Better gear makes for better adventures, no matter what you're doing or where and how you're out and about. Since the brand was founded, Berghaus has aimed to provide exactly this equipment - with brand DNA between technical alpinism and urban outdoor fashion. Always in tune with the zeitgeist, we give a current insight into the B Corp company Berghaus and what's in store for the future.
Berghaus is the Rolling Stone of mountain sports: robust, a bit snotty, often revolutionary. When the Rolling Stones released "Satisfaction" in 1965, mates Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison had the idea of opening a climbing shop back home in Newcastle on Dean Street. The company is very British, indeed, and has been equipping the best climbers on the island and the rest of the planet for almost 60 years.
As confusing as the name Berghaus is, its reputation among mountaineers is legendary: The world's first inner-frame mountain backpack, 1974; The first GORE-TEX jacket on the European market, 1977; the best haute couture for high-altitude mountaineers. Incidentally, the name goes back to the rather free German translation of "LD Mountain Centre", the name of the climbing shop in Dean Street. It should actually mean "mountain hut", but thanks to a translation error, that's what Berghaus is called today.
"Berghaus as a brand is very rich in tradition, but its DNA has always been very diverse, from technical mountaineering products to the fashion that was worn and sold in Dean Street," says Senior National Account Manager Michael Schupp.
For a while, it was rather quiet around the British brand in continental Europe in terms of sales and retail. But in 2022, Berghaus celebrated its comeback in German-speaking countries.
They focussed heavily on the technical aspect of the brand, and the new EXTREM collection was launched. A lot has happened since then, including a strong focus on optimizing processes. After Brexit, there was no longer a duty-free warehouse in the EU, so they not only created a base in Gmund am Tegernsee, but also managed to deliver goods to German retailers within 48 hours again.
The product speaks for itself and has recently been honoured with several ISPO Awards: The Berghaus MTN Guide Hyper Alpha Jacket already in 2022 and the Freeflow 30+ backpack brand new in 2023. For the next season, the company wants to expand more broadly again, as in the core UK market.
"We don't have to bend ourselves to be urban outdoor, because that's what Berghaus has always been." In other words, closely connected to the spirit of the times and in the process, making the transfer between fashion and technical outdoor equipment, or being both. This heritage is also reflected in the name of Berghaus' fashion-orientated "Dean Street" collection. Alluding to the name of the street in Newcastle that was home to the LD Mountain Centre and later the Berghaus brand.
Since urban outdoor has always been part of Berghaus' DNA, the collections today naturally combine to form an overall picture of brand highlights from different areas. The brand can still equip for technical mountaineering, as well as deliver styles for the city that allow you to stay outside for longer. The core segment is the trail collection, with innovative and reliable pieces, including the ISPO Award-winning Freeflow 30+ backpack. Dean Street with its fashion focus and nostalgia-inspired designs is also part of the brand's highlight portfolio. And with OFF PEAK, the Brits are presenting a very fashionable capsule collection, focussing on the connection between urban design and function.
Overall, cuts and products have been further developed across all collections to offer interesting pieces for different markets. "We worked closely with the team from the headquarters, both in terms of colour development and also fit and cuts for the DACH market. And according to initial feedback, we've succeeded."
For Berghaus, the outdoors is the best time you can spend, now as in the past. "As a brand, however, we have also recognized that mountain sports are still quite white and competition-oriented. That's why we're aiming to diversify our target groups," says Schupp, "we want to get as many people outdoors as possible and not exclude anyone."
The brand has also formulated three basic principles. Firstly, that nature is for everyone. Berghaus wants to contribute to this by breaking down barriers and working to ensure that more people have access to the outdoors. To this end, partnerships have been entered into, for example with Zahrah Mahmood, founder of "The Hillwalking Hijabi", who walks in the mountains with a hijab and is now also a Berghaus ambassador.
The brand is still drawing on more than 50 years of experience today and is also thinking about the future. That's why the brand's second core value is that Berghaus products are made to last. Instead of fast fashion, the B Corp company favours timeless and hard-wearing products that can be used for a long time and thus also contribute to more conscious consumption. More environmentally friendly fabrics and technologies are increasingly being used in production, such as recycled materials, organic cotton, certified RDS down and PFC-free DWR treatments. In retail, Berghaus offers partnership models with stock rotation in order to return unsold goods to the collection process and rotate them in retail, reduce overconsumption and enable retailers to work with good margins and not have to sell at heavily reduced prices.
Of course, nature can take its toll on even the strongest clothing over time. True to the maxim "Designed to Last. Fixed for Free", Berghaus has been offering a free repair service for over 50 years. If a repair is feasible, it is carried out free of charge - for the German market by the Outdoor Service Team in Oranienburg/Berlin. The customer bears the shipping costs for sending in the goods, while Berghaus takes care of the repair and return shipping.
