Mountain Hardwear Welcomes Trail Runner Liz Derstine to Athlete Team

February 27, 2025

RICHMOND, Calif. – February 27, 2025 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Mountain Hardwear is excited to announce Liz Derstine, an accomplished long-distance hiker and trail runner, as the newest member of its athlete team. As an industry leader in performance equipment and apparel for climbers, mountaineers and outdoor athletes, the addition of Liz to the team reinforces the company’s dedication to enhancing performance on the trail.

Derstine holds multiple Fastest Known Times (FKTs) on trails across the globe, including the Appalachian Trail (northbound/female/supported), Vermont’s Long Trail (female/self-supported), the Pinhoti Trail (female/self-supported), and Sweden’s Kungsleden (female/self-supported). Her incredible achievements have been featured in leading publications such as Outside, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, and Trail Running Magazine – solidifying her as one of the trail running and hiking community’s most inspiring figures. She is also a pianist and composer, blending classical training with pop-inspired creativity to craft music that draws inspiration from her experiences in nature.

“I’m thrilled to join the Mountain Hardwear team,” says Derstine. “As a musician and athlete, I love that Mountain Hardwear highlights multifaceted aspects of their athletes and celebrates them as whole people.”

To celebrate this milestone, Mountain Hardwear plans to launch its new performance trail kit this spring, designed specifically for fast and light adventures. The collection features advanced fast and light tops and bottoms with UPF and broad spectrum sun protection, as well as the KOR Airshell Hybrid Hooded Jacket – a lightweight, breathable wind shell perfect for high-output trail pursuits. Completing the lineup is the Lickety Split 20L, a fast-packing pack tailored for speed-focused hiking and running. These products underscore Mountain Hardwear’s commitment to creating durable, high-performance gear for long days, and long miles on the trail.

“Liz’s accomplishments in setting FKTs on multiple trails, her creativity through her music, and her ability to work with our product team set us on a new trajectory in the trail space,” said Mountain Hardwear Brand Manager Cale Meyer. “We’re excited to support Liz as she continues to seek wilder paths.”

Derstine’s addition to the team highlights Mountain Hardwear’s mission to seek wilder paths within the outdoor community by supporting activities that combine endurance, exploration, and innovation. Her expertise and passion for the sport are expected to further amplify Mountain Hardwear’s presence in the trail space.

About Mountain Hardwear

Mountain Hardwear, Inc., was founded in 1993 and is based in Richmond, CA. We exist to encourage and equip people to seek a wilder path in life. For over 30 years, we’ve built essential equipment for climbers, mountaineers, and outdoor athletes and have supported expeditions on the world’s highest peaks. Relentless precision continues to inspire everything we do — our designers sweat every stitch and detail to continuously improve function, durability, and comfort.

Mountain Hardwear is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company that distributes its products through specialty outdoor retailers in the United States and 34 countries worldwide. www.mountainhardwear.com

Seth Beiden
seth@sasquatchagency.com