We're a very young manufacturing company and we've always been happier outside messing around in the mountains, rivers, and oceans that make us whole. And, we've been happiest when we were comfortable outside, not in an armchair sense, but when we were able to control our body's core temperature. There's not a technical magic out there yet that will allow you to do that without utilizing layers, so we set out to build state of the art layers, from the skin out, and decided to call the company LAYERS®: truly, Essential Gear for Life Outside.

When we started in 1994, the next to the skin layer, "underwear" that really worked, cost between $32 and $45 per piece. We researched the archives at N.C. State University's Textile School and found the maker of the enhanced polyester that met the highest standard in the outdoor industry. The mill had commissioned tests at the University's "Comfort Lab" where textile companies and users such as NASA commission tests on wickability, dry time, bacteria growth rates, thermal resistance, and a combination of factors resulting in "comfort". Our first product, Thermion® met the highest industry standard and lowered the price to you by 30%.

We have expanded the sizing, styles, and colors of Thermion®, introduced a new Thermion Ag using Visa Endurance® technology in which silver ions are activated by your sweat for the best odor control available. We have developed our CoolMax® collection, a super versatile base layer that is cooler than wearing nothing at all in summer. In addition to these technical base layers, we build top quality outwear profiles using Polartec® fabrics.

All of our products are designed by a team of professional designers, pattern makers, and engineers, directed by us outdoor junkies, who won't settle for anything less than the best performance clothing. Best Design. Best Fit. Best Performance Fabrics. Best Components. Best Engineering. Together these yield the best quality: Layers® quality.

And because we employ no middlemen, our prices are reasonable enough that you won't feel bad about using our clothing hard, thereby fulfilling our design paradigm:

Best Quality + Efficient Production = Maximum Realized Utility