Millet, a Passion for the Mountains

Hiking and Trekking

To allow you to enjoy nature, Millet creates versatile technical apprel that can follow you on simple hikes along local trails as well as on treks in more remote areas. To ensure you walk in the best conditions, the brand designs windbreaker jackets, trousers, and t-shirts made of stretch and breathable materials. Some of these garments benefit from water-repellent finishes, while others feature waterproof membranes like Dryedge or Gore-Tex.

Jacket, Trousers, Shoes and Boots for Hiking

Millet designs and manufactures different product ranges to meet the needs of hikers. It pays particular attention to detail, guaranteeing a high level of finishing and comfort. Each Millet hiking shoe or boot such as the Trident models is the result of the brand's expertise, honed over several decades of experience. The same high standards are applied to the creation of its backpacks, jackets, and hiking trousers.

If you're heading to remote areas for several days of trekking, don't forget that Millet also makes sleeping bags. You can use them in a hostel, refuge, or on a backpacking trip. They enhance the joys of marvelling at landscapes that change colour with the hours and seasons.

Skiing Apparel

Millet clothing is made to follow you in the mountains, whether you are hiking, skiing, or mountaineering. The brand also offers trail running t-shirts, shorts, and climbing trousers, whose breathable material ensures comfort in all circumstances, including during intense activities.

Millet Ski Jackets: A Benchmark

Millet ski jackets, as well as the trousers, are designed to provide optimal protection against moisture, wind, and cold. They are made from technical, durable, and strong materials. The brand avoids all harmful chemicals to humans and the environment. Like some garments dedicated to hiking, climbing, or mountaineering, Millet ski clothing incorporates waterproof-breathable membranes, such as Dryedge or Gore-Tex.

Fleeces, Down Jackets, Beanies for Men, Women, and Children

Millet also offers fleeces, down jackets, beanies, so that skiers, hikers, climbers, mountaineers are kitted out from head to toes... Some of these products, in addition to trousers, shirts, or t-shirts, can be found in the Heritage range created in 2021 to celebrate the brand's hundredth anniversary.

Technical Clothing for Mountaineering

Mountaineering requires equipment capable of withstanding the potentially extreme conditions of high-altitude environments. The clothing used must protect from cold and moisture without restricting your range of motion. Among the garments Millet develops for alpine adventures, the Trilogy range is emblematic of the brand's best offerings. It is specifically designed to meet the needs of those who experience the mountains intensely. These products combine ergonomics, lightness, and comfort, as exemplified by the Trilogy V Icon Infinium and GTX Pro jackets, as well as the Trilogy Gore-Tex Pro and One Cordura trousers.

Shoes and Boots for the Mountains

Millet mountaineering boots complement these high-end items required for high-altitude adventures. They are renowned for their robustness and can face various terrains, proving their adaptability, as well as their grip and stability. They are the preferred choice of many mountain guides and professionals. Discover the G Trek range of trekking and mountain boots.

Backpacks for Hiking and Mountaineering

Millet offers a wide range of backpacks. Depending on their capacity and specifications, they can be suitable for various activities: a simple walk for a few hours, a day hike, a ski touring outing, a multi-day trek, climbing, mountaineering, etc. Some are particularly versatile. This is the case of the Ubic model, one of the brand’s iconic backpacks that stands out for its multiple features. Also discover the Prolighter range, lightweight and high-performance backpacks.

Millet Climbing Shoes

Millet climbing shoes are renowned for their precision and comfort. They are designed to provide optimal support and good grip on all types of surfaces: indoors, bouldering, crags. They are suitable for both beginner and experienced climbers.

History of Millet

Origins of the Millet Brand

Millet was founded by Marc Millet and his wife who, in 1921, began making grocery and musette bags. Their workshop was then located in Saint-Fons, near Lyon. The Millets worked on creating their first backpacks with frames. As the Millet factory quickly grew to a staff of 10 people, it moved to Les Marquisats in Annecy. Following the death of her husband, Mrs Millet continued the venture, assisted by her two sons René and Raymond.

