Marmot

For the free spirits, so-called misfits and adventurous souls, Marmot creates gear for those looking to eschew the pressure to fit in and be like everyone else. Marmot believes you should pursue what you love and not be afraid to stand out, and its high-performance apparel and equipment ensure you explore in comfort and style. No matter if you're an intrepid explorer often blazing your own path or you're more comfortable at the back of a pack, Marmot has a place for you in its crew.

Although the Marmot brand may be seen as a supplier for the daring, adventurous, curious and motivated, its humble beginnings actually sprouted from a bout of procrastination. The year was 1971 and friends and classmates Eric Reynolds and Dave Huntley were on the prowl for the perfect excuse to temporarily leave the classrooms at U.C. Santa Cruz behind. The duo's immediate desire was to get outside and explore, and the Marmot Club was born. This intriguing social club combined everything the friends were looking for in life outside the classroom: inclusion, a sense of community and mountain climbing. There was no complicated system or requirements to become a member or to climb to the top ranks of the club, for that matter. Adventurers were granted membership by trekking a peak with another Marmot and the chain of leadership was simple: everyone in the club is president.

The men's excursions with the Marmot Club brought forward their need for gear that performed in a number of conditions and they got straight to work meeting those needs in a hands-on way. Back in their dorm room, they created Marmot Mountain Works and began fashioning their very own warm parkas and cozy sleeping bags. A relocation to an empty store in Durango that once was home to dry goods provided more space for developing and producing additional gear, such as sweaters and down vests.

Marmot seemed to be on the verge of a breakthrough when it acquired a deal to outfit Clint Eastwood in its Golden Mantle Parka in the 1974 movie The Eiger Sanction. A recognizable brand identity, a cult following and demand for exceptional gear grew from there.

It needs to be mentioned that along the way Marmot has always been a company of impressive firsts. The brand was the first producer of outdoor apparel to incorporate revolutionary GORE-TEX technology into its products in 1974. 1979 brought along another string of ahead-of-its-time firsts with the introduction of sleeves cinched with VELCRO, storm skirts that were elasticized and underarms featuring zippers for added airflow. The first women-specific outdoor apparel line seen throughout the industry was introduced by Marmot in 1982. A history of championing and supporting female organizations, athletes and causes around the world carries on into today.

To this day, Marmot continues to remain at the forefront of bold, new offerings and outdoor apparel technologies. The company is always working to push boundaries, but not when it comes at the expense of harming the environment it and its customers hold so dear. The brand offers many products incorporating eco-friendly materials, such as soft organic cotton, recycled polyester and upcycled plastic. Marmot has policies in place to ensure its suppliers down the chain of production adhere to respecting animal rights, and the brand is a partner with the Bluesign system. Just as with its popular outdoor gear, Marmot isn't content to sit back on its laurels when it comes to protecting the planet. The company for outdoor enthusiasts is always looking for ways to enhance its product and apparel lineup while doing right by nature.