Bergans
Norway
Bergans is a renowned company specializing in outdoor gear and apparel, based in Norway. With a legacy that dates back to 1908, the brand has firmly established itself in the outdoor industry,...
European Alternatives to Patagonia
Helly Hansen
Norway
Non-European Parent Company
Helly Hansen is a renowned brand specializing in high-performance outdoor clothing and gear, particularly designed for sailors, skiers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Founded in Norway in 1877, the company’s rich heritage is embedded...
Jack Wolfskin
Germany
EU
Non-European Parent Company
Jack Wolfskin is a renowned outdoor apparel and equipment brand based in Germany, specializing in high-quality gear for camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Established in 1981, the company has built a...
Mammut
Switzerland
Mammut is a Swiss mountain sports company headquartered in Seon in the canton of Aargau. Its roots go back to 1862, when Kaspar Tanner started a rope business in Dintikon. Products were...
Millet
France
EU
Millet is a French outdoor brand focused on clothing, footwear and equipment for hiking, climbing, mountaineering and other mountain activities. Its current catalog includes technical jackets, insulated layers, trousers, packs, climbing shoes...
Norrøna
Norway
Norrøna is a Norwegian outdoor company headquartered in Lysaker near Oslo. The outdoor enthusiast Jørgen Jørgensen founded it in 1929, and it is still family-owned, now in its fourth generation. The company...
Ortovox
Germany
EU
Ortovox is a renowned European brand specializing in high-quality outdoor gear, particularly focused on ski touring, mountaineering, and avalanche safety equipment. Founded in 1980 in Germany, the company aims to enhance safety...
Salewa
Italy
EU
Salewa is a mountain sports brand from Bolzano in South Tyrol, Italy. It was founded in Munich in 1935 and is today a management-led, family-owned company that belongs to the Oberalp Group,...
Schöffel
Germany
EU
Schöffel is a renowned European outdoor clothing brand headquartered in Germany, particularly known for its high-quality apparel designed for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. With a legacy that spans over 200 years, the...
Vaude
Germany
EU
Vaude is a renowned European brand specializing in outdoor gear and apparel, committed to sustainable practices and environmental responsibility. Founded in Germany in 1974, the brand is known for its high-quality products...
Did we miss one? Feel free to submit a suggestion!
Submit SuggestionPatagonia is an American outdoor clothing company based in Ventura, California. Yvon Chouinard founded it in 1973, and it is a certified B Corporation. In September 2022 the Chouinard family transferred all ownership to two entities: the Patagonia Purpose Trust, which holds all voting stock (2 % of the total), and the Holdfast Collective, which holds all non-voting stock (98 %) and uses the profits it receives to protect nature and biodiversity.
Why look for a European alternative to Patagonia?
People who search for a Patagonia alternative usually want similar outdoor clothing from a company with a clear ownership story, repair options or a base in Europe. The European brands below differ widely in size and focus, so it helps to compare a few of them.
- Norrøna from Norway has been family-owned since 1929, now in its fourth generation, and offers a repair service and a warranty section.
- Mammut from Switzerland dates back to 1862 and runs a repair and care service.
- Salewa from South Tyrol belongs to the family-run Oberalp Group.
- Vaude, Ortovox, Bergans, Millet, Helly Hansen, Jack Wolfskin and Schöffel cover hiking, mountaineering, sailing or everyday outdoor clothing.
What to compare
Look at the repair service, the warranty, the materials and whether the company names its production sites. Patagonia is unusual in having handed its profits to an environmental fund, and we are not aware of a European brand in this list with the same structure. The more useful question is which brand fits your activity and climate, and which one offers parts and repairs near you. The full list of European outdoor brands is in the Outdoor Gear Brands category.