Japanese people take their hiking fashion quite seriously. With over 150 hikes on Japanese trails under my belt, I’ve spent a lot of time noticing people’s gear, and probably too much time Googling for what hiking clothing I should buy next. If you wanted to know what sort of outdoor brands Japanese people use and clothing they wear while on the trail, this is the post for you! The following are some of my favourites and recommendations for hiking gear in Japan.
The most popular Japanese hiking brand: Montbell
If you’re checking out hiking gear in Japan, the first place you should make a pilgrimage to is your nearest Montbell store. It’s the hiking brand in Japan: you could deck yourself out head-to-toe in Montbell and you’d fit right in on the trails.
It’s great quality but at a reasonable price point, and tends to be a bit cheaper than popular international brands like the North Face. I occasionally even see it mentioned on some overseas UL (ultralight) gear recommendation lists - like the Versalite rain jacket.
A particular favourite for me are its limited edition regional shirts. If I’m travelling somewhere new in Japan, sometimes I’ll stop by the Montbell store and see what designs they have in stock.
If you’re not sure which Montbell to visit but are in central Tokyo, I’d recommend stopping by theShinjuku Montbell store, which you can find on the south-west side of Shinjuku station. There is a Shibuya store, but I found it to be smaller than the Shinjuku one. Otherwise, there is a large outlet mall called Grandberry Park in Machida which has Montbell along with a bunch of other outlet stores, so that may be worth checking out if you want to do a bunch of shopping in one go.
Montbell literally stocks everything - clothing, shoes, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags and even camping food. So you could entirely prepare for a hike with a visit to a Montbell store.
Montbell sizing for non-Japanese body types
The one caveat to Montbell is that they are a Japanese hiking brand, and so are more suited for Japanese bodies. Technically I’m half-Japanese, but appearance-wise I’ve come out looking pretty white. I’m 5’6” and around 60 - 65kg (130 - 140 pounds). At Uniqlo I might be able to wear their t-shirts in a women’s M, but at Montbell I usually need to size up to a women’s L for their shirts and jackets.
For Montbell’s pants - I only fit into their XL pants, and they don’t tend to look too flattering on my body shape since I store my weight in my thighs.
If you’re tall Montbell also does stock “extra long” versions of their pants - so you won’t have to worry in that regard. However you will probably need to be both tall and skinny, as the max waistline is not that large.
For t-shirts, I tend to wear a men’s S just because I like the looser fit. They have a range of sweat-wicking shirts made out of a fabric called “wickron” which I use a fair bit for the gym as well. The only downside is the smell of sweat can be quite hard to get out of the shirts (even after washing) after repeated uses. I also own Montbell’s “Zeo-Line” and merino wool bras which are quite nice, and I think I will continue to buy in the future.
Some stores also stock “US size” variants of some of their clothing - if you go to the Shinjuku store, they should have at least some in stock, although maybe not in all colours and sizes. My husband is quite tall (6’4”) and he does find that the jackets can be a bit short on his arms, so the US sizes fit better in that regard.
And Wander: for the fashion-conscious hiker
If you don’t mind shelling out some extra cash, the hiking/fashion brand And Wander is another one of my favourites. One of their shirts runs for over 20,000 yen, so compared to a 3,000 yen t-shirt from Montbell it’s kind of a crazy price to pay, but personally I’ve found it to be worth it considering the amount of hiking I do (and hence the amount I wear it).
I own one of their “Tech SS” shirts (which I’m wearing in my profile picture) and generally I find with the collar it looks a lot nicer than a plain t-shirt in photos, if you care about that sort of thing. They do have a physical store in Shibuya, but actually I’ve always bought my clothes online and hoped for the best and it’s turned out pretty well. I wear a women’s medium (or WM).
Compared to Montbell, it doesn’t get a sweaty smell even after many uses, so it’s been quite worth the purchase in my opinion.
