The Best Outdoor Brands from the U.S. and Canada, According to the Experts

My relationship to outdoor gear runs deep. I have written about the industry for the last decade, after spending years using all manner of equipment to stay comfortable and safe as an outdoor guide. In my 20s, I even worked in outdoor retail stores between guiding gigs.

Still, attempting to select the best outdoor brands for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts has not been easy. The list of manufacturers producing noteworthy equipment and accessories here in North America is practically endless, not to mention established companies in Europe and across Asia (check out our guides to Scandinavian outdoor brands and Japanese outdoor brands for more). So, for this assignment I took a rather ruthless approach, using my 20-odd years of background knowledge as guide in identifying which brands truly are the best in North America right now, cutting out any that aren't truly superlative (and sidestepping the many cottage industry labels and niche brands that continue to influence the evolving Gorpcore trend). I also focused on brands that offer a range of gear including apparel, outerwear, and equipment—and have excluded brands that focus solely on equipment, footwear, or other specific categories.

Below is the result: the best outdoor brands currently making dependable outdoor equipment. I think all adventurers need to know. If I was looking for a new version of almost anything, I’d turn to these companies first.

The 8 Best Outdoor Brands of North America

Patagonia

Known For: Environmental advocacy, use of organic and recycled materials, high quality but not always super high tech
Iconic Products: Synchilla Snap-T Fleece, Nano Puff Jacket, Black Hole Duffel Bag, Baggies, R1 Fleece

Brand Story: Patagonia was founded in 1973 by climber Yvon Chouinard in Ventura, California. The outdoor industry powerhouse built its name on the back of durable climbing gear. The brand has managed to hold onto its core appeal as it expanded its product line to include clothing for most of the outdoor sports, from hiking to surfing. In 2012, it became a certified B Corporation. In 2022, Yvon Chouinard transferred the company to the Patagonia Purpose Trust and Holdfast Collective, ensuring its profits are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land.

Why I Love it: I have tested over 300 products from Patagonia over the past two decades and have not been let down by a single one. Patagonia has a ridiculously wide array of products that can accompany pretty much every outdoor adventure. Whether you’re trail running, skiing, or mountaineering, the company makes a high performing, durable piece of equipment that you can bank on. Patagonia is also known for its commitment to sustainability and has walked the walk by pioneering the use of recycled materials and organic cotton.

Mountain Hardwear

Known For: Performance driven gear that is modern yet often rooted in heritage aesthetics
Iconic Products: Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket, Exposure Gore-Tex Jacket, Windstopper Tech Jacket

Brand Story: Mountain Hardwear was founded in 1993 by former Sierra Designs employees in Richmond, California. The original idea was to build the most high-performance outdoor gear for the core outdoor enthusiast. In 2003, the company was acquired by Columbia Sportswear.

Why I Love It: In the early aughts, Mountain Hardware was a front runner for high level collaborations with mountain athletes, which produced some extremely high performance high alpine equipment. My first real (read: expensive) gear purchase was one of these—a sleeping bag that I cherished and held onto for over a decade. The company has stayed at the top of the pack for innovation for the better part of 30 years. The Windstopper fleece and Dry.Q waterproof fabric are some of my favorites from its archive, but I was also super impressed by the Ghost Whisperer, its lightweight down jacket.

Arc’teryx

Known For: Gore-Tex shell jackets, sleek design, proprietary technology
Iconic Products: Alpha SV Jacket, Beta LT Jacket, Atom LT Jacket, Konseal Harness

Brand Story: Arc'teryx was started as a climbing gear brand in 1989 in North Vancouver, Canada as Rock Solid Manufacturing. In 1991, co-founder Jeremy Guard rebranded the company to Arc'teryx, inspired by the Archaeopteryx fossil, symbolizing evolutionary innovation. The brand gained recognition with the introduction of the Vapor harness, which utilized heat laminate technology, in 1993 and expanded into technical apparel featuring Gore-Tex in 1996. The company was acquired by Salomon Group in 2001 and later by Amer Sports in 2005.

Why I Love it: In the upper echelon of outdoor gear, the devil is always in the details. I have always expected its gear to perform in extreme conditions (which I often have to simulate) and I am rarely let down. The Canadian company manages to consistently innovate and produce extremely aesthetic gear that does stuff that shouldn’t be possible—like pants and rain shells that are somehow both waterproof and breathable.

