Fell running isn’t glamorous. It’s cold, wet and occasionally life-threatening. But for those who understand the appeal – the quiet masochism of a long climb, the wind-rattled euphoria of a summit descent – it’s more than a sport. It’s a calling. Which is why it makes perfect sense that 66°North, the Icelandic outerwear brand that’s spent the better part of a century outfitting people for life on the edge of the Arctic Circle, is now making kit for runners who like their miles served vertical.
The Helgafell collection is a new 14-piece capsule developed in partnership with Rory Griffin – creative force, trail runner, and editor of fashion-meets-outdoors publication Orienteer Mapazine – and it’s arguably the most refined expression yet of 66°North’s long-standing obsession with hostile environments. Named after a mountain on Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Peninsula and inspired by the gloriously unhinged British tradition of sprinting up hills in the Lake District, the collection retools performancewear with both restraint and intent.
What that means in practice is a full fell running wardrobe, stripped of excess and built for elevation. There’s a windbreaker with articulated sleeves and a hem that adjusts to the terrain. A technical vest that blocks the sun and stows into its own pocket. 2-in-1 shorts with integrated storage so you can leave the backpack at home. And a long-sleeve mesh layer that’s breathable, flexible, and tailored for the kind of movement that involves scrabbling up scree.
The power of lightness
Griffin describes the collection as a “testament to the power of lightness and resilience”, and he’s not wrong. These are pieces designed for people who treat the outdoors not as an escape, but as a proving ground – a set of tools for running far, fast, and high, no matter the weather or gradient. The fabrics are featherlight, the seams are low-profile, and everything is made with the kind of design intelligence that comes from actually using it, not just drawing it.
Prices range from £85 for a T-shirt to £205 for the windbreaker, and while that’s a fair chunk for running gear, it’s worth remembering that this is not activewear in the throwaway sense. It’s the kind of kit you can actually wear hard. And like all of 66°North’s output, it’s made to last, which, when you’re halfway up a mountain with no signal and no shelter, is the type of thing that matters.
Next up: Meet the alternative running brands shaking up the industry.
