Mountain Hardwear, founded in 1993, is a California (USA) -based company that manufactures high-tech outdoor clothing, backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, and gloves. Columbia Sportswear purchased Mountain Hardwear in 2003. The company is headquartered in Richmond, California.
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History
In 1993, a small group of former employees of Sierra Designs decided to form Mountain Hardwear.
Mountain Hardwear's first sponsored athlete, Ed Viesturs, the first American to climb all fourteen 8,000 meter peaks (8000ers), helped develop several of the company's products. Viesturs no longer endorses Mountain Hardwear equipment.
The company has over 90 people in their California office, and more than 35 sales reps and associates in the United States and other countries.
Retail locations
Mountain Hardwear opened its first retail location in Portland, Oregon in April 2008. A Seattle, Washington retail store opened on December 5, 2008.
Sponsored athletes
Mountain Hardwear sponsors a number of athletes. Most are alpinists, climbers, or skiers. Sponsored athletes include:
Andrew Lock, Andrew McLean, Angela Payne, Bruce Cornell, Cheyne Lempe, Dawn Glanc, Erik Weihenmayer, Ethan Pringle, Matt Moniz, Freddie Wilkinson, Jake Meyer, James Heim, Jamling Norgay, Janet Bergman, Jim McNeill, Jon Glidden, Julia Niles, Kenton Cool, Kevin Mahoney, Michelle Parker, Mike Libecki, Neil Gresham, Robert Jasper, Ryan Boyer, Tim Emmet, Ueli Steck, and Vivian Bruchez.
Timeline
- 1993 Mountain Hardwear founded
- 1995 First window use in tent flies
- 1996 Pioneered Windstopper Fleece
- 1997 Storm Light (later named Conduit) waterproof/breathable membrane introduced
- 1999 Welded technology first used in apparel
- 1999 Conical Waists (patent) on pants and rotated seams on shirts for backpacking
- 1999 Babu Chiri Sherpa is the first person to overnight night on Everest summit in MHW tent
- 2000 Pioneered Gore-Tex XCR
- 2001 Partnered with Gore to develop Windstopper next-to-skin garment fabric
- 2002 Launch WindStopper softshell
- 2003 First waterproof sleeping bags
- 2006 Exodus Backpack System
- 2008 Introduced 25D Hollow-core tent flysheets
- 2009 Pioneered OutDry 3D lamination technology for gloves
- 2011 Pioneered DryQ waterproof/breathable fabrics
- 2011 Introduced ultra-light ripstop fabric - Ghost Whisperer - in anorak and down insulated jacket
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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