Paagoworks Switch bag
Paagoworks is a popular Japanese hiking bag manufacturer. I particularly like their range of Switch bags, which are pouches you can wear in a number of configurations - whether around your waist, chest or clipped to the back of your backpack. I actually use mine for non-hiking regular days out as well so it’s super versatile and was well-worth the purchase.
It’s also super useful for when you need to make a short out-and-back ascent to a summit as well. You can leave your larger pack behind, and make the climb with just the Switch bag. It can fit a 500mL Nalgene bottle, plus you can squeeze in a small bag of snacks as well.
Yamatomichi: ultralight hiking gear
Yamatomichi (or “mountain and road”) is another clothing brand that I often see on the trail - actually I tend to see it more than I see And Wander. I think And Wander slightly trends more fowards fashion while Yama to michi is for the hiker that is serious about utralight hiking and fashion. One of their selling points is how light their clothing is, and they are quite opionated on their materials, making t-shirts out of merino wool, bamboo and so on.
Their shorts in particular seem to be quite popular, as these are what I tend to see on the trail. Although the design is fairly minimalist, they have a rather iconic logo on the corner of the shorts that make them easy to spot. Interestingly, although Japanese hikers tend to cover up their skin, even in the hot summer months, the Yamatomichi founder pushes back against this idea, mentioning on their website:
“In Japan, the common view is that shorts are not suitable for mountain hiking. But during the snow-free months from spring to fall, I hike in shorts whenever I can. […] Shorts are easier to move in, keep your legs from overheating, and simply feel better in warm conditions. For me, that comfort is hard to give up.”
So if you hate the idea of covering up your legs during summer, you’ll be in good company if you buy the Yamatomichi shorts at least!
Nanga: Japan-made down jackets and sleeping bags
If you’re looking for Japanese brands for sleeping bags or down jackets specifically , there’s a Japanese company called Nanga - their selling point is that they do all of their manufacturing in Japan. Although obviously there is also Montbell that stocks both of these things, they do their manufacturing overseas.
Nanga is a bit more expensive than Montbell, but they do also offer a lifetime warranty! So it could be worth it if the number of years you can use your gear is something that matters to you.
Finetrack: technical base layers
Another brand I have seen online recently is Finetrack. Although they seem to stock all sorts of hiking clothes and even tents, what they specialise in specifically is base layers. Rather than just wearing a t-shirt in the summer months, they recommend wearing their super-fine base layer underneath that. Which might sound counter-intuitive but it’s supposed to help you cool down and help dry off the sweat as well.
I did end up buying one of their base layers one time, but from memory I tried it once or twice, but didn’t really find it that useful for me. To be fair it is a Japanese brand, and maybe us westeners are build a bit differently when it comes to sweat, etc. Who knows.
Other Japanese hiking and camping gear brands
- Soto sells gas burners for cooking. I use one of these since it’s one of the lightest options available.
- Evernew and their range of titanium cookware. I own a pair of cups from them which are quite nice and light for overnight hikes.
- Snowpeak is like a fancy camping gear store. I’ll often see it in department stores, actually. I’ll admit I’ve never bought anything from Snowpeak, since if I’m going to buy a tent, it’s going to need to be something small enough I can carry in a backpack, while Snowpeak is more aimed at the camping-only crowd and things tend to be heavier.
- Goldwin is the parent company behind The North Face Japan and has its own technical outdoor line. There is also the “North Face Purple Label” which is a Japan-exclusive North Face brand.
Buying international hiking gear brands in Japan
If you are conscious about money, I would generally recommend starting with Montbell if you can since I do find it tends to be cheaper than other western brands that have stores in Japan. However if Montbell sizing just doesn’t work for you, some other notable brands that I have seen on the trail are:
- Mammut is a Swiss brand that has a sizeable following in Japan as well. I tend to see a lot of men wearing their hiking pants, so I assume they must be good. The backpacks are another favourite - I actually own two Mammut backpacks myself.
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear and their range of ultralight backpacks. Some Japanese are quite into the UL scene, so I’ve seen these are fair bit.
- Nike ACG is like the fashion offshoot of Nike. I don’t see it much on the trail, but personally I’ve bought a couple of pieces from them.