The North Face

Known For: High-performance gear for extreme conditions… and low performance stuff for kids and college campuses
Iconic Products: Basecamp Duffel Bag, Nuptse Down Jacket, Denali Fleece

Brand Story: Doug and Susie Tompkins established The North Face as a small retail store specializing in high-performance climbing and backpacking equipment in 1966 in San Francisco. Over the years, the label expanded its line to include a comprehensive range of outdoor apparel, hiking shoes, and camping gear catering to climbers, mountaineers, skiers, and hikers. In 2000, The North Face became a subsidiary of VF Corporation (which also owns Altra, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Timberland, Vans, among others). And though the brand’s catalog is filled with hundreds of down market lifestyle items these days, their Summit Series and core outerwear lines still remain top quality, dependable options for hardcore outdoor pursuits.

Why I Love it: The North Face has a damned near perfect record. Product wise, it has done a fantastic job of employing the technology from their highest end products—the aforementioned Summit Series—in its more mainstream and affordable techwear. There’s a bit of nostalgia at play here too: its Denali fleece was the first piece of outdoor gear I purchased back in the mid 90s.

Outdoor Research

Known For: Tech-forward weatherproof gear, quality and function first, colorful
Iconic Products: Seattle Somberro, Mt. Baker Gore-Tex Mittens, Helium II Jacket, Crocodile Gaiters

Brand Story: In 1980, nuclear physicist Ron Gregg was attempting to summit Denali with his partner. Months of careful planning turned out to be all for naught when his partner got frostbite, thanks to a failing pair of ankle gaiters. When Gregg returned home to Seattle, he set out to design a better gaiter that could work with a wider variety of boot. The success of the resulting product, the X-Gaiter, inspired Gregg to found Outdoor Research, a company devoted to a scientific, research-led approach to design.

Why I Love It: Outdoor Research’s product line is heavily focused on functional apparel. Its rain shells, ski pants, breathable base layers, and insulated gloves aren’t always the most handsome in the world—though they come in a wider range of colors than you’d expect—but they always perform exactly as they promise. Plus, the company manufactures much of its outdoor gear and apparel in the U.S. It has one factory in Seattle and another in El Monte, California.

Black Diamond Equipment

Known For: Proprietary climbing equipment and tools, gear for skiing and mountain sports
Iconic Products: Camelot C4 camming device, ATC-Guide Belay Device, Spot Headlamp

Brand Story: In 1989, former employees of Chouinard Equipment Ltd. led by Peter Metcalf, acquired the company's assets and founded Black Diamond Equipment. They relocated to Salt Lake City in 1991 to be closer to the Wasatch Mountains. Black Diamond has since become a leading manufacturer of climbing, skiing, and mountain sports gear and regularly delivers some of the highest quality products in those spaces.

Why I Love it: Black Diamond has always stayed true to its core user: climbers. Its apparel and accessories are all extremely durable, and perform well under all weather conditions. While I don’t climb, I have certainly benefited from the company’s painstaking craft in some truly tough environments, including extremely cold multi-day backcountry ski trips.

Columbia Sportswear

Known For: Affordable outdoor clothing, Performance Fishing Gear line, pioneering material tech
Iconic Products: PFG Fishing Shirts, Bugaboo Interchange Jacket, Silver Ridge Convertible Pants

Brand Story: Gert Boyle and her son, Tim Boyle, created Columbia Sportswear—an update to the Columbia Hat Company in 1938 by Gert’s parents—by focusing on innovative outdoor apparel like the Bugaboo Parka in 1986. Columbia has certainly seen its ups and downs in credibility and quality over the years but they remain one of the most accessible brands with some very solid products at very affordable prices.

Why I Love it: Columbia is enormous, bigger than a lot of the other companies on this list. They largely employ the massive amount of infrastructure they have to make some big swings. I particularly like its Omni-Heat technology, which allows its jackets to reflect and retain body heat without adding bulk. I appreciate that they don’t rest on its back catalog.

REI Co-Op In House Brand

Known For: Well-designed but affordable products, cooperative business model, generous return policy
Iconic Products: Half Dome Tent, 650 Down Jacket, Camp X Folding Chair

Brand Story: REI was founded in 1938 by Lloyd and Mary Anderson as a cooperative for climbers to source reliable equipment. It started with ice axes, but over time grew into the behemoth it is today. Over time, the company introduced the REI Co-op label, offering gear like packs and garments designed to meet the needs of outdoor adventurers while maintaining exceptional value.

Why I Love it: REI’s in-house brand has long been my go-to for inexpensive outdoor products. Today, about 20-percent of what they sell in their retail stores is from their brand. For years, it has produced what I consider the best bang for your bike gear. That includes the Half Dome Tent, which I brought along on a six month trip through Peru.

What sets these brands apart?