Berghaus has innovation as its third brand value. "However, it's not about innovation for the sake of innovation, but always about going out and being able to stay outside for longer thanks to the products," explains Michael Schupp. In other words, staying warm, dry or generally protected from the weather for longer. This is exactly what innovation at Berghaus has always been about, bringing fabrics and product onto the market that have changed the outdoor segment for good. For example, the Cyclops, which was introduced in 1974 as the first backpack with an integrated frame. It retired the then pack standard with an external frame and has since been copied worldwide. Or the development of siliconized down, which retains its full function even in damp conditions thanks to its water-repellent DWR treatment. It is now offered by Berghaus under the name Hydrodown® with RDS-certified down. The Trango Jacket is also a legendary classic in the EXTREM collection, as is the Mera Peak Jacket, which was one of the bestsellers in the nineties.
These two jackets also come full circle: alluding to old glories and heroic deeds, they can also be found in the Dean Street collection in 24/25.
Lightweight, durable, and waterproof: setting new standards for alpine climbing packs, the Alpine LightTM Rolltop 45L by Mountain Hardwear took the coveted ISPO Award 2023.
“Alpine climbing packs have always been among the most enjoyable product for me to work on from a design perspective,” raves Ben Guthrie, Equipment & Accessories Design Director at California based mountaineering and outdoor brand Mountain Hardwear. “After 10+ years of building and testing prototypes, developing materials, construction techniques, and even bringing in new machines to the factory, we’ve created a pack that I’m certainly proud of.”
The result of this long and passionate process is the Alpine LightTM Rolltop 45L, which the six jury members found worthy of receiving the ISPO Award 2023 when they met at Saalbach Hinterglemm, Austria, for their 4th jury meeting of the year in October.
The reason for this win is that Mountain Hardwear’s new flagship takes mountaineering backpacks to the next level. Utilizing waterproof face fabric and fully taped seams, the Alpine LightTM Rolltop 45L is the result of a years-long design project with one goal–to create the best alpine climbing pack in the world.
This rolltop version is eager to tackle daring ice-capades head-on and is built with undyed, extremely durable TPU-coated Nylon Ripstop to provide the users’ essentials with the same level of ultralight, abrasion-resistant weather protection that they demand for themselves.
The Alpine LightTM Rolltop 45L is a backpack for alpine climbing, alpine ascents, ice climbing, or mixed climbing. The idea was to develop a strippable, lightweight, waterproof alpine pack that doesn’t cut out features or material sets for the sake of being “the lightest”. It has been designed for mountaineers and climbers who want to push themselves, whether it be solo, small-group, or guided missions. It has everything the athlete needs to go farther, safer, in a lightweight and comfortable construction.
“The extreme conditions and high demand on pure utility allows everything else to kinda fade away, so there can be an intense focus on improving function,” Ben Guthrie explains. “For these alpine missions, our athletes always want the lightest, most durable, most weatherproof packs, able to carry a ton of weight well ... but optimizing in one of these zones typically compromises the others.”
Thanks to the long and deep design process, Guthrie is now more than happy with the result. The Alpine LightTM Rolltop 45L is packed with thoughtful details. It features a 7000 series aluminum frame with closed-cell foam frame sheet supporting loads to provide a comfortable carry. It is also removable to reduce weight, and the frame sheet doubles as a seat pad. Two external side zip pockets allow access to smaller items. The streamlined rolltop skirt can be fully extended or compressed down to suit a generous range of volumes for optimal carry.
The pack features a durable and quick-access tool carry system that can accommodate mountaineering axes and technical ice tools. It is also equipped with removable front webbing straps that provide quick, secure, and durable attachment of crampons and other external gear.
But there are loads of more practical details, including lots of loops and other carrying options as well as the streamlined and durable back-panel that sheds snow. The padded shoulder straps with dual-density foam provide for a high level of comfort. The removable dual density hip-belt is equipped with zip pocket, gear loop, ice-clipper loop, and tow-loop.
Mountain Hardwear also decided to leave the shell fabric and lining undyed, which does not only improve durability but also reduces water pollution during production. Altogether, the Alpine LightTM Rolltop 45L is a convincing and innovative product that well deserved to win the ISPO Award!
Developed with Alpine mountaineers in mind, the Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket by Helly Hansen delivers lightweight temperature regulation in a durable recycled nylon shell.
The Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket combines durable 10-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop face fabric, with lightweight, warmth-giving THINDOWN® sheet insulation, making it the perfect versatile thermal layer for Alpine mountaineering. The jacket was developed with the input of mountain professionals, whose experience in the high alpine environment led to the performance enhancing technology used in the Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket. “Developing solutions for the professionals we work with is what continues to inspire and drive our design team,” said Sofia Jonsson, Category Manager for Outdoor at Helly Hansen. “Our reliance on feedback and test sessions with people who spend most of their time in the mountains builds trust that we will provide what they need to stay and feel alive when they’re outdoors.”
