Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear's name undeniably tells a tale. "Mountain" is, well, for the mountains, while "Hardwear" is truly the most telling word of the pairing–every piece is, literally, built for hard wear. Combined, these two words map the plot of Mountain Hardwear's story; a story running parallel to our collective ambition outdoors. You see, you can't just show up to climb an ice face or ski a remote line on the mountain; you actually have to put the work into it. Likewise, since 1993, Mountain Hardwear has realized the necessity that innovation plays in living up to its own name. More importantly, though, its advancements supply the tools you need to conquer the seemingly unconquerable. As technologies have changed, Mountain Hardwear has never been one to simply adopt and adapt. Instead, it actually initiates the shift in trends through strategic partnerships that lead to the development of innovative new materials. Much of this is traceable back to 2001, when Mountain Hardwear partnered with W.L. Gore and Associates on the development of the venerable Windstopper fabric. Today, it's a household name, but back then, it required a truly pioneering spirit to roll the dice. The same was true when Mountain Hardwear went solo on the development of its highly breathable DryQ Elite jackets and pants or its Ghost Whisperer down insulation pieces, creating new standards in lightweight, protective outerwear. Since its early days in California, Mountain Hardwear's unyielding passion for perfection has extended itself to nearly every category of adventure and freedom. In the camping and expedition domains, Mountain Hardwear invented standards like Crossflow construction, the Tension Shelf, and the Tension Arch for its tents. For backpacking, it produced the first waterproof sleeping bags in 2003, followed up by Coolwave Suspension for its backpacks. For skiing and ice climbing, it was the first to produce both men's and women's jackets with welded seam technology–a feat that also helped to revolutionize the industry for ski jackets and ski pants. And in 2005, it adapted this technology to produce the first welded softshell and down jackets. Not surprisingly, Mountain Hardwear's innovative spirit translates into a host of patents. Sure, that's something to take pride in, but all of this was done simply because Mountain Hardwear believes that nothing should be impossible, and that anything worth having is worth some hard work. As Mountain Hardwear even says, "We think that the magnificence of the outdoors is magnified when it's shared."

Find Mountain Hardwear gear for sale at Backcountry.com. Shop a huge selection of Mountain Hardware tents, jackets, gloves & more.

Mountain Hardwear - Jackets, Pants, & Tents

Its name captures the brand's essence with clever simplicity-Mountain Hardwear. From Exum Ridge to Everest, hardcore mountaineers have relied on Mountain Hardwear to get them through the toughest conditions. Check out Gore-Tex shells, weatherproof soft shells, technical fleece jackets, pants, and more.

Mountain Hardwear's name undeniably tells a tale. ""Mountain"" is, well, for the mountains, while ""Hardwear"" is truly the most telling word of the pairing–every piece is, literally, built for hard wear. Combined, these two words map the plot of Mountain Hardwear's story; a story running parallel to our collective ambition outdoors. You see, you can't just show up to climb an ice face or ski a remote line on the mountain; you actually have to put the work into it. Likewise, since 1993, Mountain Hardwear has realized the necessity that innovation plays in living up to its own name. More importantly, though, its advancements supply the tools you need to conquer the seemingly unconquerable.
 
As technologies have changed, Mountain Hardwear has never been one to simply adopt and adapt. Instead, it actually initiates the shift in trends through strategic partnerships that lead to the development of innovative new materials. Much of this is traceable back to 2001, when Mountain Hardwear partnered with W.L. Gore and Associates on the development of the venerable Windstopper fabric. Today, it's a household name, but back then, it required a truly pioneering spirit to roll the dice. The same was true when Mountain Hardwear went solo on the development of its highly breathable DryQ Elite jackets and pants or its Ghost Whisperer down insulation pieces, creating new standards in lightweight, protective outerwear.
 
Since its early days in California, Mountain Hardwear's unyielding passion for perfection has extended itself to nearly every category of adventure and freedom. In the camping and expedition domains, Mountain Hardwear invented standards like Crossflow construction, the Tension Shelf, and the Tension Arch for its tents. For backpacking, it produced the first waterproof sleeping bags in 2003, followed up by Coolwave Suspension for its backpacks. For skiing and ice climbing, it was the first to produce both men's and women's jackets with welded seam technology–a feat that also helped to revolutionize the industry for ski jackets and ski pants. And in 2005, it adapted this technology to produce the first welded softshell and down jackets.
 
Not surprisingly, Mountain Hardwear's innovative spirit translates into a host of patents. Sure, that's something to take pride in, but all of this was done simply because Mountain Hardwear believes that nothing should be impossible, and that anything worth having is worth some hard work. As Mountain Hardwear even says, ""We think that the magnificence of the outdoors is magnified when it's shared.""

