Available now, the Farren leggings and trousers mark the return of MtnHaus, Berghaus’ pioneering innovation initiative.

• ZonalAdapt marks the return of MtnHaus, Berghaus’ innovation space
• Engineered to adapt to the way women’s bodies move and change
• Tested and shaped by over 100 women, anatomists and scientists
• Rethinking outdoor gear for real bodies and real movement

ZonalAdapt is the result of an 18-month project that has been informed by extensive consumer insights. The latest quantitative research states that over 50% of women avoid wearing their favourite clothes due to bloating*, while seven in ten feel restricted in leggings when their bodies fluctuate*. Women report feeling self-conscious when bloated, two and a half times more than men*. Led by head of innovation Rosie O’Sullivan, the MtnHaus team set out to engineer leggings and trousers that truly support the natural shifts of women’s bodies, without compromising on performance.

Berghaus recruited a test squad of over 100 women from around the UK to investigate how their gear was affecting them on the move. In workshops and during hikes, Berghaus had honest conversations with women about bloating, gut issues, cramps and comfort, which became the foundation for design decisions - topics often ignored in performance wear. Again and again, one area came up, which MtnHaus named ‘The Zone’. Ranging from mid-torso to upper thigh, it’s where discomfort for women hits hardest: Waistbands that dig in; leggings that roll down; fabrics that chafe. Throughout the design and development process, the test squad shaped every detail of the responses to these issues.

MtnHaus also partnered with Dr. Yasmin Carter, a world-leading specialist in translational female anatomy, and with researchers at Newcastle University, to translate its findings into biomedical and physiological data. Dr. Carter comments: “I've never seen anyone do that before - come back to the very foundation and say, ‘what if everything we thought was wrong, and how do we get back to listening to the people who are actually living in these bodies?’”

Rosie O’Sullivan adds: “Every decision we made can be traced back to real conversations with real people, through hours spent together. We tried to get under the skin of people's frustrations; what makes them feel less confident, more self-conscious, and impacts their likelihood to get outside and enjoy it. By starting there, we had a greater chance of creating something meaningful.”

UK women's adventure community Love Her Wild was involved in the test squad. Love Her Wild director Fiona Orrell comments: “The sheer number of hours MtnHaus spent with us was incredible. For many of us, it was the first time our bodies’ needs had truly been heard.”

For autumn/winter 2025, Berghaus has launched two ZonalAdapt products – the Farren leggings and trousers. Both products incorporate key features that adapt to the way women’s bodies move and change:

• Responsive waistband. Maps the abdominal muscles with a front panel that redirects pressure from the stomach during bloating. This offers a unique balance of support and relief without compromising fit.
• Targeted compression zones. Activates the leg muscles and stimulates lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and fatigue. This keeps leggings in place without relying on a restrictive waistband.
• Lumbar support panel. Grips the lower back to create support at the base of the spine and hold the leggings in place - without adding pressure to the stomach.

The waistband is a true proof-point of how the test squad insights influenced the products’ final designs. A floating front panel that adapts to gut fluctuations, it reduces tightness while maintaining secure comfort, and was designed in response to women asking for less pressure without losing support.

Sarah Nyikos, Berghaus senior product developer, comments: “We’ve championed female empowerment every step of the way and felt it ourselves, creating solutions that work in the real world, not just on paper.”

Testing showed ZonalAdapt technology allowed more natural side-to-side and vertical movement than the market control, without increasing oxygen consumption. Monitoring participants’ body language showed a more positive response, proving the gear not only supports the body but boosts confidence and movement efficiency. This is the level of comfort that MtnHaus was looking for, and the method used to shape the final designs was achieved in a way no lab alone ever could. ZonalAdapt is already an award-winning innovation, recognised in both the prestigious 2025 Red Dot and Fit Design award schemes. 

The Berghaus Farren products are made with LYCRA® ADAPTIV™ fibre (78% polyamide 22% elastane), which adapts to the body’s shape, delivering stretch, support, and comfort that responds to every movement. The legwear is now available exclusively at www.berghaus.com. The leggings retail at £100, in sizes from XS (6-8) to XXL (18-20), and the trousers retail at £135, in sizes from 8-20. Both are available in black and green.

