very year, outdoor clothing brands compete to deliver new styles and performance improvements.
Inspired by Patagonia, more outdoor clothing brands from all over the world are using innovative and sustainable materials.
In 2019, the best outdoor clothing brands were from Germany and Australia.
This year we’ve seen significant changes at the top, and for a good reason.
Without further ado, these are the biggest and the best outdoor clothing brands of 2020:
21. Mammut
COUNTRY:
Switzerland.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Founded in 1862, this Swiss outdoor clothing brand is famous for both, high-performance techwear and climbing ropes.
Mammut’s outdoor clothing products are a perfect mixture of style and function.
The brand’s unique technology, called Phase Weave, can combine multiple pieces of fabric into one material.
First, the material looks damn cool and second; it hides high-abrasion areas without the need for exposed stitches.
In the past, Mammut’s outdoor apparel was designed around snow sports.
Nowadays, the brand is taking steps toward “urban performance,” as it is the case of their ‘Delta X’ line.
Our favourite piece from the Delta X line is the futuristic Teufelsberg HS.
It is a 10-ounce packable shell, cut from a single piece of waterproof polyamide.
Stylish, light and functional, Mammut is an outdoor clothing brand worth banking on.
20. Houdini
COUNTRY:
Sweden.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Houdini is an eco-conscious outdoor clothing brand that makes extreme sports apparel.
Given its focus on sustainability, the company uses some of the most innovative fabrics and textiles.
For example, the brand’s Surpass 2.5L hardshell perform better than any tech-core materials.
Also, the brand lets users rent its highest-performance gear.
Additionally, as most of Houdini’s garments are recyclable, the brand makes waves with its planet-friendly mission and performance cred alike.
19. Berghaus
COUNTRY:
United Kingdom.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Launched in Newcastle, this British outdoor clothing brand has a German name recognised in the techno music world.
Launched in 1972, Berghaus is producing specialist outdoor gear with loud colours and superb gossamer detailing.
Since then, the label has grown to become one of Europe’s most well-known gearmakers, thanks to its excellent quality and low prices.
Must have: Dean Street collection – for an ultimate teachwear look.
18. Montane
COUNTRY:
United Kingdom.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Launched 25 years ago, this British outdoor clothing brand creates for serious mountain professionals working in hostile conditions.
Made for people who demand the most stringent credentials from their clothing, Montane understands the importance of functional garments of excellent design.
Fabric technology is critical to producing the best products, and Montane works with the world’s leading fabric suppliers to engineer new cutting-edge materials.
The brand pushes the boundaries of what is possible with clothing, ready for the most challenging weather conditions.
17. Kathmandu
COUNTRY:
New Zealand.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Launched in New Zealand in 1987, Kathmandu has been producing top quality outdoor clothing for all kinds of activities for over 30 years.
Also, as it is hailing from a country with a dramatic landscape that demands to be explored, the brand is very conscious of its environmental impact.
16. Salomon
COUNTRY:
France.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Founded in 1947 in the French Alps, Salomon is a sportswear company that’s nowadays residing in Annecy, famous for its market-leading footwear.
Launched as a metalworking company for mountain gear, almost 70 years later, the runners in the family decided to get into apparel by creating “the ultimate fashion sneaker.”
The outdoor clothing brand is known around the world for its Alpine ski gear as Salomon’s shoes are not just functional but very stylish.
In particular, the brand’s collab with Boris Bidjan Saberi for the Spring/Summer 2017 show.
Saberi’s ‘Post-Humanism’ collection put a spotlight on Salomon’s twisty, morphing, bioorganic designs.
Salomon is also one of the outdoor equipment leaders in Europe, with products such as top-of-the-range ski and snowboard gear.
Salomon outdoor clothing offering covers a wide range of outdoor sports, including trail running, hiking and climbing, in over 45 countries across five continents.
15. Barbour
COUNTRY:
United Kingdom.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Barbour outdoor clothing brand is q stalwart of the British countryside.
The label has been making outstanding quality outdoor apparel since 1894 and ever since have become the very definition of luxury outdoor wear fit for Royalty.
Since 1974, Barbour holds 3 Imperial warrants to supply waterproof and protective clothing to the British Royal family.
