Collection: Columbia

The Columbia Brand Story

Columbia Sportswear: Performance Gear for the Modern Explorer

Columbia Sportswear, founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, has evolved from a small family hat company into a global powerhouse in the outdoor industry. The brand is defined by its commitment to democratic outdoor gear, ensuring high performance technologies are accessible to everyone from casual hikers to professional alpinists. Columbia’s core innovation is the 3-in-1 Interchange System, a modular design pioneered by the legendary Gert Boyle that allows users to zip a fleece liner into a waterproof shell. Urban Industry UK is a proud stockist of Columbia because the brand perfectly aligns with our Outdoor lifestyle brand roster, blending heritage archival designs with modern technical fabrics. Our curated selection focuses on the Columbia Icons and PFG (Performance Fishing Gear) ranges, offering functional silhouettes that perform just as well on a wet morning in the South Downs National Park as they do on the streets of Eastbourne.

Technical Deep Dive

• Omni-Heat Infinity: This thermal reflective technology uses a pattern of metallic gold dots to reflect and retain natural body heat. The benefit to the wearer is immediate warmth without the need for thick, heavy insulation, maintaining a lightweight feel and high breathability during active use.

• Omni-Tech Waterproofing: A multi layered weather protection system that features a breathable membrane. This fabric prevents water from penetrating the garment while allowing moisture vapour from sweat to escape, ensuring you stay dry and comfortable during high intensity walks in the British rain.

• Performance Fishing Gear (PFG) Construction: Originally engineered for the rigours of angling, these garments utilize high denier ripstop nylon and ventilated caped backs. This design offers maximum airflow and durability, making it a favourite in the streetwear community for its rugged, utilitarian aesthetic and quick drying properties.

• Techlite Midsoles: Used in their footwear range, this specially formulated compound provides impact absorption and high energy return. For the customer, this translates to reduced foot fatigue and long lasting comfort during extended periods of standing or trekking on uneven terrain.

Our Take: The Urban Industry Perspective

At Urban Industry, we view Columbia as the benchmark for functional outdoor apparel that does not break the bank. While other brands focus on extreme mountain conditions, Columbia excels in providing reliable gear for the UK climate and lifestyle. Regarding sizing, Columbia typically follows traditional American grading, which means their jackets and fleeces often run slightly large. We recommend sizing down if you prefer a slim, technical fit, or staying true to size if you are looking for that authentic, boxy Gorpcore silhouette that allows for heavy layering.

Styling Columbia is all about the mix of textures. We suggest pairing a Helvetia Half Snap Fleece with wide leg corduroy trousers or technical cargo pants for a balanced look. The brand has seen a massive resurgence through the Columbia Icons collection, which revives vintage colour palettes from the eighties and nineties. You can find more styling inspiration and a deep dive into the brand's history in our Columbia Legacy blog post, where we explore how a family business became a global icon. We also featured several standout pieces in our Autumn Winter 2023 collection preview, highlighting how the gear performs in rugged coastal environments. As a leading UK destination for outdoor gear, we ensure that our entire Columbia collection is available with fast shipping, so you can get your kit ready for your next weekend adventure without delay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbia clothing fully waterproof? Many Columbia products feature Omni-Tech or OutDry technologies, which are designed to be fully waterproof and windproof. Products labelled as water resistant are treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating to shed light rain, so it is important to check the specific technical specs of the jacket if you require total protection for heavy downpours.

How does Columbia sizing fit compared to other outdoor brands? Columbia generally offers a more generous, "Regular Fit" compared to European brands like Norrona. This extra room is designed to accommodate layering. If you are used to a more athletic or slim fit, we suggest taking one size smaller than your usual UK size.

What is the difference between Omni-Heat and Omni-Heat Infinity? Standard Omni-Heat uses silver dots to reflect heat, whereas Omni-Heat Infinity uses a gold pattern that covers a larger surface area of the lining. This gold version provides an even higher level of heat retention and is typically found in Columbia’s premium winter parkas and technical shells.

Check out our Columbia Sale page for great deals on discounted products at unbeatable prices.

If you have any questions about stock (present or future), hit us up on live chat or send us an email – we’ll be happy to assist you in any way we can.