- I also commonly see The North Face, Columbia (generally tends to be cheaper than North Face) and the very expensive Arc’teryx for people who want those fancy jackets
- Personally I also wear hiking pants from Patagonia as these suit my body shape the best.
If you’re looking for a specific place to go shopping for brands like these, I might recommend a place called Cat Street in Harajuku, which has a bunch of western hiking gear brands all on the one street.
Trying on hiking shoes in Japan
Hiking is all about walking, so you’ll also want to choose wisely when thinking about what goes on your feet. When buying hiking shoes, you should try them on first to find the pair that is the best fit for you.
If you’re in Tokyo, I recommend the store L-Breath, which has a branch at Shinjuku station. They have a wide variety of different hiking shoe brands to choose from, and the store employees are really knowledgeable (although they probably won’t speak English). The other large hiking store near Shinjuku is Ishii Sports, where I’ve actually had the opposite experience - the staff aren’t very knowledgable and are generally too busy (or understaffed?) to even talk to you. I have gone there when I already had a specific shoe in mind that I already wanted to buy, but wouldn’t recommend going there otherwise.
The other thing to keep in mind is that since you’re wearing thick socks and your feet will swell while hiking, you should be buying shoes that are bigger than your normal shoe size. I usually go 1cm bigger. Women’s shoes cap out at 25cm in Japan, so if you’re any bigger than that, you’ll probably be looking in the men’s section. I always like the colour options for men better anyway so this works fine for me (I wear 25.5cm).
Right now I wear Salomon’s X Ultra 4 Mid Gore-tex model. I’ll admit this is partially because I think they look cool. I went through my first pair within 18 months and am currently on my second so I can’t speak to its durability, but I’m happy with it otherwise.
If you’re curious what hiking shoe brands Japanese hikers are wearing, then these are some of the brands that I generally see on the trail:
- Montbell
- Hoka
- Scarpa
- La Sportiva
- Columbia
- The North Face
Pro-tip: Hiking sock liners
A hack for me has to been to always wear two pairs of socks - an outer pair that is your regular thick pair of hiking socks, and then an inner pair of Injinji Liners. They’re thin 5-toe socks, and I find that with this combo I don’t get any blisters on my feet.
Finding hiking pants in Japan
So I mentioned that Montbell’s pants sizing don’t really work too well for me with my western body type, so you might be wondering what I wear - generally I try and stick with overseas brands for this one.
In summer, I used to go for shorts and leggings, since it’s quite rare for Japanese hikers to show bare skin on their legs. I was wearing the North Face’s Magma shorts, which are quite nice and stretchy, plus some Lululemon Align leggings underneath. Lululemon isn’t known for being a hiking brand, but I’ll be honest I bought these purely because they came in a nice shade of khaki green (my favourite colour).
More recently, I’ve switched to Patagonia’s Terrebonne joggers. I am a huge fan of these. They’re super lightweight and feel amazing to wear, even in summer. If it’s a little bit cooler, wear an additional pair of leggings underneath.
In winter I also have a pair of Fjallraven’s Keb trousers, in their “curved” sizing. I find these to be not too bad, the fabric is sturdy and it comes with zip vents on the side so you can air your legs out if it gets a bit too hot. I did find a Fjallraven store in Shibuya where I was able to try on a similiar model so I could get a sense of the sizing, and then I purchased these online. I was influenced by a Youtuber who looks absolutely great in them but unfortunately they don’t look quite as flattering on me, ha. Sometimes I just double-up on leggings and keep wearing the Terrebonne pants (if its not too cold).
Choosing a hiking backpack
If I had to pick one backpack size, I would go for a 30L. It’s large enough that you can do overnight hut stays where you bring your own sleeping bag and mat, but not too big that you couldn’t use it on a dayhike, so it’s kind of the perfect all-rounder size. Once you start doing hiking with your own tent, you will probably need to go larger, like a 48L or 60L. 15L packs are a great lighter option in the summer, but I find in the winter that trying to fit all my layers into a tiny backpack as I shed them doesn’t work out too well. Again, L-Breath has a good variety in brands and sizes so that’s where I go to shop.