Mammut

It all started in Dintikon, Switzerland, in 1862. Kaspar Tanner had just finished a three-year rope-making apprenticeship and decided to go into business for himself—a decision that would propel a storied, 150-year-old brand into motion. The Tanner family enterprise flourished well into the 20th century and in 1943, the Mammut brand name was introduced. Translating to “mammoth,” the Mammut name embodies both power and strength. Shortly thereafter, Mammut helped pioneer the world of mountaineering through the invention of its first glacier rope to be made from nylon yarn.  In the next 35 years, Mammut kept its focus set on mountaineering, inventing several new ropes—most notably, the first rope to be certified for climbing and the first to feature a braided, kernmantle construction. In fact, it wasn't until 1978 that Mammut shifted its gears away from ropes and towards products like technical outerwear. Its first collection of jackets and pants, the Altitude Collection, utilized the then-new Gore-Tex fabric. With the latest in waterproof and breathable technology, the Altitude set the bar high enough to inspire Mammut to reach further into the outdoor market.  For several years in the early ‘80s, Mammut introduced a stream of new products, effectively transforming it from a well-respected rope company with a few jackets into a major player in the mountaineering arena. Beginning with sleeping bags and climbing gear like carabiners, climbing harnesses, and helmets, Mammut continued to diversify its offerings. It began selling avalanche safety gear—including beacons, shovels, and probes—since 2006, but in 2011, it took a significant step of acquiring Snowpulse, an established developer of inflatable airbag backpacks. Today, it offers a full line of RAS (removable avalanche safety) packs featuring technology designed to significantly improve the wearer’s chances of survival in an avalanche. Today, skiers and mountaineers look to Mammut for climbing, mountaineering, and avalanche safety gear, as well as windproof and waterproof clothing suitable for the most demanding environments. Mammut’s backpacks, footwear covering everything from mountaineering boots to trail running shoes, and headlamps round out its offerings, which together have made the company a one-stop shop for professional-grade alpine equipment. However, this isn't to say that Mammut’s resting on its laurels. In fact, it continues to be the authority in climbing ropes, still producing them in Seon, Switzerland. In this way, little has changed in the spirit of Mammut. Small, dedicated, and obsessive, Mammut moves quietly and confidently forward. And when you have 150 years of experience under your belt, it's easy to see why.

Mammut manufactures premium products like jackets & clothing for outdoors, or ropes & gear for climbing the peaks. Find this great brand at Backcountry.com.

Mammut - Climbing & Hiking Gear & Apparel

It all started in Dintikon, Switzerland, in 1862. Kaspar Tanner had just finished a three-year rope-making apprenticeship and decided to go into business for himself—a decision that would propel a storied, 150-year-old brand into motion. The Tanner family enterprise flourished well into the 20th century and in 1943, the Mammut brand name was introduced. Translating to “mammoth,” the Mammut name embodies both power and strength. Shortly thereafter, Mammut helped pioneer the world of mountaineering through the invention of its first glacier rope to be made from nylon yarn.
 
In the next 35 years, Mammut kept its focus set on mountaineering, inventing several new ropes—most notably, the first rope to be certified for climbing and the first to feature a braided, kernmantle construction. In fact, it wasn't until 1978 that Mammut shifted its gears away from ropes and towards products like technical outerwear. Its first collection of jackets and pants, the Altitude Collection, utilized the then-new Gore-Tex fabric. With the latest in waterproof and breathable technology, the Altitude set the bar high enough to inspire Mammut to reach further into the outdoor market.
 
For several years in the early ‘80s, Mammut introduced a stream of new products, effectively transforming it from a well-respected rope company with a few jackets into a major player in the mountaineering arena. Beginning with sleeping bags and climbing gear like carabiners, climbing harnesses, and helmets, Mammut continued to diversify its offerings. It began selling avalanche safety gear—including beacons, shovels, and probes—since 2006, but in 2011, it took a significant step of acquiring Snowpulse, an established developer of inflatable airbag backpacks. Today, it offers a full line of RAS (removable avalanche safety) packs featuring technology designed to significantly improve the wearer’s chances of survival in an avalanche.
 
Today, skiers and mountaineers look to Mammut for climbing, mountaineering, and avalanche safety gear, as well as windproof and waterproof clothing suitable for the most demanding environments. Mammut’s backpacks, footwear covering everything from mountaineering boots to trail running shoes, and headlamps round out its offerings, which together have made the company a one-stop shop for professional-grade alpine equipment.
 
