Hiking with the Best – functional outdoor clothing from MAUL Sport

MAUL Sport has been around since 1948. Ludwig Maul founded a small tailor's shop in Munich at the time, and today the family continues to run the company in its second generation. Sandro Maul, the son of the founding family, has personally overseen the company's own production line in Vietnam for more than 20 years. He regularly visits the site himself to ensure quality.

The name still stands for a clear commitment: functional outdoor clothing for the mountains, developed with the Bavarian Pre-Alps on the doorstep in mind. Over the decades, MAUL Sport has specialised particularly in hiking trousers – a focus that few brands pursue so consistently. The range is complemented by merino shirts, functional base layers and warm fleece jackets, which together form a well-designed layering system for mountain tours.

MAUL Sport uses two material approaches for its hiking trousers. Softshell models such as Seilschaft and Berghütte are stretchy, windproof and water-repellent – that is more than enough for most day hikes. The Heimgarten and Merino Trekker merino trekking trousers also contain genuine merino wool in the fabric blend, which naturally regulates temperature and absorbs moisture without feeling wet.

Recycled material is used in Nebelhorn and Klosters: their polyester fabric consists of 56 per cent recycled yarn, with no compromise on durability. For changeable mountain weather, the waterproof 2XT models Wallis and Sarek feature a Megaliner membrane. All models offer a comfortable fit with pre-shaped knees and practical pockets.

For the base layer, MAUL Sport offers two options. The Alvier and Evora fresh base layers are made from polyester with elastane and feature Polygiene: the technology binds odour molecules in the fabric, keeping the shirts neutral even after several days of wear without washing. The Schaffhausen and Eibelkopf merino shirts consist of more than half genuine merino wool and also combine it with Polygiene.

Merino wool wicks moisture away from the skin without feeling clammy and naturally balances temperature changes from warm to cool. This makes it a natural foundation for ascents where your body starts to sweat, only to cool down quickly at the summit. The fresh models without wool feel slightly more synthetic, but dry faster in return.

For a warm mid or outer layer, MAUL Sport offers two fleece ranges. Göteborg, Tübingen, Kalmit and Zell are classic, stretchy knitted fleece jackets for everyday use in the mountains and the city. Nederkogel, Wildroserl, Wildkogel and Almnixe come in a fluffier teddy look with a windproof membrane – Wildkogel and Almnixe as gilets, while the others are hooded jackets and therefore somewhat bulkier than the smooth models.

The membrane makes these models the first line of defence against strengthening winds at the summit, without making them feel heavy or stiff. For families with different sensitivities to the cold, combining a jacket and gilet is worthwhile: the gilet stays on during the ascent, while the jacket can be added on the windy ridge.

Anyone mainly doing day hikes in changeable weather will be well served by softshell trousers such as Nebelhorn or Klosters REC. For persistent rain or high-alpine tours, the waterproof 2XT trousers, Wallis or Sarek, are worth considering. Anyone who values a natural feel should choose Heimgarten Merino, Merino Trekker or the Schaffhausen and Eibelkopf merino shirts.

If you are travelling for several days without access to washing facilities, Polygiene in the fresh models keeps clothing odour-neutral for longer. And when it gets cold during the transitional seasons or in the mountains in the evening, a fleece jacket or teddy gilet with a membrane adds warmth without much extra weight.

The collection is ideal for nature lovers, families and outdoor enthusiasts who value fit, materials and a wide range of sizes. It is less suitable for speed hikers who optimise every gram and prefer ultralight specialist models.