Whether you’re an experienced outdoor adventurer or just starting, you want to ensure you wear the right clothes. Choosing which brand to purchase, however, can be tricky. While you may be familiar with Columbia Sportswear, Marmot, or Patagonia, that barely scratches the surface of outdoor gear brands available.

Montbell is a “newer” company that focuses on creating lightweight outdoor clothing and equipment. Curious about what that means? Let’s dive into all things Montbell!

What is Montbell?

Montbell was established in 1975 in Japan and focuses on making high-quality outdoor equipment. Montbell first started making rain gear and sleeping bags for the rainy climate of Japan. 

Throughout the years, Montbell has been an innovator in rain gear technology, tents, sleeping bags, and more. They are now well-known for producing gear that can cover you for all kinds of outdoor activities.

Montbell has two overseas branches to serve its expanded markets. In 2003, they opened Montbell America, Inc., headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. In 2005, they established Montbell Suisse SA.

Image Courtesy: Montbell

Where to Buy Montbell

While Montbell is a large company, its physical store presence is small compared to competitor brands. In the US, there are only two actual Montbell stores, and they’re located in Denver, Colorado, and Boulder, Colorado.

That being said, Montbell also works with retailers across the country, where you can buy their products in retail stores. They currently have retailers in 17 states, and you can browse the list to find retailers in your state.

You can buy directly through the Montbell website if you prefer shopping online. They even have free shipping anywhere in the contiguous US if you spend over $50!

Montbell Sizing

As with any clothing, whether made for the outdoors or not, you want to have it fit right. Montbell’s sizing chart is a great way to determine what size would work best for you and their products’ fit. In Men’s/Unisex products, sizes range from XS-XXL, while Women’s products range from XS-XL.

What sets Montbell apart from other clothing brands is that their clothes and accessories, such as gloves, also have Asian fits. As Montbell is a company with operations initially based in Japan, they offer a limited number of Asian-sized items each season in their Western stores. They also have dedicated size charts for Asian fits, as the sizing runs slightly differently.

Montbell Bestsellers

Rain Hiker Jacket Women’s

As a company that takes pride in making rain gear, it makes sense that their raincoats would be best sellers. With a three-way adjustable hood, you’ll always be able to see, no matter the weather. 

It’s also got two large, waterproof pockets to keep your valuables in while you venture outdoors! Plus, a stuff sack is included for ease of packing.

Alpine Light Down Jacket Women’s

A lightweight down jacket is a great way to keep warm and stay stylish if you’re hoping to do outdoor activities when it’s a bit colder. 

With 800 fill-down, water-repellent fabric, and zippers that go all the way up to your chin, you’ll easily keep the wind out in one of their Alpine Light Down Jackets. It also has two internal pockets to bring your essentials with you on outdoor adventures.

Seamless Down Hugger 800 Women’s #5

In addition to clothing, Montbell also makes gear, including sleeping bags. This one is shorter in length and shoulder width, making it more suitable for many women. With 800 fill down and an interior made of elastic quilted fabric, this sleeping bag will keep you warm at night.

How to Wash Montbell Sleeping Bags

Washing sleeping bags isn’t as simple as just tossing them in the washing machine. For this reason, Montbell has specific instructions for washing their sleeping bags.

They recommend hand washing your sleeping bag in a bathtub or sink. Additionally, to maintain the quality of the down, use a down-specific cleaner. 

The specific instructions they give are as follows:

• Fill the tub or sink with lukewarm water and down-specific cleaner
• Close the zipper, roll up the sleeping bag, put it in the laundry net provided, and submerge it completely
• Press down on the sleeping bag gently to remove stains
• Remove all soapy water and rinse thoroughly 
• While the sleeping bag is still in the laundry net, put the sleeping bag in a front-loading washing machine, and run the spin cycle for five minutes
• Remove any excess water by pressing on the sleeping bag and wrapping it in a towel
• Remove the sleeping bag from the laundry net and check there’s no water pooled inside the bag
• While the sleeping bag is still inside out, roll it back up, place it in the laundry net, and put it into a dryer at a low-heat setting
• Once the sleeping bag is 80% dry, remove it from the laundry net, fully open the zipper, and place the sleeping bag back inside the dryer, spreading it out over the drum evenly

Montbell Customer Service

If you have questions about Montbell products, your first stop should be the FAQ page on their website. However, if you’d like to contact them directly, you can reach out via phone to their Customer Call Center at 1-877-666-8235. They’re open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am-5:00 pm MST. They also have an online contact form.

Is Montbell worth it?

Montbell is a well-reviewed, reputable clothing and gear company. They make high-quality, lightweight products using ethically sourced materials built to last. That being said, their use of high-quality materials causes their gear to be on the more expensive range. Seeing as their equipment lasts, you can consider it an investment!

All of their clothing gear is designed to be lightweight and easily packable, so it’s perfect for short backpacking adventures or even longer trips.

The variety of products they offer also makes exploring Montbell worth it. Not only do they have basic layering clothes and coats, but they also have sleeping bags, gloves, backpacks, footwear, and even cookware!

The only slight downside is their lack of physical stores to try on their clothes before you purchase them.

Our Rating: 4.1/5 

Pros:

• Variety of gear for outdoor activities and weather conditions
• Ethically-sourced down feathers
• Clothing items have a “stuff pack” for easy packing

Cons:

• Lack of in-person stores
• Expensive

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