However, this isn't to say that Mammut’s resting on its laurels. In fact, it continues to be the authority in climbing ropes, still producing them in Seon, Switzerland. In this way, little has changed in the spirit of Mammut. Small, dedicated, and obsessive, Mammut moves quietly and confidently forward. And when you have 150 years of experience under your belt, it's easy to see why.

Scarpa

The Asolo area of northern Italy has long been known for its high-quality, handcrafted footwear. Scarpa was founded in 1938 in an attempt to bring together the Asolo area's best shoemakers; 'Scarpa' is actually an acronym that translates to the 'Associated Shoe Manufacturing Company of the Asolo Mountain Area.' In 1942, a 13-year-old shoemaker named Luigi Parisotto went to work for Scarpa. He took to the shoemaking business, and by 1956 he and his brothers had put together enough money to purchase the company. Their offer was accepted and the business grew quickly; to this day, the company is still run by descendants of the Parisotto brothers. In the early '60s Scarpa was among the first of the shoe manufacturers to recognize the needs of Italy's rapidly developing climbing and mountaineering community, and to offer footwear for this emerging market. These shoes were designed with climbing-specific features; these, along with the brand's legendary comfort and durability, led many of Italy's mountaineers and climbers to adopt Scarpa shoes. In 1965, Scarpa shoes and boots first appeared in the US market, a first for footwear from the Asolo region. Scarpa continued to innovate in the 1970s, developing the popular Rally boot for alpine skiing and pioneering an early high-altitude plastic boot for mountaineering. Its flagship plastic boot, known as the Inverno in the US, has been used by many top climbers and explorers throughout the Himalayas and Antarctica; it remains the most popular plastic mountaineering boot in the world. Scarpa has many other firsts to its name, including being the first to incorporate Gore-Tex into a boot and the first to develop a plastic telemark skiing boot. In 2007, Scarpa introduced its first telemark and alpine touring boots. Scarpa's product line also encompasses shoes and boots for backpacking, hiking, and trail running, as well as casual shoes for city wear. Today, Scarpa sponsors athletes in several disciplines, including mountaineering, rock and ice climbing, and skiing. Scarpa footwear has taken them and many others to the summits of the world's tallest mountains and the tops of the world's most technical boulder problems. From its humble beginnings in pre-war Italy to one of the best-known performance footwear manufacturers in the world, the Scarpa journey, while not easy, has been one that is rich with history—history that is reflected in every pair of handcrafted shoes that leaves the Scarpa factory.

Backcountry.com stocks a great selection of Scarpa climbing and skiing gear. Including Scarpa boots, shoes and climbing footwear.

Scarpa - Boots, Shoes, & Climbing Footwear

A talented climber, Rab Carrington spent much of the 1970s on ground-breaking expeditions around the world.  In doing so, he gained a first-hand understanding of what climbers needed from their gear, particularly in extreme conditions. He founded Rab in 1981 to combine this knowledge with the skills he had acquired in making sleeping bags for fellow climbers while in South America. From the start, the focus was on developing functional gear that addresses the real needs of outdoor adventurers; this core mission still drives the company today. From high-altitude expedition gear featuring the best European goose down to warm-weather trekking clothing incorporating advanced fabrics, Rab products allow you to perform at your top potential. 

Rab is known for its high quality gear designed for high altitude trips. Backcountry.com carries the latest Hike & Camp, Climbing, and Mountaineering gear from Rab. 

Rab - Jackets, Sleeping Bags, & More

Mountain Equipment

Shop Mountain Equipment on Backcountry. Expertly curated outdoor gear and clothing for the adventurer in you, from big brands to the small and undiscovered. 