I currently use a 30L Mammut Ducan backpack. I particularly like it because it has a mesh gap between your back and the backpack - better airflow for my sweaty back!
Buying second-hand from Mercari
If you’re looking to save money, another option is to check out the second-hand market on Mercari. A lot of times, people might go hiking or camping once or twice, and then end up having all this extra gear that they never use again. I’ve bought a large backpack for overnight hikes from Mercari, as well as a Montbell tent second-hand in really good condition, so there are some pretty good options on there. I recommend taking your time though - if you have while before your next hike, you can just watch the new items as they pop up, and jump on one if you see a good deal.
Selling second-hand in Japan does sort of have its own culture though - after buying an item, the buyer will usually send you a thank you message, and then once it’s shipped will send you another message to let you know that the item is on its way. You’re also supposed to reply and also thank them. I’ve heard stories sometimes that if you don’t reply to them properly they get a bit put off or suspicious, so I would try and be a little bit diligent about replying if you can. These days, Mercari has a “suggested message” feature so you can just click on that and it will type out a generic “thank you” message for you.
What do Japanese people wear while hiking?
If you want to try and “fit in” on the trails in Japan, you’ll generally want to cover your skin where possible. The same is true for fashion in the city, but generally in Japan people dress more modestly compared to western countries. On the trail, you’ll see a lot of long-sleeved tops and leggings with shorts on top in summer. Also wearing just leggings by itself is something people don’t generally do over here.
That’s not to say 100% of people follow this. You’ll still see people wearing shorts both in the city and on the trail, so if you feel more comfortable in shorts, and don’t really care about trying to “fit in”, this is completely OK as well. Particularly with Japanese trail-runners, I might tend to see them in shorter shorts more often on the trail. Similarly it seems like slightly hipster hikers (for want of a better word) might wear yamatomichi shorts without any leggings on and they look rather cool in the process.
Realistically speaking though, if appearance-wise you already look different, you’re still going to stand out no matter what you wear!
Personally, I do long pants or leggings with shorts even in summer. I find it reduces the surface area where I need to apply sunscreen, and although I usually hate the heat, I find the leggings don’t bother me as much as I thought they would. But long-sleeve shirts are where I draw the line - I’ll always be wearing a short-sleeve shirt in summer. Just make sure to apply plenty of sunscreen!
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Hey. I see alot of hikers in japan wear long sleeved base layers and leggings. Even in the summer. They seem to be fine in the heat anyway. I was wondering if there are special types that are very breathable or even cooling (I saw a store selling "cooling" sleevs). If so any brand or even models you would recommend (I am a man, but quite short so I generally fit into japanese sizes). I would prefer if there was a physical store where I can try them on.
Thank you so much and amazing post.
Hi Adam, my first recommendation would be to check out Mont Bell - they have a range of fabric called "wickron" which is specifically for sweat-wicking and wearing in summer. They have a zip-up jacket called a "Cool Hoodie" or クール パーカ, as well as a long-sleeve tshirt (クール ロングスリーブT). You should be able to try them on in stores to get a sense of the sizing. Personally though I can't do long-sleeve shirts, I think Japanese people are just built different so they can handle the heat, haha. It might be more expensive but I've also heard good things about Patagonia's sun hoodie range too.
Hi Emma and thanks for such elaborated review on hiking stuff. First time in Japan and you absolutely converted me to Mont Bell. Found the Shinjuku store and managed to spend $2000 between shoes, jackets, shirts and some camping gear. Unfortunately the pants part was a disaster. Even the XL didn't fit me with a waist of 36+. I guess chubby Americans :) But LOVE it and can't wait to try it all when back to USA. I am a Patagonia, Mammut guy and I was ready for something else, so perfect timing. Thanks again and happy travels.
Yeah the pants can be a bit of a hit and miss but otherwise glad you found some good stuff!
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