ISPO Award Winner 2024: Mammut Eiger Nordwand Advanced ML Hooded Jacket

A custom-engineered midlayer made of two high-performance materials: Polartec® Power Stretch® Pro™ with recycled post-consumer tires combined with a Polartec® Power Dry® Mesh, body-mapped to provide the optimal balance of warmth, breathability, and durability. It creates thermal insulation without overheating, with humidity flow from inside out under a shell to stay dry and comfortable while enabling air flow from outside in as an outer layer. »This is a great and versatile midlayer for any kind of mountaineering activity that involves carrying a pack«, Alfred Stoppacher, Eiger & Innovation Lead at Mammut explains.

The combination of the two materials really provides the secret sauce, the best of two worlds. Especially the insert material, Polartec® Power Dry® Mesh, a lightweight open mesh construction, on the backside and under arms is unique; It’s super niche, still relatively new to the market and it has never been applied in a hybrid construction like this midlayer before. It is made from 100% recycled polyester and because of its very airy construction will optimize airflow and accelerate drying time.

Mammut extensively tested this fabric and found its performance in terms of breathability and moisture management phenomenal, but there were also limitations in high alpine use: with its airy material construction, windchill becomes quite apparent and problematic. Using this material as an insert fabric on the backside, where you usually have the backpack, where you sweat more but are also covered from wind and in high sweat zones under the arms. Mammut got the best out of it for mountaineering-specific use cases and weather conditions.

The secondary material, used for all wind- and abrasion-exposed parts, is an old acquaintance and real household name within the industry: Polartec® Power Stretch® ProTM is one of the, if not the, highest performing technical fleece materials, especially for mountaineers and climbers. It excels at providing warmth, fantastic wearing comfort, great freedom of movement with 4-way stretch and superior abrasion resistance compared to any other fleece material on the market. 

»This particular version is custom developed with a post-consumer nylon face made from recycled car tires and a polyester backer for great wicking properties,« says Alfred Stoppacher, Eiger & Innovation Lead at Mammut.

The sixth generation of Mammut’s iconic Eiger collection takes a much more sustainable and resourceful approach than ever before. Products are built to last even longer and to be repairable easily. The midlayer has top-applied zippers and pocket bags for easy repairability and all materials are recycled. The Polartec® Power Stretch® Pro™, uses not only recycled materials for the inner polyester layer, but, as mentioned, the outer layer of the plated construction, usually made from virgin Nylon, is post-consumer recycled Nylon made from recycled car tires.

Several prototypes have been tested by Mammut’s athletes and Swiss mountain guides in snow, ice and rock during the development of this midlayer - from the Bernese Oberland, Valais, Chamonix, Canada to Greenland and finally Pakistan. »While skeptical first, our athlete and guide test team are really psyched about this concept now and firm believers. The Eiger Advanced Hooded Midlayer not only pushes performance but also comfort levels during any mountaineering activity wearing a heavy load«, Stoppacher shares.

• hybrid approach to materials to provide the best performance properties
• unique open mesh construction on the backside and under the arms
• resourcefully designed with recycled materials and easy repairability