim. It's notoriously difficult to work with, which is why it's all the more impressive that the Quebec-based brand Foehn used the stuff to shell a down jacket as part of their recent collection.