The waxed cotton green Barbour jacket is recognised as the brand’s flagship item; beautiful, iconic, award-winning.
The brand makes sweaters, shirts, moleskin and corduroy outdoor clothing, all to scrupulous standards of quality.
Signature: Classic Beaufort Wax Jacket.
14. Marmot
COUNTRY:
United States.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Marmot is an American outdoor clothing company based in Rohnert Park, California, and part of the Newell Brands.
Launched in 1974 by two university students, in their students’ slang, Marmots were friends climbing mountains.
In this case, ‘Marmot’ has taken the moniker from a larger, social, human-like squirrel.
The idea was catchy, and an eccentric club was formed.
The label struck gold when the producers of a Clint Eastwood film requested 108 “very puffy” jackets, to which they dutifully obliged, despite barely having gotten off the ground as a company at the time.
Nowadays, Marmot is a much loved and respected outdoor brand with a commitment to the highest quality gear and apparel.
Must have: Montreal Puffer Coat.
13. Black Diamond
COUNTRY:
United States.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Launched in 1950, Black Diamond outdoor clothing brand is one of the hardest to beat when it comes to climbing and skiing.
However, the brand was weren’t officially established until 1989 and ever since branched out worldwide.
Nowadays it is the go-to outdoor clothing company for mountaineers, professional climbers, skiers and other mountain-based and winter athletes.
12. Outdoor Research
COUNTRY:
United States.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Outdoor Research covers just about everything outdoor-apparel related.
Based out of Seattle, the brand offers alpine pursuits, paddling, rock and ice climbing, backcountry skiing and snowboarding, backpacking…the list goes on.
Outdoor Research was founded in 1981 by Ron Gregg, a nuclear physicist.
During an expedition up North America’s highest peak, Gregg’s climbing partner suffered frostbitten feet in extreme conditions and had to be airlifted to safety.
The whole experience inspired Gregg to leave his science career behind and seek the best ways to prevent such problems from happening again.
11. KÜHL
COUNTRY:
United States.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
KÜHL is an American outdoor clothing brand with a deep focus on mountain wear.
KÜHL’s story as an independent brand began in the snow-covered peaks of the Wasatch Mountains, US.
According to the founders, the brand was designed for:
“relentless weather and challenging conditions, for courageous, humble, hungry, and kind people.“
The brand’s superb selection of hiking pants (under $100) places them as one of the most affordable brands out there right now.
Besides pants, the brand markets top-quality tops, outwear, and outdoor accessories.
I find KÜHL as one of the most stylish outerwear companies on the market at the moment.
10. Fjallraven
COUNTRY:
Sweden.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Founded in 1960 in Örnsköldsvik, a small town in Sweden, Fjällräven is an outdoor clothing brand committed to making nature more accessible.
Hailing from a place where mountains and forest meet the sea, this outdoor equipment company focuses on simplicity and practicality with the utmost respect for the environment.
With several functional layers, Fjallraven jackets, coats, trousers and shirts offer an authentic Swedish vibe and style.
9. Arc’teryx
COUNTRY:
Canada.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Founded by climbers in 1989, this Vancouver-based outdoor clothing brand has 30 years in tech apparel.
Arc’teryx clothes are light and blizzard-ready, built for outdoor extremes and the most severe weather conditions.
And, while they say quality does not guarantee style, Arc’teryx is famous for its devotion to design.
The best example is the brand’s Alpha SV Jacket.
It has evolved from a baggy and oversized style to a slim and modern silhouette.
Expensive but stylish, Arc’teryx also owns Veilance, a technical menswear collection.
Right now, with a distinctive dead bird logo, this label is fighting to become the sleekest outdoor gear-maker on the market.
8. Cotopaxi
COUNTRY:
Philippines.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Named after the famous volcano in Ecuador, Cotopaxi is an outdoor clothing brand with a social conscience.
The brand has founded the Cotopaxi Foundation, designed to support poverty alleviation projects by donating 1 per cent of their annual revenue.
Cotopaxi’s outerwear clothing is on the lower end of the price scale.
However, the company does not compromise on quality.
The brand’s parkas and fleeces are comfortable and made from recycled and organic materials.
