Brand Intro: Portal
Fresh Take on Outdoor Apparel
Something's been shifting quietly in outdoor apparel over the past few years. The lines between running, cycling, and hiking gear have started to blur, and a small group of newer brands has emerged designing kit that doesn't ask you to pick your activity before you get dressed. Portal is one of them, and one of the more considered.
Where the Brand Formed
Portal was founded in London in 2023 by four enthusiasts with real pedigree in the technical apparel industry: Patrick Stangbye, John Roberts, Colin Meredith, and Barrie Bloor. Between them, they've worked at some of the most respected names in performance and outdoor clothing.
Patrick Stangbye is the former Creative Director at ROA, where he was largely responsible for the brand's move into apparel. John Roberts came from Rapha, where he worked on product development. Colin Meredith is a Vancouver-based designer. Barrie Bloor brings the graphic design and brand identity side of things. Together, their CVs cover Arc'teryx alongside ROA and Rapha, which is about as strong a foundation as a new outdoor brand could ask for.
The team works remotely, split between Oslo, Vancouver, and London. That geographic spread ends up shaping the brand more than you might expect. Three cities with challenging weather and varied terrain, all approached from a northern-hemisphere perspective of layering, waterproofing, and gear that has to hold up.
The Idea Behind It
There's a specific frustration Portal was built to fix. Most outdoor brands, however good they are, ask you to choose. A running top designed for running. A cycling jersey designed for cycling. Hiking trousers designed for hiking. Each garment excellent within its silo - not so much the moment you cross over into another activity.
The Portal team knew that wasn't how most of their friends actually lived. People run, ride, hike, commute, and move between all of it without wanting to change kit every time. So they set out to build a collection of technical apparel that works across all three disciplines, without compromising performance in any of them.
That's easier said than done. Cycling kit tends to be tight for aerodynamics. Running kit is built around a specific range of motion. Hiking gear has to survive abrasion and weather. Portal's answer is a set of "versatile essentials" designed with performance-first thinking, but built for movement rather than for any one specific sport.
The name follows the same logic. A portal, as Stangbye has explained, is a gateway. For them, running, cycling, and hiking are portals themselves, into being outside, into movement, into a certain way of living. The clothes are designed to support that, rather than to define which activity you should be doing while wearing them.
The Portal Collection
The Portal range covers running, cycling, and hiking (or, in their own shorthand, RUN, RIDE, and HIKE). Across those three categories sit the kind of styles you'd expect from a technical apparel brand: socks, tops, layering pieces, caps, and packs.
Here's a look at some of what we're stocking to start with.
Socks
Socks are one of the areas where Portal's attention to detail is most obvious. Three constructions, each pitched at a different kind of day.
Lineage All Purpose Socks. A mid-weight, all-purpose active sock. Ribbed cuff for moisture control at the ankle, light sole cushioning for comfort without the bulk of heavily cushioned alternatives, and a calf-length cuff with light compression to stay in place. Designed to sit comfortably against skin for extended wear, whether you're running, training, or just moving through the day.
Ritual Merino Socks. A mid-weight merino option for cooler weather and bigger days. Natural thermoregulation, cushioned sole, calf-length cuff, and a secure, light compression fit. The pair to reach for when the temperature drops.
Pattern Active Socks. A lightweight active sock with moisture control and a subtle pattern detail. The most technical of the three, pitched at faster training days and warmer conditions.
Tops
Lateral Peak Long Sleeve Top. A technical long sleeve with moisture-wicking construction, cut to move across running, cycling, and hiking. The fit and finish reflect the team's background in performance apparel.
Lateral Peak Tee. A loose-fitting technical tee with a minimalist chest graphic. The everyday counterpart to the long sleeve, built to move across activities and hold up under high output use.
Accessories
Passage Cargo Vest. A lightweight vest-style pack with mesh sides, adjustable side cords, and space to carry bottles or essentials for longer days out. Sleek, minimalist construction that suits both fast running and mixed-terrain days.
Borders Cargo Belt. A compact waist pack with a central zippered pocket and adjustable straps. Designed for secure storage of small essentials across activities, from a quick run to a full day on the bike.
Planar Lightweight Cap. A lightweight, breathable cap with a curved brim and an adjustable drawstring at the back. Cut to sit nicely whether you're running, cycling, or out in the hills, and built for warmer conditions when breathability matters.
Available Now at Achilles Heel
Portal has just launched at Achilles Heel. It's a new addition for us, and one we're super excited about. Multisport apparel from a team that truly understands technical clothing, built with performance in mind.
If you're curious, come and see it in person. Our team can talk you through the fit, the fabrics, and where Portal sits alongside the other brands you might already be wearing.
