We reckon wool is going to be the next big thing in outdoor kit. It's sustainable, warm, water-resistant, and doesn't come with the environmental and ethical complications of synthetics or goose down. None of which is news to storied Alpine brand, Ortovox – who've been basing their garments around this miracle fibre for more than 30 years. Take their flagship Zinal insulated jacket, for example. Filled with premium Swiss wool, it's insanely warm – with a tough Pertex shell and beefed up insulation in windchill-prone areas like the front and upper arms. The Zinal is windproof, water-resistant and breathable, and we especially love the soft merino mesh lining panels in the neck, chin and back. Primarily a sub-zero freeriding jacket, it's cut to maximise free movement without leaving too much material flapping about in the breeze, and the adjustable hood and cuffs will help you lock out the wind during high-speed descents
Chest measurement Horizontally at the most prominent part of the chest
Waist measurement Horizontally at the narrowest part of the body.
Hip measurement Loosely and horizontally at the broadest part of the hips.
Inseam Standing up, measure the distance from the crotch to the floor (barefoot).
Hand circumference Wrap the measuring tape loosely around the broadest part of the middle of an open hand (not including the thumb).
Made in Europe: This product was made in Romania
Climate-neutral: Ortovox's goal is to significantly reduce our emissions and offset those that remain. They will achieve this a year earlier than planned: ORTOVOX will be completely climate-neutral by 2023.
Sustainability through longevity: Ortovox has an unrelenting focus on the value of their products, and manufacture them with uncompromising durability and repairability at the forefront.
If you’ve spent much time in the Alps, chances are you’ve seen a lot of folk sporting Ortovox kit. It’s one of the biggest and most well-respected brands in Austria and Germany, backed up by the kind of mountain heritage that most companies can only dream of.
Ortovox started out more than 40 years ago making avalanche transceivers and other rescue equipment, and to this day they’re still the go-to outfitters for mountain rescue teams, alpine guides and extreme mountaineers. Get your hands on an Ortovox pack or garment and you’ll soon see why. The construction and quality of this stuff is on a whole different level, right down to tiny details like the buckles and merino mesh inserts. It’s gear you can rely on day-in, day-out, in seriously spicy conditions – and thousands of mountain professionals genuinely do just that.
Ortovox kit has a very distinctive, technical look – and their background in mountain safety means they’re big on bright colours that make you easy to spot in an emergency. But the materials bear closer inspection too. They’re huge champions of the properties of natural wool, and they’ve been using it in performance mountain gear since the 80s – putting them streets ahead of other manufacturers who are only just rediscovering nature’s original miracle fibre. As a bonus, this also makes their products very environmentally friendly, and the entire winter range is now climate neutral.