Montbell

Montbell began in 1975, when a young Japanese climber called Isamu Tatsuno, then twenty-eight, turned his wish for lighter, more purposeful gear into a company. Having climbed some of Europe's hardest faces, he wanted kit built around minimal weight and maximum performance, so he teamed up with friends to solve real problems outdoors. Their first breakthrough was a synthetic sleeping bag that stayed warm even when soaked.

The label still works to two ideas, "Function is Beauty" and "Light & Fast". You'll find puffers, fleece layers and O.D. trousers in the range, plus men's jackets that pack down to the size of a peach.