In short: reps. The sheer number of products over the many years these products have been in existence has allowed them to dial in their design, manufacturing, and finishing processes. There are certainly benefits to purchasing from smaller brands, but the big companies have resources that allow them to do things most others simply can’t.

Best affordable outdoor clothing brands

In addition to Columbia and REI, there are plenty of other outdoor brands that produce affordable clothing and gear worth buying.

Decathlon: Global Sporting Goods Retailer Decathlon was founded in 1976 in Lille, France. Its in-house brands like Quechua (hiking) and Forclaz (trekking), Decathlon offers equipment and apparel for over 80 sports. The company’s mission is to make high-quality sports gear accessible to all, blending functionality and affordability. With a strong focus on sustainability, Decathlon emphasizes eco-designed products and ethical manufacturing.

Resale programs: Patagonia, The North Face, and REI have fantastic outdoor gear resale programs where they take their own used gear, vet it and then resell it. The backing of these companies helps ensure you won’t get a nasty piece of used gear.

Consignment Store: If you are lucky enough to live near a consignment store, they are fantastic places to find good deals on used gear. A bonus of the physical storefront is that you can get your hands (and nose) on a used piece of gear and can gauge first hand how much wear, tear, and stank it took on from its previous users.

Resale Websites: Dedicated resale websites like Geartrade.com offer more accountability for sellers than popular resale sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace and are an excellent spot to find good prices on gear as well as extend the life of products to keep them out of a landfill.

How to choose the right brand for your outdoor activities

Identify Your Preferred Activities: Start with your current roster of preferred outdoor activities and choose the brand that builds products within that sphere. Being realistic about what you need—i.e. Not buying a parka built to summit Denali when you only plan to take it on moderate hikes—will serve you better in the long run.

Dream Bigger: Whiplash! But really—there is space for a reasonable level of aspiration when it comes to picking a brand. For example, while most Arc’teryx gear is overbuilt for casual use, they create many pieces that could come in handy if you do take up mountaineering. And you’ll be plenty comfortable on day hikes.

Are the leading outdoor apparel brands sustainable?

Many of them definitely try to be. Patagonia is a pioneer of sustainable trends in the outdoor industry, using recycled materials, organic cotton, and innovative programs like Worn Wear to extend product life. The North Face has championed circularity with its Renewed collection and designs with sustainable materials like recycled polyester. Columbia Sportswear integrates Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and supports the reduction of water and energy use. Arc'teryx focuses on product durability, repair services, and reducing its environmental footprint and has pledged to reach net-zero in terms of climate impact by 2050 or sooner. REI Co-op champions sustainability with a commitment to climate-neutral operations by 2030. These brands collectively aim to protect the planet by reducing waste, lowering emissions, and using renewable or recycled resources in their designs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best outdoor clothing brands?

There’s no one best outdoor clothing brand, they all have slightly different specialties. You can really only determine what’s best for you if you have a sense of your favorite sports, aspirations, and budget. At the end of the day, try not to evaluate any piece of gear you need based on the brand it comes from—the quality of its material and the way its designed matters much more than the logo affixed to it.

What are the best Scandinavian outdoor clothing brands?

A quick answer is below. Though for the real deal, check out our guide to the best Scandinavian outdoor brands here.

Helly Hansen: Helly Hansen was founded in 1877 in Norway by Captain Helly Juell Hansen and makes killer gear for harsh weather conditions in honor of their original waterproof oilskin jackets for sailors.

Fjallraven: Fjällräven is known for its sustainability practices and timeless Scandinavian style and craftsmanship. On top of offering solid, core, outdoor adventure products, it is definitely the best outdoor clothing brand for Swedish style and fashion. They also make my favorite hiking pants.

Houdini: Houdini is a Swedish outdoor brand founded in 1993 and is known for its innovative circular design. The premium outdoor clothing brand makes truly beautiful ski jackets and bibs and has been on the forefront of sustainability since its inception.

What are the best European outdoor clothing brands?

Another tough question, as "best" is so subjective. However, you can't go wrong with the following three favorites of our editors here at Field Mag HQ.

Mammut: Mammut specializes in climbing, mountaineering, and hiking equipment. Mammut uses innovation, durability, and Swiss precision to make sturdy products for all types of outdoor recreation, including my favorite mountaineering backpack.

Rab: Rab was founded in 1981 by climber Rab Carrington in the UK and makes some of the best insulated jackets and sleeping bags for alpine and extreme conditions. They also make my wife’s favorite rain jacket.

Salomon: Salomon is a worldwide outdoor powerhouse that currently has a huge North American presence but was founded in 1947 in the French Alps. They make some of my personal favorite hiking boots as well as shoes and techwear for trail running.