Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear is a Richmond, California-based company that specializes in the manufacture and distribution of apparel, accessories, and equipment for the high-performance needs of mountaineering enthusiasts and outdoor athletes. The brand also appeals to consumers inspired by the outdoor lifestyle. A subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear, Mountain Hardwear was founded in 1993 by a group of former Sierra Designs employees.

The company has a long-standing association with elite alpine athletes, beginning with its first sponsored athlete, Ed Viesturs, who was the first American to climb all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks. Viesturs played a significant role in the development of several of the company’s products, and Mountain Hardwear continues to collaborate with top alpine athletes today.

Mountain Hardwear was acquired by Columbia Sportswear in 2003 and remains headquartered in Richmond, California. The company opened its first retail location in Portland, Oregon, in 2008, followed by a Seattle, Washington store later that year. Mountain Hardwear employs over 90 people in its California office and has more than 35 sales representatives and associates in the United States and other countries.