Black Diamond

Although the Black Diamond name was officially adopted in 1989, the company's roots can be traced back to 1957. That's when climber and mountaineer Yvon Chouinard started hammering out chromoly pitons on an anvil in his backyard and selling them from the trunk of his car in Yosemite. Yvon's equipment quickly became an industry standard. In 1989 Chouinard Equipment LTD was purchased by a group of former employees and renamed 'Black Diamond.' Today, Black Diamond has offices on three continents. Its focus is, and always has been, innovative ski and climbing gear and an equally innovative approach to sustainable business practices. Black Diamond's approaches to innovation and sustainability have been inseparably intertwined since the very beginning. When climbers noticed that popular routes had been damaged by the pitons traditionally used for protection, Chouinard and his business partner Tom Frost developed aluminum chocks that had significantly less impact on the rock, and then phased out of the piton business entirely. It was a risk, but one that defined a lasting environmentally aware direction for Chouinard and Black Diamond. Today, Black Diamond's expertise extends well beyond climbing, with notable innovations in skis, headlamps, backpacks, harnesses, trekking poles, tents, helmets, and many other outdoor products. Black Diamond has earned an outstanding reputation in backcountry skiing for its ground-breaking designs in both AT and telemark gear, including award-winning skis, boots, bindings, gloves, climbing skins, and vital accessories like beacons, probes, and Avalung packs. Moving beyond gear, Black Diamond continues to expand its line of high-quality apparel, offering both the technical jackets and pants one would expect from Black Diamond, as well as appealing, comfortable casual wear. Even with Black Diamond's broad range of products and worldwide distribution, it never lost sight of its roots or its high standards of environmentally responsible manufacturing processes and safe working conditions. In 2010 it initiated an official Corporate Responsibility program to monitor and ensure environmental and social compliance and stewardship within the brand, and it put into place a Vendor Code of Conduct to hold its outside vendors to a similarly high standard. Black Diamond is also extremely active in environmental programs, providing continuing support for over a dozen groups whose focus is environmental preservation. The company came a long way from a backyard anvil and a climber's vision in Yosemite. Fortunately, it hasn't lost sight of its values along the way. Black Diamond produces some of the finest climbing and skiing equipment and clothing in the world, but its commitment to the environment and fair labor practices are equally impressive. As it grows, Black Diamond's influence will also grow—helping to advance the outdoor industry not only through technical innovation, but through social and environmental programs as well.

Black Diamond continues to introduce cutting-edge climbing & skiing gear year after year. Shop skis, gloves, headlamps, climbing harnesses, & more on Backcountry.com.

Black Diamond Gear & Apparel

Although the Black Diamond name was officially adopted in 1989, the company's roots can be traced back to 1957. That's when climber and mountaineer Yvon Chouinard started hammering out chromoly pitons on an anvil in his backyard and selling them from the trunk of his car in Yosemite. Yvon's equipment quickly became an industry standard. In 1989 Chouinard Equipment LTD was purchased by a group of former employees and renamed 'Black Diamond.' Today, Black Diamond has offices on three continents. Its focus is, and always has been, innovative ski and climbing gear and an equally innovative approach to sustainable business practices.
 
Black Diamond's approaches to innovation and sustainability have been inseparably intertwined since the very beginning. When climbers noticed that popular routes had been damaged by the pitons traditionally used for protection, Chouinard and his business partner Tom Frost developed aluminum chocks that had significantly less impact on the rock, and then phased out of the piton business entirely. It was a risk, but one that defined a lasting environmentally aware direction for Chouinard and Black Diamond.
 
Today, Black Diamond's expertise extends well beyond climbing, with notable innovations in skis, headlamps, backpacks, harnesses, trekking poles, tents, helmets, and many other outdoor products. Black Diamond has earned an outstanding reputation in backcountry skiing for its ground-breaking designs in both AT and telemark gear, including award-winning skis, boots, bindings, gloves, climbing skins, and vital accessories like beacons, probes, and Avalung packs. Moving beyond gear, Black Diamond continues to expand its line of high-quality apparel, offering both the technical jackets and pants one would expect from Black Diamond, as well as appealing, comfortable casual wear.
 
Even with Black Diamond's broad range of products and worldwide distribution, it never lost sight of its roots or its high standards of environmentally responsible manufacturing processes and safe working conditions. In 2010 it initiated an official Corporate Responsibility program to monitor and ensure environmental and social compliance and stewardship within the brand, and it put into place a Vendor Code of Conduct to hold its outside vendors to a similarly high standard. Black Diamond is also extremely active in environmental programs, providing continuing support for over a dozen groups whose focus is environmental preservation.
 
The company came a long way from a backyard anvil and a climber's vision in Yosemite. Fortunately, it hasn't lost sight of its values along the way. Black Diamond produces some of the finest climbing and skiing equipment and clothing in the world, but its commitment to the environment and fair labor practices are equally impressive. As it grows, Black Diamond's influence will also grow—helping to advance the outdoor industry not only through technical innovation, but through social and environmental programs as well.

