Vertura was born out of frustration with the lack of genuinely warm, technical women's-fit clothing suitable for use in high mountains and cold environments. As a female owned and run brand, our mission is to inspire and encourage more women to explore the edge of their comfort zone, and show the world that there is nowhere we don't belong.

Women climb mountains too: origin story from Vertura's founder

"On a mountaineering trip to the Bolivian Andes, I noticed my female teammates and I were all wearing at least one piece of men's clothing because we couldn't find suitable women's equivalents. My insulated trousers were tight on the hips, too long in the leg and had so much excess fabric I would snag my crampons on them with every step. My size 8 friend was wearing a men's Medium down jacket, because that was the size that would do up around her hips, but the rest of it swamped her.

It became obvious to me that the lack of clothing choice for women was limiting our enjoyment and safety in the mountains.

Fast forward a few years, and I was preparing to climb Ama Dablam in Nepal. I had worked as an outdoor clothing designer for over a decade at this point, and yet I still couldn't find the clothing that met my needs. I'm average height for a woman, with curves in all the usual places. But I couldn't buy a women's down suit, or even find warm, insulated pants that fit me, or a really warm down jacket that wasn't an overly-shaped and under-filled women's model with the most useful features missing. 

So I took matters into my own hands. I designed the jacket I needed and got a sample made, and I sewed my own down pants (which confirmed I am better at designing than sewing!). Making everything as light as possible helped keep my pack weight down, and I was very happy to reach the 6812m summit in -20°C without suffering from hypothermia! 

It dawned on me how ridiculous it is that well into the 21st century women are still having to buy men's clothing to stay warm and safe. Growing up obsessed with gear design, I feel like we have come so far and yet not far enough. I realised if I couldn't see the change I wanted, then I had to make it happen: that's what sparked the idea for Vertura."

- Ronnie Legg, founder of Vertura

A range designed from a women-first perspective

Vertura is committed to creating innovative products that solve the problems women face with mountain clothing by:

• Offering solutions that address women's unique functional needs.
• Fitting specifically to women's body shapes and proportions.
• Using performance fabric technologies and appropriate features to improve comfort and safety margins.

Although the range is still small, the focus is on solving problems for women with products that make a genuine difference to their comfort in the mountains.

The heroine of the collection has to be the Pioneer Down Pants (RRP £330), which use innovative TX Down fill to create highly packable, completely windproof, warm insulated pants with a functional drop seat making toilet breaks possible even when wearing a harness.

Next up are the best-selling Thermal Power Leggings (RRP £95), and their cropped length sister variant (ideal for ski and shoulder seasons). Made of premium Polartec Power Stretch™ Pro fabric, they have an elastic-free waistband designed to sit comfortably high without binding or digging in. Loved by customers who rate them 5 stars for comfort and quality.

Vertura accessories pay attention to the small details, like hats and headbands that are designed to fit average female head dimensions (rather than one-size-fits-all which is usually based on male norms).

Cold hands can be a real fun-killer, and many women struggle with poor circulation and are more likely to suffer from Reynaud's syndrome. Thermal Power Wrist Warmers help keep warm blood flowing to the fingers with or without gloves on, and the flatlock seams and integrated thumb ensure all day comfort. 

Elevating women in mountaineering

Vertura's singular focus on serving women is what sets it apart from other brands. We don't just make clothing; we want to be a driver for positive change: to educate, inspire, and encourage more women to find their limits (not the limits of their clothing).

Our regular email newsletter and The Handbook blog provide advice and articles covering issues that particularly affect women in the mountains.

We curate a bookshelf packed with inspiring and informative women's stories as an antidote to the traditionally male-dominated adventure titles. 

As a female owned and run brand, we genuinely want to see more women out enjoying the mountains and show the world that there is nowhere we don't belong. 

You can find Vertura online at www.vertura.co.uk

In store at Outside 

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