Best Outdoor Clothing Brands to Invest In

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With winter upon us, that means layering and bundling up every time you go outside. Living in NorCal has really taught me what the best outdoor clothing brands are. 

Outdoor clothes are also not exclusive to outdoor use only, you could totally wear them on any occasion. Especially if you live somewhere like the Pacific North West, you’re going to see everyone walking around in puffer jackets, fleeces, rain jackets, and almost any layer you could think of. 

I’m sharing some of my favorite outdoor clothing brands and hopefully, this helps you narrow things down on what brands fit your price point and personal style more. 

8 Best Outdoor Clothing Brands

Patagonia

Starting off with one of my all-time favs—Patagonia of course. It’s is a super cool and proactive outdoor clothing brand and fun fact it was actually founded by a rock climbing and surfer group. 

I love that the company promotes sustainability and the clothes being made with the lowest ecological impact. A lot of their products are made out of recycled polyester and are designed to last. 

You’ll find that they have a wide range of outdoor essentials from base layers to outdoor gear to fleeces—the list goes on. My personal favorite items are the puffer jackets, hiking pants, and travel bags. 

All their stuff really feels like amazing quality that will last you years and years. They also offer so many different color options for all their items so there’s definitely something for everyone. 

I know outdoor apparel can have a reputation for not being cute, but let me tell you they have some really great basics that can easily be styled to fit your personality more. 

I wore this Patagonia jacket all over Vienna and Prague when we went for the Christmas Markets and were out all day/night long in cold temperatures (25 – 45 degrees F, depending on the day/night). She kept me warm and toasty.

Everything is definitely priced on the expensive side, but it’s so worst the investment because these pieces are timeless. You really can’t go wrong with buying anything from Patagonia.

The North Face

The North Face is another really popular outdoor clothing brand. They’ve gotten so trendy that I see all their outdoor wear being styled with street fashion—honestly, I’m living for it because it’s cute AF.

It’s fun seeing traditional outdoor wear being styled more casually. But if you’re really into the outdoors and looking for some quality pieces that are going to keep you warm and comfortable, The North Face has some really great options. 

​​If you’re traveling anywhere with snow, they have some amazing snow and insulated down jackets. I highly recommend shopping around their website because they have a lot of options to choose from all varying in their warmth levels and price points.

Omied and I both wore head to toe North Face gear when we went to Iceland a few years ago, and it came in so clutch. Their pieces kept us warm even in the frozen tundra of Iceland where we faced crazy winds and low temps.

They even got you covered on shoes for any occasion whether that be trail running, hiking boots, or even slippers. I’m tempted to get a pair of the Women’s Thermoball Traction Mule V because they’re adorable and look so comfortable to wear out running errands.

The North Face is definitely on the pricer side, but I highly recommend signing up for their newsletter for any sales or by shopping around on other sites that carry their stuff to see if they’re having any discounts.

Columbia

Columbia—also known as Columbia Sportswear—is another outdoor clothing brand I grew up on. I love that they always have amazing deals going on and carry all the essentials. 

They’re definitely on the slightly more affordable side compared to Patagonia and The North Face but they still maintain that quality in performance.

If you like camping, you’ll be happy to know they carry a few sleeping bags and tent options that are super reasonably priced. They even carry coolers, water bottles, and all your outdoor cooking needs.

I love how versatile they are. I literally own a few jackets and fleeces by them and they have really held up over the years. 

Since Columbia was born out of the Pacific Northwest, you know they’re a brand worth investing in.

Arc’teryx

Arc’teryx is another company founded by a group of climbers. Since they’re based in the Pacific Northwest, they know what it takes to make clothing that will withstand extreme weather conditions.

They carry all the outdoor essentials like shell jackets, insulated jackets, fleeces, and base layers. They also have classic pants, tops, shorts, and dresses.

I really love how basic and simple their styles are. They can easily be dressed up or down whether you’re going out or into the outdoors.

If you’re looking for a new backpack or travel bag, they carry a lot of really nice options. I’m personally a really big fan of their Mantis 1 Waistpack because it can carry all the essentials while not being too bulky.

Obviously, since they were founded by a group of climbers, they have a huge selection of rocking climbing gear and accessories if you’re interested—I’ve always wanted to try it.

Helly Hansen

So Helly Hansen is newer to me, but I’ve heard really great things about their stuff. They’re more known for their ski apparel since it’s predominantly used by skiing professionals.

They’re also really popular among the sailing community, so if you’re into that definitely check out Helly Hansen.

Their stuff is built for colder climates so if you’re planning anything in the snow they have the parkas, ski, and down jackets to choose from. 

I’m a big fan of merino wool base layers so you know I was super excited to see that they had a huge selection. I love their W Lifa Merino Lightweight Pants and W Lifa Merino Midweight ½ zip—I wish I had these when I visited Iceland.

You can check out my Iceland Travel Guide here.

Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear is an outdoor brand that has a mission to serve technical athletes in the outdoors. Although, you totally don’t have to be an athlete to own their stuff. 

They designed all their outdoor clothing and gear to be the best quality to withstand any weather condition. You’ll be nice and comfortable wearing any of their pieces in the outdoors or anywhere with colder temperatures.

I really love their Stretchdown line, especially the Stretchdown Light Pullover because it’s goose-down and waterproof. All the Stretchdown items will keep you feeling light, warm, and comfortable for any kind of situation. 

Their stuff can get pretty pricey, but you’ll be happy to know they have an outlet to shop all their past collections at a discounted price. 

Mountain Hardwear is an outdoor brand that has a mission to serve technical athletes in the outdoors. Although, you totally don’t have to be an athlete to own their stuff. 

They designed all their outdoor clothing and gear to be the best quality to withstand any weather condition. You’ll be nice and comfortable wearing any of their pieces in the outdoors or anywhere with colder temperatures.

I really love their Stretchdown line, especially the Stretchdown Light Pullover because it’s goose-down and waterproof. All the Stretchdown items will keep you feeling light, warm, and comfortable for any kind of situation. 

Their stuff can get pretty pricey, but you’ll be happy to know they have an outlet to shop all their past collections at a discounted price. 

Black Diamond

Black Diamond is another outdoor brand specifically designed for climbing and skiing. However, you can still find all your outdoor essentials without having to be either of those. 

For the longest time, I thought Black Diamond only carried outdoor gear but was happy to learn that they have all the clothing essentials.

I definitely think Black Diamond’s apparel is on the pricey side—more pricey than some of the other brands I mentioned earlier.  But again, you’ll be happy to know that they have an outlet to get things at a discounted rate.

I think their stuff makes a really great gift during the holidays or birthdays. 

Jack Wolfskin

Lastly, there’s Jack Wolfskin, another more affordable outdoor clothing brand. They also have a passion for environmental awareness and corporate responsibility.

They have all the essentials for any kind of climate or condition. Everything is made with quality materials designed to last forever. 

You’ll find options for women, men, and kids. Definitely take advantage when they have sales happening by signing up for their newsletter. 

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Those were all my favorite outdoor brands! I know there are so many different outdoor clothing brands out there and it gets a little overwhelming but these are seriously some of the best out there. 

Whether you’re going on a hike or doing something exotic like caving in Budapest, you’ll find the clothing gear you need from these brands.

If you decide to get anything definitely tag me on Insta @wtfab or feel free to send over a DM if you have any questions.

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