After World War II, during which the two brothers, now members of the French Resistance, supplied backpacks to the Resistance, the company significantly expanded. Introducing new concepts, René and Raymond Millet innovated, notably through their collaboration with Louis Lachenal, a French alpinist famous for reaching the Annapurna with Maurice Herzog in 1950.

Millet then keeps providing the equipment for the most renowned Himalayan expeditions that followed, benefiting from the fame of these mountaineers who conquered peaks over 8,000 meters one after the other. Although the brand also manufactures climbing packs, it established itself as a specialist in mountaineering backpacks, decidedly focused on high altitude activities, with its reputation gradually spreading worldwide.

A Centenary Brand Continuing to Write Its Story

In 1959, Millet recruited Italian alpine guide Walter Bonatti as a technical advisor. A mountaineer, journalist, and photographer, he successfully achieved the first and second north faces of the Grandes Jorasses in 1963 with René Desmaison.

Sherpa 50: An Iconic Backpack

During the 60s-70s, the Millet brothers continued their product innovations and revolutionised backpack design with the advent of nylon, which replaced cotton, providing lightness and waterproofness. The Sherpa 50 backpack marked this era, designed entirely in nylon with patented, padded, and seamless straps. In 1975, with the expansion of the Annecy factory impossible, a new factory was built in Frontenex, 50 km from Annecy.

The Beginning of Diversification at Millet

The year 1977 marked the beginning of diversification with the development of a down range, the first Gore-Tex parka, and the launch of a high-quality hiking and skiing clothing line.

Mountaineering and Climbing

As early as 1978, another Italian alpinist, Reinhold Messner, contributed to Millet's success by achieving the first oxygen-free ascent of Everest that same year.

In the early 80s, as the Millet brothers retired, the company continued to develop, including an apparel collection dedicated to climbing.

In 1987, Christophe Profit and Eric Escoffier challenged each other. These two alpinists completed the solo winter sequence of the north faces of the Eiger, Matterhorn, and Grandes Jorasses. Their feats contributed to the fame of the Millet brand for which they were technical advisors.

Acquisition of Millet by Lafuma (Birth of Millet Mountain Group)

In 1995, along with the Racer and Gamet brands, Millet was acquired by the Lafuma group, a leader in the French backpack market. Millet became the high-tech flagship of the group, keeping the brand’s spirit alive by offering a range of durable technical products. The brand's 250 technical advisors are none other than the Chamonix guides, of which Millet has been the official supplier since 2009.

Millet Mountain Group represents a major player in the outdoor market, distinguished by its high-quality technical equipment and apparel designed for mountain sports. Its products, combining performance, comfort, and reliability, are the result of the work of passionate men and women. Located in the heart of the Alps, the group continues its development and acquires a global reputation.

Ski Mountaineering and Freeriding

Since the 2000s, Millet has been associated with the TSF-Millet ski mountaineering race and its 5,000 meters of elevation gain over two days, having initiated its first edition. The brand supports expeditions, helping both individual or collective initiatives related to sports, the mountains, and adventure. Millet is also alongside freeriders such as Marco Siffredi, who in 2001 accomplished the feat of the first complete descent of the Tibetan side of Everest (8,850 m) on the north face. Discover the Pierra Ment range of garments, backpacks and accessories for ski touring and mountaineering.

An Innovative Company Repeatedly Awarded

While continuously developing, Millet has been repeatedly praised for its innovations:

In 2012, Millet was awarded twice for the design of its Everest mountaineering boot and for its Gore-Tex Active ULZ Zip jacket.
In 2013, Millet won a Gold award for its Touring Matrix ski backpack.

Millet Under Swiss Flag

At the end of December 2013, Swiss group Calida, owner of the French lingerie brand Aubade, became the majority shareholder of Lafuma, which then included brands such as Millet, Eider, Oxbow.

In December 2021, Romain Millet, great-grandson of the founders, was appointed head of the company. He had previously held various positions within the Lafuma group from 2005 to 2013.

