82% matchOutdoor Research
Same utilitarian technical kit, climbing-rooted
What changes: Narrower apparel/accessory focus, no retail co-op breadth
Brand profile
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC)
Canadian outdoor gear and apparel label, founded 1971 in Vancouver as a co-op, now Canadian investor-owned after a May 2025 sale.
VancouverOrigin
UnisexFocus
Gorpcore / OutdoorStyle
$$Price
4 brands like Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) like Outdoor Research, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear →
What to know about Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC)
House label, not just a shop
MEC sells third-party outdoor brands but also designs its own shells, fleece, insulated jackets, base layers, packs and sleeping bags at mid-market prices.
Function first, styling second
The design language is utilitarian and built around climbing, cycling and mountain use, which is why it reads as gorpcore rather than fashion outerwear.
The co-op is gone
Member-owned from 1971, MEC was sold to US private equity in 2020, then bought in May 2025 by a Canadian investor group that pledged to reshore some manufacturing.
How Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) fits
Overall fit
true to size
MEC in-house gear is generally reported to fit true to size with a practical, layering-friendly cut typical of outdoor apparel.
Tip: Order your usual size; outer layers leave room for mid-layers, so no need to size up unless you plan to layer heavily.
Medium confidence · based on 8 sources
By category
| Category | Runs | Shape | Size advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoodies & sweatshirts | true to size | regular to relaxed | Fleece and hoodies fit true to size with a comfortable, non-slim cut. |
| Trousers & pants | true to size | regular, functional | Hiking and technical pants fit true to size with a relaxed, mobility-focused cut. |
| Jackets | true to size | regular with layering room | Take your normal size; shells and insulated jackets accommodate mid-layers without sizing up. |
| T-shirts & graphic tees | true to size | regular | Base layers and tees run true to size; choose fitted base layers snug if you want next-to-skin performance. |
Directional fit consensus summarized from public sources with AI — a starting point, not a guarantee. Confirm with the product's own measurements before buying.
If you like Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC)
82% match
78% matchMarmot
Mid-market down and rain shells, gear heritage
What changes: Wholesale brand only, no house-brand-plus-store model
74% matchMountain Hardwear
More alpine-specialist take on the same gear
What changes: Higher price and expedition-level focus
72% matchHaglöfs
Function-first packs and shells, cleaner Nordic lines
What changes: Pricier, more design-led Scandinavian styling
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) fit questions
Does Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) run big or small?
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) fits true to size. Order your usual size; outer layers leave room for mid-layers, so no need to size up unless you plan to layer heavily. MEC in-house gear is generally reported to fit true to size with a practical, layering-friendly cut typical of outdoor apparel.
How does Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) fit?
MEC in-house gear is generally reported to fit true to size with a practical, layering-friendly cut typical of outdoor apparel. Overall shape: regular to relaxed, room for layering.
How do Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) hoodies & sweatshirts fit?
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) hoodies & sweatshirts fits true to size. Fleece and hoodies fit true to size with a comfortable, non-slim cut. Shape: regular to relaxed.
How do Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) trousers & pants fit?
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) trousers & pants fits true to size. Hiking and technical pants fit true to size with a relaxed, mobility-focused cut. Shape: regular, functional.
How do Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) jackets fit?
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) jackets fits true to size. Take your normal size; shells and insulated jackets accommodate mid-layers without sizing up. Shape: regular with layering room.
Brand facts
MEC is a Canadian outdoor retailer and in-house label founded in Vancouver in 1971 as Mountain Equipment Co-op, a member-owned cooperative. It makes technical shells, fleece, insulated jackets, base layers, packs, sleeping bags and climbing and cycling gear, alongside third-party brands, with utilitarian design and mid-market pricing. The co-op was dissolved in 2020 and sold to US private equity firm Kingswood Capital Management, becoming Mountain Equipment Company. In May 2025 a Canadian investor group led by textile executive Tim Gu, including CEO Peter Hlynsky, acquired it and pledged to reshore some manufacturing.
- Founded
- 1971
- Origin
- Vancouver, Canada
- Made in
- Asia, Canada
- Price
- $$
- Focus
- Unisex
- Facts checked
- September 2026
- Styles
- Gorpcore / Outdoor, Athleisure / Sportswear