CMP, Dare 2b or Icepeak: outdoor clothing compared

CMP, Dare 2b and Icepeak are three outdoor brands with jackets and trousers for hiking, everyday wear and winter, all three belonging to family-run groups. CMP comes from Italy, Dare 2b from England and Icepeak from Finland. Which brand is better for you isn't decided by the name but by the individual model: compare the hydrostatic head (waterproof rating), breathability, seams and cut.

Where do CMP, Dare 2b and Icepeak come from?

All three are brands within family-run groups, not stand-alone companies:

• CMP is the sports brand of the Italian family company F.lli Campagnolo. The CMP brand was created in 2010 with the aim of making technical clothing affordable; footwear followed in 2015.
• Dare 2b is a brand of the Regatta group, which launched it in 2000 as a ski brand. Regatta is a family company from Manchester, founded in 1981.
• Icepeak is a brand of the Finnish Luhta group and was founded in 1996. Luhta is a family company from Lahti, founded in 1907.

In our range, all three are represented with outdoor jackets, trousers and winter clothing. The differences lie more in the individual model than between the brands, which is why it pays to look at the specifications.

How do you compare outdoor jackets and trousers?

Compare the specifications, not the brand. Three values help:

• Hydrostatic head (WP or mm): how much water pressure the fabric withstands before water gets through. Higher means more waterproof.
• Breathability (MVP or g/m²/24 h): how much water vapour escapes to the outside. Higher means you get less clammy inside.
• Seams: taped or welded seams stop water from coming through the stitch holes.

Manufacturers state the values differently, sometimes as WP 15,000, sometimes as 10,000 mm. The principle is the same. What the numbers mean in practice is explained in our article on the waterproof rating of rain jackets.

What does CMP offer?

At CMP you'll find many softshells with the Clima Protect membrane between the outer fabric and the fleece. The CMP softshell jacket for men has a three-layer construction, with an outer layer, Clima Protect and soft fleece inside, and a hydrostatic head of 7,000. The hood is removable and adjustable with a drawcord. The CMP softshell jacket for women, made of stretch softshell, reaches WP 15,000 and MVP 8,000 and has fully sealed seams.

For your legs there are the CMP softshell trousers for women, with stretch on the outside, fleece inside and Clima Protect (WP 7,000), designed for outdoor activities in winter. For showers, overtrousers are often enough, such as the CMP waterproof trousers (rain pants in the US): light, loose-fitting, with an elasticated waist and zips on the legs, worn over another pair of trousers and foldable into their own side pocket.

What does Dare 2b offer?

From Dare 2b we mainly stock light rainwear to carry with you. The Pack It Jacket III for women is made of waterproof, breathable Isolite 5,000 polyamide, has welded seams and an adjustable hood, and packs into a pouch. For men there's the Pack It Jacket III in Oxford Blue. In its description, the manufacturer lists these models under the name of the Regatta group, to which Dare 2b belongs.

A good match is the Pack It overtrousers, with welded seams and side openings that let you reach the pockets of the trousers underneath. For cold days, Dare 2b has the Diversity II glove with waterproof stretch fabric and Thinsulate lining.

What does Icepeak offer?

At Icepeak, our range is strongest in outdoor trousers. The Icepeak Doral for women combines two materials: windproof and waterproof softshell at the front with a 10,000 mm hydrostatic head and 5,000 MVP, and a warming thermo-stretch jersey at the back for freedom of movement. The waistband is raised at the back to cover the lower back better.

The Icepeak Barnum for men are slim outdoor trousers made of a densely woven, slightly stretchy fabric, wind-resistant and quick-drying, with pre-shaped knees and zipped pockets, including on the thigh. The Icepeak Argyle for women have a straight leg, zips at the hem for more room over shoes and a hard-wearing, slightly stretchy fabric.

Do the sizes come up the same?

Not necessarily, and even the size labels differ. For many models, CMP and Icepeak use German clothing sizes such as 50 for men or 38 for women, and CMP also offers short and long fits for some trousers. The Pack It Jacket III for women, by contrast, is labelled in sizes such as 14 or 16, which is the UK sizing system. Then there's the cut: according to the description, the Icepeak Doral is slim-fitting, while the CMP waterproof trousers are deliberately loose so they fit over another pair.

So check the size chart of the specific model, and if possible try jackets on with the layer you plan to wear underneath, such as a fleece.

Which brand suits you?

All three brands have solid models; what matters is what you need the clothing for. In our range, typical strengths stand out:

• Warm softshells with a membrane for cold, windy days: well represented at CMP.
• A light rain jacket and overtrousers for your backpack: at Dare 2b.
• Outdoor trousers with stretch and softshell panels: at Icepeak.
• For persistent rain: look for taped or welded seams, whatever the brand.
• For winter: combine layers; see Layering for hiking.