The Brand Returns to its Family Roots

In April 2022, the Millet brand returned to its founding family, sold by Calida to Jean-Pierre Millet, the founders' grandson. His nephew Romain remains at the head of the Millet Mountain Group and continues to oversee the Lafuma Outdoor and Millet brands.

Millet, a Renowned French Brand

Committed to Mountain Sports

A staple in the outdoor equipment world, Millet develops technical clothing and accessories. Innovation is at the heart of the brand's concerns, constantly seeking to improve its products to meet the needs of the most demanding enthusiasts, while taking great care to limit the impact of manufacturing on the environment. Millet is recognized for the quality of its clothing, footwear, and all its accessories, designed for mountaineering, climbing, skiing, trail running, and hiking. They combine reliability, comfort, and durability.

Committed to the Environment

Millet's environmental commitment in the manufacturing process is central to its philosophy. The choice of raw materials plays a crucial role, with a preference for environmentally low-impact materials.

Use of Recycled Materials: Millet increasingly incorporates recycled materials into its products, thereby reducing the demand for new natural resources. The brand has set a goal to reach 100% recycled materials by 2030.
Responsible Production: Optimising the production chain to minimise waste and resource consumption. This is reflected in reduced packaging and efficient waste management.
Improving Product Circularity: Millet strives to maximize the durability of its products. It promotes their repairability, reuse in second-hand markets, and recycling at the end of life.

Committed to Humanity

Millet's commitment to humanity is intrinsic to its corporate philosophy. It places humans at the heart of its activities, involving its employees through a CSR policy.

It ensures that its activities have a positive social impact. This is reflected by its support for numerous initiatives aimed at protecting and regenerating nature. The commitment to a more responsible world is part of its DNA. Its active and committed community plays a major role in achieving this goal.

Millet athletes and ambassadors are an important source of inspiration for the brand. They test products in all conditions, pushing Millet to strive for excellence at every stage of its production process.

Each initiative taken by Millet is a step towards more sustainable fashion, where each product is designed with respect for the environment and people. By continuing to innovate and push the boundaries of responsible manufacturing, Millet aims to set a standard in the textile industry.

Rise Up

The brand is built on three pillars: innovation, an eco-responsible approach, and relationships with its community.

Innovation

Thanks to innovation, Millet products push the boundaries. From the Annapurna 50 produced in 1950, the first backpack to climb the summit of the same name, to the most recent Trilogy E-one pack, the lightest airbag on the market in 2020, every Millet product benefits from the best R&D innovations.

Environmental Protection

Millet pays particular attention to reducing its impact on the environment, nature being its preferred domain. The brand has redoubled its efforts for many years. It works around six main axes to reduce its environmental footprint.

It aims to improve the circularity of its products by maximizing their durability.
It tries to use renewable resources. 100% of the electricity used by the company comes from renewable energies. It increasingly uses recycled materials in its products.
It optimises its production to produce less waste and use fewer resources (especially in terms of packaging).
It values humanity by involving its employees in the CSR policy, deploying remote working to reduce travel, and providing a fleet of bicycles for employees.
It closely monitors its carbon footprint to reduce it as much as possible, while financing CO2 capture projects (via regenerative agriculture, the development of renewable energy projects).
It supports and assists numerous projects and initiatives aimed at protecting and regenerating nature (82X400, Riders for Refugees, 1% for Climbing Routes).

Community

Millet's current standing is thanks to the people it relies on and collaborates with: mountain guides, athletes, ambassadors... It is this community of experts that enables the brand to test its products in extreme conditions and aim for excellence.

Millet Store at Glisshop

Working with Millet means sharing its values. At Glisshop, we are thrilled to offer products from this brand that enables everyone to indulge their passion while being mindful of minimizing their impact on the environment.

Whether you are a hiking enthusiast, a seasoned skier, or a mountaineer in search of equipment, our team of experts is here to provide personalised recommendations and help you find the Millet product that meets your needs.

Millet

Mountain, Skiing, and Hiking Equipment and Apparel