Who is the Gratwanderer?

I’m Mike. I live in Switzerland and spend as much time outside as I can: on ridges, trails and long days in the mountains, and just as happily in the city afterwards.

Placeholder: tell your story here. Where you grew up, how you got into the mountains, which trips shaped you, and what you love most about being outside.

The philosophy

Gratwanderer is about the ridge between two worlds: the outdoors and fashion, function and style, the mountain and the city. I believe good outdoor clothing and gear should work hard and look good, and that the people and ideas behind a brand matter as much as the product.

Placeholder: put the philosophy in your own words. What do you look for in a brand? What do you stand for, and what would you never recommend?

Why “Gratwanderer”?

A “Grat” is a mountain ridge, and a “Gratwanderer” is someone who walks along it. In German, a “Gratwanderung” also means a balancing act. That is what this journal does: it walks the line between the outdoors and fashion, between function and style, between the mountains and the city.

What you’ll find here

Portraits of independent brands from around the world, a shop that sends you straight to them, and Exploring with Mike, my own trips, hikes and runs.

Independence

I write what I think. If I ever receive products for review or use affiliate links, it is clearly marked on the story.