WE ARE CIMALP

From 1964 to the present day 

A history of people and mountains.

Created in 1964 by a passionate and visionary mountaineer, Cimalp evokes the summit of the Alps in reference to the highest peak in the range, Mont Blanc. An innovative and committed French brand, Cimalp has never lost sight of its mountain DNA and continues to build on this fine heritage by putting all its energy into serving the people who live and breathe the mountains. For 60 years, we’ve been designing and creating technical, durable outdoor equipment that respects nature and is affordable for all mountain enthusiasts.

1964

Birth of Cimalp

A lover of the Alps and founding father of the brand, Paul Sailler had a strong vision from the end of the 60s. 

Making technical expertise and comfort in the mountains widely available by helping mountaineers to move more freely. Ingeniously, he incorporated Lycra into his velvet trousers and knickers, guaranteeing suppleness and resistance. This innovation brought knickers back into fashion and made Cimalp the leader in hiking and mountaineering trousers in the 1970s

1970-1979

A star is born

At the heart of the best adventure stories, Cimalp stretch velour knickers enjoyed their glory years and became the brand’s trademark. In 1975, he crossed the Nanda Devi, India’s highest mountain, with Walter Cechinel. A connoisseur of the Himalayas and Nepal, the mountaineer and member of the second French team to reach the summit of Annapurna also climbed its North Face in 1979 alongside Henri Sigayret, known as “Sig”.

®Archives municipales de Chamonix Mont-Blanc.

1974

The "Fuseau" Technical ski pants

Featuring a softshell fabric designed for mountain use, Cimalp ski pants were the perfect ally for winter sports enthusiasts. Fleece lining + waterproof/breathable membrane + ultra-resistant stretch fabric on the outside to guarantee comfort and protection on all outdoor expeditions.

1984-1994

Mountaineering trousers

Freeing the movement of mountaineers and offering maximum comfort and protection to adventurers has always been a leitmotiv for Cimalp. Elastane cotton, Cordura/Supplex reinforcements, Dryskin membrane: this decade saw the birth of iconic technical trousers that have shaped the brand’s identity.

1996-1997

Antarctic expedition

Cimalp equipped mountaineer and adventurer Laurence de la Ferrière for her solo crossing of the South Pole. She faced extreme weather and survival conditions and became the first French national and the only woman in the world to have crossed the entire Antarctic continent solo. Her feat was covered by the world’s media.

1997

Mount Vinson expedition 

The team for the Belgian Antarctic expedition 1897-1997 achieved a real feat when they climbed the highest peak in Antarctica, Mount Vinson. The 12 members of the team wore full Cimalp gear made from waterproof and breathable microporous-coated fabric, to withstand polar temperatures down to -50°. The following year saw the launch of the Cimalp South Pole Expedition line, based on this technology, with outfits made from expedition-tested fabric, lined in mesh with taped seams and cuts designed to give mountaineers freedom of movement.

2000s

Digital revolution 

Under its new CEO, Lionel Marsanne, Cimalp underwent a digital transformation, with a business model built around online sales. In this way, the brand cuts out the middleman and offers the best innovations at prices 20 to 30% below the market. R&D is the mainstay of the company’s development, with a large number of patented technologies at its disposal to design cutting-edge products at fair prices.

2004

The 3D-Flex® patent

Initially used in Cimalp hiking trousers, the ultra-stretch 3D-Flex® fabric considerably improved freedom of movement for mountaineers and hikers. The technology would be used 10 years later in a line of compressive trail clothing, to provide excellent muscle support and prevent the risk of cramp and pain.

2012

Ultrashell® technology

Cimalp launched its high-performance waterproof/breathable membrane, setting new standards with 20,000 schmerber waterproofing and 80,000 MVP breathability. This performance was achieved thanks to a structure with finer pores that allow more air to pass through, but are also more resistant.

2013

All roads lead to a trail

With a historical presence in the mountaineering and hiking segments, Cimalp moved into the world of trail running, with benchmark products such as the STORM waterproof/breathable jacket, which benefits from patented Ultrashell® technology that competes with the membranes of the market giants.

2015

French Outdoor Award

Cimalp won the French Outdoor Award at the Friedrichshafen International Trade Fair for its breakthrough CIMADRY CYCLONE® technology, which draws water from inside the fabric and discharges it to the outside. It transfers moisture up to 10 times faster, so you stay dry during exercise.

2016

Birth of the Cimalp team 

12 trail runners became the first ambassadors for the brand’s trail products. A team that reflects the Cimalp philosophy: adventurous, successful, committed and passionate. The Cimalp sports centre now has more than 30 athlete ambassadors (trail runners, mountaineers and adventurers), including a number of Olympic and world champions.

2019

The 864 Drop Control 

Pioneering a new DROP CONTROL concept devised in collaboration with Lyon-based innovation firm Spark Lab, Cimalp offers the first trail shoe with a progressive drop of 8, 6 and 4 mm to move towards a more natural, high-performance and less traumatic stride. 

2019-2020

New horizons 

Cimalp continued to expand, opening up to Europe with the launch of e-shops in Italy, Spain, the UK, Germany and Poland.

2020

365 X-HIKING

The promise of comfort whatever the season. Cimalp launched its first hiking shoe and succeeded in integrating two interchangeable soles in a high-performance, hard-wearing shoe, for comfort that can be adapted to suit different terrains and seasons. 

2021

AERODRY® technology

The promise of maximum breathability. Developed in collaboration with ENVEHO, a scientific and technical research organisation, this exclusive patented system (in the form of a 3D pad strategically placed on the garment) offered permanent active ventilation, thanks to the body’s movements. 

2023

CIMAGRID® technology

A blend of warmth, breathability, stretch and lightness. Featured in Cimalp technical fleeces, CIMAGRID® fabric has been designed for high-intensity alpine activities that require great freedom of movement and action, such as mountaineering, climbing or cross-country skiing. The multi-directional stretch provides garments with excellent warmth and comfort. The mesh provides excellent breathability, and its grid construction improves moisture-wicking while reducing the weight of the fabric, ensuring the garment is highly compressible and takes up minimal space.

From 2015 to the present day

Sustainable performance

• Responsible production chain: traceability of partners, ethical suppliers, sustainable chemistry (PFC Free + bluesign® certification for our fabrics), responsible materials, CSR tools, responsible transport, responsible packaging.
• Circularity: use, maintenance & repair. 
• Carbon footprint: a two-year plan to measure our emissions and to achieve global carbon neutrality by 2030.
• Corporate culture: sustainable mobility plan, rational energy consumption, waste management, recycling and selective sorting, support for the local economy.
• Cimalp x Allcolibri partnership. 

2024

Le Refuge

2024 will see the birth of the company’s future eco-responsible HQ in Drôme, Le Refuge. A colossal 7,500 m² expansion project. Designed in our image, it will be 100% energy self-sufficient. Another step towards our goal of carbon neutrality.