Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Key Products: Alpenglow Pro Hoody, First Light Insulated Hoody
What we like: Its line of hard shells and insulation built specifically for backcountry use.
What we don’t like: Compared to many major brands, its product lineup is overly narrow, focusing primarily on climbing and backcountry skiing.
Key Products: Trollveggen Gore‑Tex Jacket, Lofoten Gore‑Tex Jacket, Falketind Jacket
What we like: Arc’teryx‑level quality and performance.
What we don’t like: Expensive, highly technical, and limited availability in the U.S.
Both ranges offer more affordable versions, which feature simplified waterproof membranes, fabrics and design elements. Even so, the flagship models featuring Gore-Tex Pro continue to perform exceptionally well in truly harsh outdoor conditions.
Furthermore, whilst Norrøna’s distribution channels in the US remain relatively limited compared to most of the brands mentioned earlier, well-known online retailers such as Backcountry and Evo still offer a wide selection of styles.
All in all, if you are planning to engage in professional outdoor activities such as high-altitude mountaineering or wilderness expeditions, Norrøna is definitely worth serious consideration.
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Top products: Fuego hooded down jacket, Teca windbreaker range, Abrazo fleece
What we like: The retro-inspired designs and the brand’s clear commitment to social responsibility.
What we don’t like: It isn’t strictly a specialist performance brand, and the bold, eye-catching colour schemes may not be to everyone’s taste.
Cotopaxi has been producing outdoor clothing since 2014, whilst founder Davis Smith had long harboured a dream of creating a socially responsible outdoor brand. Smith spent much of his childhood in impoverished regions of Central and South America, which inspired him to establish a brand centred on giving back to society—a principle Cotopaxi continues to uphold to this day.
The brand is deeply committed to environmental sustainability and social good: from the sustainable sourcing of raw materials to donating 1% of its annual revenue to the eponymous foundation, which supports humanitarian organisations and other non-profit bodies. Cotopaxi is also a certified B Corp and a climate-neutral enterprise, dedicated to measuring, offsetting and reducing carbon emissions to minimise its overall environmental impact. The brand’s slogan, ‘Gear for Good’, is printed on the vast majority of its clothing and accessories.
The Fuego down jacket and the Teca half-zip windbreaker are two particularly popular items; not only are they stylish and made from premium fabrics, but they also cater to both casual outdoor activities and everyday wear. It is worth noting, however, that Cotopaxi is not a specialist high-performance outdoor brand. If you require professional gear suitable for demanding environments such as long-distance hikes or high-intensity mountaineering, we recommend brands such as Arc’teryx, Mammut or Rab.
Some may find the design style a bit too flamboyant, but this is purely a matter of personal taste. As for us, we are quite fond of Cotopaxi’s distinctive and highly recognisable designs.
Although Smartwool’s product range is not as comprehensive as that of most other outdoor brands, it remains a leading brand in the merino wool sector, specialising in the research, development and production of wool-based outdoor apparel. In particular, the sock range covers a wide variety of scenarios, with styles suitable for all kinds of outdoor activities from hiking to skiing. Not only is there a rich variety of styles (including invisible socks, three-quarter socks and boat socks), but there are also multiple thickness options to meet the warmth and protection needs of different situations.
Thermal underwear is another of Smartwool’s key strengths, with its most popular classic thermal base layer having consistently topped our recommended thermal underwear list for many years. This base layer feels soft and gentle against the skin, combining odour-control and breathability. Its close-fitting cut maximises heat retention and warmth whilst efficiently wicking away moisture, preventing any stuffiness during exercise or everyday wear; It also comes in a variety of stylish colours and styles, with our personal favourite being the quarter-zip version — the convenient zip design allows for flexible adjustment according to ambient temperatures, making it incredibly practical.
Helly Hansen
Location: Oslo, Norway
Top products: Lifa Stripe Crew thermal base layer, Odin hard-shell jacket and Verglas down jacket
What we like: In-house developed high-tech fabrics and tried-and-tested waterproof technology.
What we don’t like: The eye-catching branding may be a bit polarising; limited sales channels in the US
Founded in 1877 by sailor Helly Hansen to withstand Norway’s harsh natural environment, the eponymous brand remains a leader in technical fabrics and waterproof technology. Its Lifa fabric has long been a favourite and is widely used in many top-tier base layers, offering both exceptional comfort and moisture-wicking properties, making it ideal for active wear. For technical mountaineering expeditions, its Helly Tech waterproof membrane rivals Gore-Tex in overall performance. We know that Helly Hansen’s durability and robustness may not be as widely recognised as those of other brands, but here’s an example: Their Odin 9 Worlds 3.0 hard-shell jacket utilises top-tier waterproof technology combined with 70-denier fabric to provide reliable protection even in the harshest weather – yet it costs a full $425 less than Arc’teryx’s comparable Alpha SV model.
