Columbia Sportswear Review [2024]: Are they really worth it?

Heading out into the great outdoors and in need of some new gear? Columbia Sportswear could be an excellent fit for those adventures and more. Check out our review to see if they’re the fit for you!

Whether or not you’re into travel clothing brands, you’ve probably heard of Columbia Sportswear. They’re a top name for outdoor gear and stylish everyday clothes. Should you explore Columbia's catalog if you’re thinking of heading on an outdoor adventure soon?

Read on for all the details about who they are, what they make, and whether they’ll be worth it for your next outdoor clothing purchases.

What is Columbia Sportswear?

Founded in 1938 as the Columbia Hat Company, Columbia Sportswear is an active lifestyle gear and clothing brand. They make jackets, shirts, shorts, shoes, and hats, to name a few. Founded and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the Pacific Northwest is reflected in their gear, clothing, and company spirit.

Columbia Sportswear was founded by Gert Boyle and remains owned by the Boyle family today. Gert Boyle’s son, Tim Boyle, is the current president and CEO of the company. Their primary missions are to use the outdoors to empower people while also helping to sustain and support the outdoors.  

How many stores does Columbia Sportswear have? 

In addition to online shopping, Columbia Sportswear does have actual stores you can visit. They currently have around 129 outlet stores and 13 retail stores. You can use their find a store page to locate your closest store! 

Where is Columbia Sportswear made?

Like many competitors, Columbia Sportswear doesn’t exclusively make its products in one place, and they have created a Supply Chain Transparency Map as part of their responsible practices. Using this, you can see where any product you’d like to purchase is made.  

Columbia Sportswear Sizing

With any outdoor gear, you want to make sure they fit correctly. Columbia Sportswear’s size guide is excellent for helping you determine what size you should order. For women, sizing ranges from XS-XXL, 1X-3X plus sizing, and PXS-PXL petite sizing. For men, sizing ranges from XS-XXL to 1X-6X big sizing and LT-4XLT tall sizing.

You can also find instructions on how to measure yourself on that same page!

Columbia Sportswear Bestsellers

While Columbia Sportswear makes countless products, a few always stand out as best sellers. Whether you’re headed on an outdoor adventure or like to be outdoors, they have products for everyone! Here are a couple of Columbia's bestsellers:

Women’s Arcadia II Rain Jacket

Due to its base in the Pacific Northwest, Columbia Sportswear is no stranger to rain. With an adjustable storm hood and breathable fabric, you can wear this raincoat while hiking in the mountains or on those days when it’s drizzling while you’re backpacking in Europe. It also folds into one of its zipped pockets for easy storage! 

‍Women’s Ali Peak Full Zip Fleece Jacket

This is a perfect outer layer for intense outdoor adventures and chilly nights in Paris or Rome. It has zippered hand pockets to hold necessities, but it also provides a place to warm your hands! 

Men’s Silverride Convertible Pants

When you’re hiking outdoors, you sometimes want full leg coverage. When it’s hot, though, you might want to be in shorts. Instead of having to pack two things to wear, you can get a pair of convertible pants! With zippers above the knee, it’s easy to go from long pants to shorts and back again! Also perfect for traveling around hot cities in the summer that may require you to cover up when you visit certain monuments! 

Columbia Sportswear Customer Service

Whether you’ve purchased a product or are thinking of doing so, it’s a good idea to know how to contact Columbia Sportswear. Using Columbia's Customer Care site, you can read through FAQs across all subjects. If you’d like to speak with the Customer Care team, they can be reached at 800-622-6953. They are available Monday - Friday, 9 am-5 pm PST.  

Limited Lifetime Warranty

One perk of purchasing Columbia Sportswear products is their limited lifetime warranty policy. This means that for the practical life of the product, any defects in the material can be repaired. It doesn’t cover damage caused by normal wear and tear or improper care. This applies to many products, but check the hang tag or your point of sale. 

Columbia Sportswear Careers

Whether you love Columbia Sportswear gear or their ethos, there are always career opportunities with the company. You can visit their careers page to see any openings. These will include opportunities within retail or corporate. If you don’t see anything you like, you can use this page to submit your resume for later openings!

Columbia Sportswear Promo Code

We all love a great deal, but Columbia Sportswear doesn’t frequently offer promo codes. That being said, Columbia have a sale page on their website, showing you any discounted products!

You can also search for your closest outlet store to find products at discounted prices! 

Is Columbia Sportswear worth it?

Columbia Sportswear gear and attire are worth considering for your subsequent purchases. Whether you want to head on an outdoor adventure or backpack through Europe, their equipment can adapt to your location. They offer stylish options in various sizes, from retail stores to outlet stores. 

Columbia's clothing does generally run on the costly side, but it lasts. I have had a Columbia Sportswear raincoat for at least five years that I love! 

Our rating: 4.1/5 

Pros:

• Gear for variety of  activities
• Outlet stores for discounts
• Company values the outdoors
• Quality comes first
• Clothing comes in a wide range of sizes
  

Cons:

• Not many in-person stores
• Expensive compared to other stores
  

Adventure in style with Pilot!

Whether you decide to purchase from Columbia Sportswear or search for another brand, we want you to be prepared for your next adventure. Pilot has got you covered with all the top spots to explore.