Columbia Sportswear has been designing and testing outdoor gear in the Pacific Northwest for more than 85 years – so it knows a thing or two about the importance of protection against wet weather. In 1991, the Portland-based brand launched its alternative to Gore-Tex, and now that waterproof fabric has been majorly revamped with a more sustainable approach.
Columbia is well-known for developing its own technical innovations. There's Omni-Heat, which has been to the moon twice in addition to insulating us in all kinds of gear from base layers to the Arch Rock Double Wall jacket, and Omni-Max technology in shoes like the Konos, which is inspired by a pine cone but ridiculously comfortable.