Helly Hansen has become the brand of choice for professional skiers and ski patrollers worldwide, and is highly regarded by lift operators, guides and other professional mountaineers who demand top-tier performance. True to its heritage, Helly Hansen also offers a range of high-quality sailing gear and apparel that delivers the same exceptional performance. In our view, one of its main drawbacks is the prominent branding on most products, which creates a polarising look and makes their jackets less suitable for everyday wear than many of their competitors. Furthermore, many of their hard-shell jackets are quite bulky; the Odin 9 Worlds, in particular, is the heaviest hard-shell jacket we have reviewed to date.
Mountain Hardwear
Location: Richmond, California
Top products: Ghost Whisperer 2-in-1 hooded down jacket, Stretchdown hoodie and Crater Lake base layer
What we like: An ever-expanding range of high-performance jackets and ski gear.
What we don’t like: Innovation and quality were once lacking, but appear to be on the rise.
Mountain Hardwear had faded from the spotlight for a while, but in recent years they have made significant strides in both quality and sustainability, and we believe their current product range holds great promise. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the company stands out for its premium down products and its expanding range of Gore-Tex jackets and ski gear. The latest Ghost Whisperer is a prime example: The original Ghost Whisperer defined the concept of the ultra-light down jacket, and the latest ‘/2’ model continues this tradition, weighing under 9 ounces and offering superb packability, ample high-quality down fill and a range of practical features. For outdoor adventurers committed to travelling light and seeking speed and excitement, it remains the top choice year after year.
Furthermore, we commend the brand for its growing commitment to sustainability, which is clearly reflected in its numerous new and updated products that utilise responsibly sourced down and recycled materials. All in all, the brand is on an upward trajectory, and we are encouraged by its recent progress.
Eddie Bauer
Location: Bellevue, Washington
Top products: CirrusLite down jacket, MicroTherm down jacket and Guide Pro trousers
What we like: A well-known mountain brand with a century of history.
What we don’t like: Their profile has declined somewhat in recent years.
Like Outdoor Research, Eddie Bauer is an iconic brand of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1920, the company began as a tennis shop at the back of a local hunting and fishing store, but quickly evolved into a brand specialising in outdoor sports. Founder Eddie Bauer even patented the first quilted down jacket as early as 1936. Since then, the company has supplied equipment for many significant expeditions of the 1950s and 1960s, including early ascents of K2 and Mount Everest. Today, their product range spans everything from mountaineering boots and accessories to insulated jackets, rainwear and winter parkas.
Like The North Face, Eddie Bauer offers outstanding products in the technical apparel sector, and the First Ascent collection is a prime example of this. We are particularly impressed by their down products, such as the MicroTherm range, which utilises premium 800-fill-power down and incorporates numerous practical features, such as stretch side panels and built-in pockets for storing gloves or goggles. Although Eddie Bauer has gradually become synonymous with casual lifestyle clothing, we continue to follow their development and high-performance technical product lines.
Montbell
Location: Osaka, Japan
Popular products: Plasma 1000 down jackets and Versalite windbreakers
Pros: A market leader in ultra-lightweight, warm and waterproof gear.
Cons: Lacks practicality for everyday use.
Unlike the brands mentioned above, Japan-based Montbell targets a very niche market: ultra-light (UL) enthusiasts. As a leader in the lightweight and fast-packing sector, Montbell is renowned for its ultra-high-end down products (including the 1000-fill-power Plasma series) and ultra-thin jackets (such as the 10-denier Versalite rain jacket). The end result is a product range that is exceptionally lightweight, with the Plasma 1000 down jacket weighing just 4.9 ounces and the Versalite a mere 6.4 ounces. Compared to other brands, these figures are virtually unrivalled.
Unfortunately, reducing weight often requires making certain compromises, with the main sacrifice being everyday comfort. In other words, these products are designed for specific purposes and are not suitable for everyday wear; moreover, their styles tend to be more technical in nature. We recommend reserving them for high-intensity expeditions, where weight and packability are paramount. However, if you are a long-distance hiker or an experienced mountaineer looking to minimise weight as much as possible, Montbell products are generally very good value for money given their outstanding performance.