Marmot

The Marmot story began in 1971. While traveling through Alaska's Juneau Icefield, University of California Santa Cruz students Eric Reynolds and Dave Huntley were struck with the idea of starting a mountaineering social club. They dubbed their group the Marmot club, and over the next few years, they fashioned prototypes of vests, sweaters, parkas, and several sleeping bags in their dorm room. It wasn't long before the two, along with friend Tom Boyce, took the leap into business and opened a retail and rental shop in Grand Junction, Colorado under the name Marmot Mountain Works. Marmot was born. 2014 marks Marmot's 40th anniversary. The brand has come a long way since its humble beginnings in Grand Junction. Marmot is now one of the premier manufacturers of technical jackets, pants, and extreme weather suits, as well as accessories, tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags for all season, conditions, and activities. You'll see the 8000M suit on the world's highest peaks, the Precip jacket and pant on hikers everywhere, the Limelight tent stashed in the packs of backpackers and campers, and the Guide vest on skiers, snowboarders, and winter enthusiasts of all types. Once a mountaineering brand, Marmot has since expanded into interests like urban exploration, trail running, and more. It was in 1974 when Marmot got its first big break in designing its own product. Tom Boyce was contacted by filmmaker Mike Hoover who needed 108 'very puffy' jackets for a shoot for the Clint Eastwood movie The Eiger Sanction. In response, Marmot delivered the Golden Mantle down jacket--its largest order on record at that time, and one that spurred Marmot into a future of creating many of its own in-house designs and technologies. Synthetics like Hollow Core, insulations like Thermal R, and materials like PreCip can all be attributed to Marmot production innovations. Another milestone in Marmot's history occurred a few years later when Eric met Joe Tanner of W.L. Gore & Associates, who introduced him to Gore-Tex fabric. Intrigued, Eric made a few sleeping bags with the new laminate. He and Dave spent seven nights in the bags in a commercial frozen meat locker and tested the bags under fire sprinklers. They were so impressed with the results that they changed over the entire Marmot line to Gore-Tex fabrics, making it the first W.L. Gore customer in the outdoor industry. Marmot continues to partner with leading brands like Gore-Tex, Primaloft, and Polartec to create top-quality products for a wide range of conditions and uses. Today, the Marmot name is stronger than ever. It has grown a lot and evolved, particularly in the direction of more and more ecological sustainability in both its materials and its processes. But one thing has never changed—Marmot's commitment to designing and manufacturing the highest quality performance outdoor clothing and equipment.

Marmot is known for its top-quality jackets, tents, packs, bags, gloves, base layers, and more. Find a wide selection from Marmot at Backcountry.com.

Marmot - Outwear, Backpacks, Tents, & More

The Marmot story began in 1971. While traveling through Alaska's Juneau Icefield, University of California Santa Cruz students Eric Reynolds and Dave Huntley were struck with the idea of starting a mountaineering social club. They dubbed their group the Marmot club, and over the next few years, they fashioned prototypes of vests, sweaters, parkas, and several sleeping bags in their dorm room. It wasn't long before the two, along with friend Tom Boyce, took the leap into business and opened a retail and rental shop in Grand Junction, Colorado under the name Marmot Mountain Works. Marmot was born.
 
2014 marks Marmot's 40th anniversary. The brand has come a long way since its humble beginnings in Grand Junction. Marmot is now one of the premier manufacturers of technical jackets, pants, and extreme weather suits, as well as accessories, tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags for all season, conditions, and activities. You'll see the 8000M suit on the world's highest peaks, the Precip jacket and pant on hikers everywhere, the Limelight tent stashed in the packs of backpackers and campers, and the Guide vest on skiers, snowboarders, and winter enthusiasts of all types. Once a mountaineering brand, Marmot has since expanded into interests like urban exploration, trail running, and more.
 
It was in 1974 when Marmot got its first big break in designing its own product. Tom Boyce was contacted by filmmaker Mike Hoover who needed 108 'very puffy' jackets for a shoot for the Clint Eastwood movie The Eiger Sanction. In response, Marmot delivered the Golden Mantle down jacket--its largest order on record at that time, and one that spurred Marmot into a future of creating many of its own in-house designs and technologies. Synthetics like Hollow Core, insulations like Thermal R, and materials like PreCip can all be attributed to Marmot production innovations.
 
Another milestone in Marmot's history occurred a few years later when Eric met Joe Tanner of W.L. Gore & Associates, who introduced him to Gore-Tex fabric. Intrigued, Eric made a few sleeping bags with the new laminate. He and Dave spent seven nights in the bags in a commercial frozen meat locker and tested the bags under fire sprinklers. They were so impressed with the results that they changed over the entire Marmot line to Gore-Tex fabrics, making it the first W.L. Gore customer in the outdoor industry. Marmot continues to partner with leading brands like Gore-Tex, Primaloft, and Polartec to create top-quality products for a wide range of conditions and uses.
 
Today, the Marmot name is stronger than ever. It has grown a lot and evolved, particularly in the direction of more and more ecological sustainability in both its materials and its processes. But one thing has never changed—Marmot's commitment to designing and manufacturing the highest quality performance outdoor clothing and equipment.

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