Mountain Equipment has been making cutting-edge lightweight gear for outdoor adventurers for more than 60 years.

Broadbottom, a village in North-West England and an old chicken shed. It’s 1961 and an inauspicious start to an outdoor gear company whose clothing and equipment is now sold around the world, including in New Zealand.

In the years since, Mountain Equipment’s gear has been used by eminent outdoors people – a veritable who’s who of expedition climbing: Messner, Scott, Habeler, Parkin, Venables and, more recently, Bullock, Livingstone and Ramsden.

The list of expeditions and ‘firsts’ associated with Mountain Equipment products is considerable: from significant first ascents of the South Face of Annapurna, Everest without supplementary oxygen, the North Face of Changabang and the Mazeno Ridge on Nanga Parbat. 

These years of experience have refined the company’s design philosophy. Its packs, sleeping bags, mats and clothing are all built to last. Each aspect of any item’s construction must contribute to its overall performance. 

The people at Mountain Equipment recognise that efficient design is not just about being lightweight, but that all garments and equipment are optimised for real conditions. Long before a product reaches the production line, it will have been tested in anger by Mountain Equipment’s team of professional athletes.

That way, you can be sure that when a product sees the light of day it truly is expedition-ready. 

Find the full range of Mountain Equipment apparel and gear at Outdoor Action.

Three legendary items from the Mountain Equipment range

Saltoro GTX $549
A lightweight and protective waterproof with hybrid Gore-Tex construction. 430g. Buy Men’s | Buy Women’s

Glacier 300 $699
With 296g of 90-10 pure duck down and a minimum fill power of 700, this is a great summer bag for tramping and mountaineering. 870g. Buy Now

Hoverstat Synthetic 7.0 $259
A synthetic insulation mattress with a 3.5 R-value perfect for those seeking a lightweight and eco-friendly option. 670g. Buy Now.