The use of THINDOWN® guarantees an even distribution of goose down for all-over warmth and eliminates the need for horizontal stitching which is prone to heat-loss. The jacket’s recycled nylon ripstop fabric is super durable but if it does get torn, there’ll be no loss of feathers due to the construction of the THINDOWN® – perfect for the rigors and snags of the rock face.
The jacket is also equipped with an elasticated hood, hem, and cuffs which not only eliminates complicated and bulky detailing but also improves heat retention. There are also two waist pockets that are zipper-free for speedy hand warming with or without gloves. Being a mountaineer’s layer that will be worn in challenging environments the Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket is also fitted with a RECCO® reflector, providing the wearer with an additional search and rescue element for added safety in the mountains.
The Odin Everdown Hooded Jacket will be available in men’s and women’s specific styles both in-store and online starting Fall 2024.
The Eoswiss digital grip sensor opens up a new dimension in learning various racquet sports and more. Training with AI has reached a new level, thanks to this Swiss invention.
The Eoswiss Digital Grip Hand Sensor is an innovative solution tailored specifically to the needs of Indoor Golf Studios Indoor e-Sports golf academies, golf schools, golf coaches, and professional golf players.
Traditionally, the focus in high-tech sports training has been on measuring force, movement, and impulse, overlooking a crucial element: the connection between an athlete's body and their equipment. The Digital Hand Grip Sensor addresses this gap by visualizing the force and momentum transferred through the hand to sports equipment. The Digital Hand Grip Sensor is a pioneer in quantifying finger and hand balm force and position during the crucial moments of gripping and swinging sports instruments. Whether in golf, tennis, paddle, or even baseball, this platform technology is changing how athletes interact with their equipment.
By digitally measuring hand grip, position, and pressure during the swing, this sensor is particularly aimed at ambitious golfers looking to improve their performance. It serves as a trailblazer for the measurement and visualization of grip dynamics, offering a comprehensive analysis that was previously unattainable. The success of this sensor is crucially dependent on its compact proprietary electronics, specialized sensors, and proprietary analytical software. These components, combined with the specially developed software, enable dynamic measurement, analysis, and training of grip forces.
But how exactly does the digital sensor technology work, and what benefits does it offer to users? The golf swing is precisely filmed and recorded while simultaneously measuring the pressure profiles of the hand. This approach is crucial because the hands control the transfer of force to the golf club. The analysis provides valuable insights into the pressure buildup during each phase of the movement, allowing the golfer to work specifically on their weaknesses.
The hand, as the mediator of force to the club, has been challenging to measure and consequently difficult to train. Thanks to the Digital Grip Hand Sensor, it is now possible to precisely measure the pressure, tailor training to it, and thus improve golf skills. Users can now identify areas for improvement, whether it be excessive tension, insufficient force, or vice versa. These insights were previously purely subjective and immeasurable, but now they can be precisely quantified and integrated into training. The collected data is not only stored but also evaluated in the cloud using AI. This allows users to share their data and compare it with others. The swing dynamics of role models can be replicated, and through the analysis of film and pressure data, movement sequences can be further refined and optimized.
The Digital Grip Hand Sensor is more than you see from outside. It is a calibratable measuring device of the highest precision. The extremely compact design of the electronics, located entirely within the shaft of the golf club, turns it into a platform technology that can be applied not only in golf but also in other sports such as tennis, paddle, and even baseball." It provides a comprehensive solution for measuring and improving the dynamics in club guidance.
Designed to protect the wearer against cold and wet winter conditions, the Escape Down H2Flow™ Parka amalgamates the essential benefits of warmth, waterproofing, windproofing, and breathability.
The parka with its distinctive orange exterior is inspired both in design and functionality by Helly Hansen’s award-winning Arctic Patrol collection, the gold standard in winter protection, worn and designed with professionals.
"Our design team continues to find inspiration and motivation through the conditions these Arctic scientists endure," explains Kristoffer Ulriksen, Category Managing Director of Urban at Helly Hansen. "By taking their professional insights from the field to our products for the city, we know consumers can continue to trust in our ability to keep them dry, safe and protected during winter’s most frigid conditions."
The parka features Helly Hansen’s H2Flow™ construction, that provides enhanced air circulation and heat distribution for constant comfort for today’s unpredictable winter conditions and irrespective of activity levels. This is made more customizable thanks to a system of strategically placed insulation, zippered vents and a removable hood that is lusciously warm and comfortable. The hybrid insulation used in the jacket combines the thermal properties of ALLIED Feather & Down and the quick-drying and breathable warmth of PrimaLoft® Black Eco, further advancing the parkas environmental versatility. And, last but not least the outer fabric is finished with HELLY TECH® Protection which is waterproof, windproof, and breathable.
Delivering the protection from the winter elements that until now only the professionals have been privy to, the Arctic heritage of the Escape Down H2Flow™ Parka is evident to see and feel.