Mountain Equipment

Mountain Equipment has been making technical outdoor gear since 1961, kitting out climbers on some of the world's highest peaks and record-setting polar expeditions. The Manchester-based design team, close to the gritstone of the Peak District, works from genuine climbing experience rather than trend. Waterproof jackets use Gore-Tex ePE membranes with a PFC-free DWR finish, or the brand's own lighter Drilite fabric, for the kind of sustained rain Britain is known for. Down insulation and sleeping bags carry Good Night's Sleep ratings, from three-season camping to expedition cold. Everything is cut with an alpine fit, built to layer and move on a scramble or ascent, with women's-specific options throughout.