Trailhead briefing ▲
FAQ
The things people ask before they head out. Odds are yours is answered below.
Buy base layers trim — they only work touching skin. Midlayers (fleece, insulated pieces) in your normal size; they're cut to fit over a base. Shells in your normal size too, since ours are sized to fit over a base plus a midlayer. If you're between sizes, size up on shells and down on base layers. Every listing ends with a Fit line that tells you how that piece is cut.
DWR (durable water repellent) is the finish that makes water bead and roll off a fabric's face instead of soaking in. Traditional DWRs used PFC chemistry that persists in watersheds essentially forever. Ours are PFC-free across the entire line — they shed water just as well, and when they eventually wash off, they don't outlive the mountains. Re-treat with any PFC-free spray when beading fades.
Machine wash cold on gentle with a technical or mild detergent — no fabric softener, ever, it kills loft and DWR alike. Tumble dry low with two or three clean tennis balls to break up clumps and restore loft. Don't dry-clean, don't wring. Synthetic fill is far more forgiving than down here; a proper wash actually restores warmth by cleaning the fibers.
Every seam we sew, for the life of the garment. If stitching fails in normal use — a blown seam, a popped bar tack, a separating taped seam — email us photos and we'll repair or replace the piece free, no time limit and no receipt archaeology. It doesn't cover fabric worn through by abrasion, burns or crampon holes; that's the mountain's signature, and we'd frankly leave it.
Orders leave our US warehouse in 1–2 business days. Standard shipping runs 6–12 business days total and is free over $75; Express is 3–6 days total ($12.99); Overnight is 2–4 days total ($24.99). If a permit date or trip is closing in, choose Express and give yourself a buffer — trailheads don't accept excuses from carriers.
Free size exchanges within 30 days. Email us your order code and the size you need; we ship the replacement as soon as the carrier scans your return — no waiting for the full round trip. Try everything on indoors first: items must be unworn beyond try-on and unwashed with tags attached.
Yes — every DWR-treated fabric in the catalog, from the Sawtooth 3L Storm Jacket down to the Sunbreak Trail Cap, uses PFC-free water repellency. We took the small performance trade seriously, tested through two squall seasons in the Sawtooths, and found modern PFC-free finishes give up almost nothing. It's the one spec we won't negotiate on.
Three layers, worn in this order: a merino or grid base layer against skin to move sweat, an insulating mid (grid fleece for moving, synthetic fill for standing still), and a shell to stop wind and rain. Vent early and often — pit zips and half-zips exist so you adjust before you sweat. Carry the layer you're not wearing; the pack is part of the system.
No. We don't charge sales tax — $0.00 in every U.S. state. The price you see at checkout is the final price you pay.