Mountain Hardwear
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Outdoor clothing and equipment |
| Founded | 1993 in Richmond, California, United States |
| Founder | Jack Gilbert and team of ex-Sierra Designs staff |
| Headquarters | Richmond, California , United States |
Area served | Domestic and international markets |
Key people | Jack Gilbert (founder) |
| Products | Clothing, equipment, and accessories for mountaineers and outdoor sports enthusiasts |
Number of employees | Over 90 (headquarters) + sales team exceeding 35 members |
| Parent | Columbia Sportswear |
| Website | www |
Mountain Hardwear, a division of Columbia Sportswear, is based in Richmond, California. The brand specializes in manufacturing clothing, equipment, and accessories designed for mountaineers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, and individuals passionate about an active outdoor lifestyle.
History
Established in 1993 in Richmond by a team of ex-Sierra Designs staff led by Jack Gilbert, Mountain Hardwear rapidly earned acclaim through collaborations with top-tier athletes such as Ed Viesturs, the first American to climb all fourteen 8,000 meter peaks, who played a role in refining product designs. After being acquired by Columbia Sportswear in 2003, the company launched its inaugural retail outlet in Portland, Oregon in 2008, followed by another store opening in Seattle that same year. Currently, Mountain Hardwear's California headquarters employs over 90 individuals and supports a sales team exceeding 35 members across domestic and international markets.
Sponsored athletes
The brand endorses a wide range of climbers, alpinists, and skiers including Vivian Bruchez, Tim Emmett, Ayo Sopeju, Kyra Condie, Caleb Robinson, Ethan Pringle, Charlotte Durif, Nikki Smith, Genevive Walker, Rachael Burks, Lily Bradley, Bryce Barnes, Benny Lieber, Jesse Grupper, Hunter Knoll, Garrett Madison, Erin Spong, Scott Lehmann, and Shayna Unger.
Timeline
- 1993 Mountain Hardwear established
- 1995 Introduced first window feature in tent flysheets
- 1996 Developed pioneering Windstopper fleece material
- 1997 Launched Storm Light (later renamed Conduit), a waterproof and breathable membrane
- 1999 Applied welded technology to apparel; patented Conical Waists on trousers and rotated seams on shirts for enhanced backpacking comfort
- 1999 Babu Chiri Sherpa spent the night on Everest summit using a Mountain Hardwear tent
- 2000 Innovated with Gore-Tex XCR fabric
- 2001 Collaborated with Gore to create Windstopper next-to-skin textiles
- 2002 Released WindStopper softshell garments
- 2003 Debuted the first waterproof sleeping bags
- 2006 Rolled out Exodus Backpack System
- 2008 Introduced 25D hollow-core tent flysheets
- 2009 Advanced OutDry 3D lamination technology for gloves
- 2011 Created DryQ waterproof/breathable fabrics and launched ultra-light Ghost Whisperer ripstop outerwear
Community Initiatives
Beginning in 2020, Mountain Hardwear has organized the annual Open Aperture Photo Clinic aimed at amplifying underrepresented perspectives within outdoor photography. This multi-day event includes mentoring sessions, workshops, and hands-on field activities led by professional photographers and athletes. The 2022 edition was held in the Cascade Mountains of Washington.