KEEN makes outdoor footwear including hiking shoes, work shoes and sandals. Its account of the Newport sandal traces the brand's start to 2003, when its founders wanted a sandal that could protect the toes while on a boat. The company frames community support and care for the environment as part of its mission. The range is intended for both everyday wear and activities outdoors.
Same category, HQ in USA
ALAltra makes road and trail running shoes built around its FootShape fit, a roomy toe box that lets toes splay, and a zero-to-low drop that balances weight across the foot. Its lineup includes the Vanish Carbon race shoes, Olympus and Experience Wild trail shoes, with FootShape offered in several fit options. Altra is part of VF Corporation, which completed its acquisition in 2018 and still lists it among its brands.
Road and trail running footwear
BLBlack Diamond makes gear and apparel for climbing, skiing, running and hiking, including harnesses such as the Solution, headlamps, shells and climbing clothing. Its heritage traces back to Chouinard Equipment and a backyard anvil and hammer; in 1972 Yvon Chouinard and Tom Frost published the Clean Climbing Manifesto in the Chouinard Equipment catalog.
Sports apparel and footwear
COColumbia Sportswear makes outdoor clothing, outerwear, sportswear, footwear, bags and gear built to handle the weather. Gert Boyle took over the struggling family business in 1970 and turned it into a leading company, and Columbia Sportswear Company is now one of the largest outdoor and active lifestyle apparel and footwear companies in the world, with a portfolio of well-known brands. Columbia Sportswear Company identifies Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, SOREL and prAna as the four primary brands in its outdoor portfolio.
Outdoor apparel and footwear
HOHOKA is a performance footwear brand for road running, trail running and hiking. It was born in the French Alps in 2009, when two athletes set out to design a running shoe that made downhill running feel like flying, and its shoes quickly won over elite ultramarathoners. HOKA's site tells its story as part of Deckers Brands, the company that began with a surf flip-flop in Santa Barbara in 1973 and grew into a multi-brand footwear group.
Road and trail running footwear
MEMerrell makes outdoor footwear and gear, focused on hiking and trail activities, and is known for the Moab hiking boot and the Jungle Moc. It was established in 1981 when two Rossignol ski company executives, Clark Matis and John Schweizer, launched a new maker of hiking boots. Merrell calls itself the global leader in outdoor active footwear, and since 1997 it has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolverine World Wide.
Hiking and trail footwear
MOMountain Hardwear makes durable technical outdoor equipment and apparel for climbers, mountaineers and outdoor athletes, including down and Gore-Tex jackets. Founded in 1993 and based in Richmond, California, it says its focus has always been "on the mountain, not the masses" and follows an "Everything is Equipment" product principle. For its 30th anniversary in 2023 it launched the limited-edition Reissue capsule, bringing back the Exposure Gore-Tex Parka, Subzero Down Jacket and Windstopper Tech Jacket. Mountain Hardwear is a Columbia Sportswear Company brand, acquired in 2003.
Sports apparel and footwear
OBOboz makes hiking boots and shoes for men and women and says it crafts its footwear around the trail. It was born in 2007 in Bozeman, in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; its name comes from "Outside + Bozeman", and the surrounding 18 million acres serve as its testing ground. Since its first pair was sold in 2007, it has had a tree planted for each pair, which it says adds up to well over 7 million trees. Oboz Footwear LLC is part of KMD Brands, a global outdoor, lifestyle and sports group, and follows the KMD Brands workplace code of conduct.
Specialist athletic footwear
SMSmartwool makes Merino-wool socks, base layers and outdoor apparel for hiking, running and snow sports. Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, in 1994, it began with Merino ski socks and expanded into a wider clothing range. Its current US privacy policy says Smartwool is a division of VF Outdoor LLC, a VF Corporation subsidiary; the brand also says it works with the New Zealand Merino Company on the ZQRX wool programme.
Sports apparel and footwear