Berghaus has launched ZonalAdapt, responsive legwear technology that is engineered to adapt to the way women’s bodies move and change. Tested and shaped by over 100 women, anatomists and scientists, the new products adapt to the unique needs of a woman’s body. Available now, the Farren leggings and trousers mark the return of MtnHaus, Berghaus’ pioneering innovation initiative.

ZonalAdapt is the result of an 18-month project that has been informed by extensive consumer insights. The latest quantitative research states that over 50% of women avoid wearing their favourite clothes due to bloating*, while seven in ten feel restricted in leggings when their bodies fluctuate*. Women report feeling self-conscious when bloated, two and a half times more than men*. Led by head of innovation Rosie O’Sullivan, the MtnHaus team set out to engineer leggings and trousers that truly support the natural shifts of women’s bodies, without compromising on performance.

Berghaus recruited a test squad of over 100 women from around the UK to investigate how their gear was affecting them on the move. In workshops and during hikes, Berghaus had honest conversations with women about bloating, gut issues, cramps and comfort, which became the foundation for design decisions - topics often ignored in performance wear. Again and again, one area came up, which MtnHaus named ‘The Zone’. Ranging from mid-torso to upper thigh, it’s where discomfort for women hits hardest: Waistbands that dig in; leggings that roll down; fabrics that chafe. Throughout the design and development process, the test squad shaped every detail of the responses to these issues.

MtnHaus also partnered with Dr. Yasmin Carter, a world-leading specialist in translational female anatomy, and with researchers at Newcastle University, to translate its findings into biomedical and physiological data. Dr. Carter comments: “I've never seen anyone do that before - come back to the very foundation and say, ‘what if everything we thought was wrong, and how do we get back to listening to the people who are actually living in these bodies?’”

Rosie O’Sullivan adds: “Every decision we made can be traced back to real conversations with real people, through hours spent together. We tried to get under the skin of people's frustrations; what makes them feel less confident, more self-conscious, and impacts their likelihood to get outside and enjoy it. By starting there, we had a greater chance of creating something meaningful.”

UK women's adventure community Love Her Wild was involved in the test squad. Love Her Wild director Fiona Orrell comments: “The sheer number of hours MtnHaus spent with us was incredible. For many of us, it was the first time our bodies’ needs had truly been heard.”

For autumn/winter 2025, Berghaus has launched two ZonalAdapt products – the Farren leggings and trousers. Both products incorporate key features that adapt to the way women’s bodies move and change:

• Responsive waistband. Maps the abdominal muscles with a front panel that redirects pressure from the stomach during bloating. This offers a unique balance of support and relief without compromising fit.
• Targeted compression zones. Activates the leg muscles and stimulates lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and fatigue. This keeps leggings in place without relying on a restrictive waistband.
• Lumbar support panel. Grips the lower back to create support at the base of the spine and hold the leggings in place - without adding pressure to the stomach.

The waistband is a true proof-point of how the test squad insights influenced the products’ final designs. A floating front panel that adapts to gut fluctuations, it reduces tightness while maintaining secure comfort, and was designed in response to women asking for less pressure without losing support.

Sarah Nyikos, Berghaus senior product developer, comments: “We’ve championed female empowerment every step of the way and felt it ourselves, creating solutions that work in the real world, not just on paper.”

Testing showed ZonalAdapt technology allowed more natural side-to-side and vertical movement than the market control, without increasing oxygen consumption. Monitoring participants’ body language showed a more positive response, proving the gear not only supports the body but boosts confidence and movement efficiency. This is the level of comfort that MtnHaus was looking for, and the method used to shape the final designs was achieved in a way no lab alone ever could. ZonalAdapt is already an award-winning innovation, recognised in both the prestigious 2025 Red Dot and Fit Design award schemes. 

The Berghaus Farren products are made with LYCRA® ADAPTIV™ fibre (78% polyamide 22% elastane), which adapts to the body’s shape, delivering stretch, support, and comfort that responds to every movement. The legwear is now available exclusively at www.berghaus.com. The leggings retail at £100, in sizes from XS (6-8) to XXL (18-20), and the trousers retail at £135, in sizes from 8-20. Both are available in black and green.