7. Jack Wolfskin
COUNTRY:
Germany
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Jack Wolfskin is an outdoor clothing brand often described as ‘The North Face’ of Europe.
Like any other German brand, this label is known for its attention to quality and focus on the environment.
Right now, all products are made from recycled plastic.
Moreover, the outdoor clothing brand was honoured by the ‘Fair Wear Foundation’ for its efforts to build and maintain an ethical supply chain.
After several personal tests with the brand, I can say that its products are worthy of any urban exploration.
6. Craghoppers
COUNTRY:
United Kingdom.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Craghoppers is a British outdoor clothing brand, founded in 1965 in Batley, West Yorkshire.
Worldwide renown for its walking gear Kiwi range, Craghoppers makes stylish and functional outdoor apparel that can be used around the town as well.
Its founders, Brian Gaskin and Roy Holmes were approached by the mountaineering expedition team of Chris Bonington to design their weather wear for the successful 1975 Everest Expedition.
Designed by Gaskin himself, the Everest collection was a great success.
In 2008 Craghoppers partnered up with TV’s survival expert Bear Grylls to produce a range of clothes for extreme weather conditions.
In October 2014 Craghoppers became an exclusive National Geographic’s licensed apparel partner for North America.
5. Columbia
COUNTRY:
United States.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Hailing from Portland, US, a city famous for its rainfall, Columbia has a reputation for affordable but high-quality outerwear.
The brand was founded in 1938, and it can be summed up in two words: “tested tough“.
In recent years the brand has started to advance into the fashion space.
Latest collab with KITH and Opening Ceremony wanted to revive classic outdoor apparel through a lens of contemporary silhouettes.
Must have: Mountain™ Jackets.
4. Moncler
COUNTRY:
Italy.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
Italy’s more popular outdoor clothing brand, Moncler is the archetype of techwear luxury.
With roots tracing back to the ’50s ski scene, Moncler brings the craftmanship of top designers such as Craig Green and Kei Ninomiya to technical outdoor apparel.
Above all, Moncler is a luxury brand, so don’t expect cheap products at all.
Yet, Moncler is one of the few brands able to infuse the runway glamour into alpine ski equipment, as seen in its Genius and Grenoble lines.
3. Helly Hansen
COUNTRY:
Norway.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
This Norwegian outdoor clothing brand is one of the OGs of the landscape.
Back when ‘performance fabrics’ meant textiles soaked in fat, Helly Hansen invented waterproof garments, designed for sailors working in the cold North Sea.
For the last 140 years, Helly Hansen has been producing outdoor apparel built for frozen oceans, mountain tops, yacht runs, and street-style scenes all over the world.
The brand has mixed its craftsmanship and heritage with some of today’s bleeding-edge brands such as GmbH and WTAPS.
2. The North Face
COUNTRY:
United States.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
You can say that ‘The North Face’ is also the face of techwear and outdoor apparel.
Yes, there were outdoor clothing brands before 1968, when Eddie Bauer introduced the down jacket.
However, it was The North Face’s constant innovations and focused on functionality, that made the brand a standard.
Named after the north face of Yosemite’s Half Dome, the California-based outdoor giant is an industry shaper.
The brand dictates the latest styles, materials, and technologies through which the industry creates techwear.
1. Patagonia
COUNTRY:
United States.
WHY WE LOVE IT:
With a fly-fishing heritage, Patagonia is an American outdoor clothing brand that has a cult-like following.
Named after one of the world’s most pristine environments, Patagonia cares about Earth.
The brand is, to quote the top of their website, in business to save our home planet.
For that, everything the company does revolves around this concept, from repairing products for free to donating their tax cuts.
Conclusion
It seems that Patagonia’s business strategy has inspired other American brands as well.
In comparison to 2019, the top of outdoor clothing brands is now dominated by US and UK brands.
The US leads with 7 and UK follows in second place with 4.
As a takeaway, we see a growing interest in small outdoor brands that create with sustainable materials.
We also see the emergence of ‘techwear styles’ inspired by outdoor clothing brands.
With hopes you have enjoyed my article covering the best outdoor clothing brands in 2020, it is your turn now to share your favourite brands with us.
