Berghaus has launched ZonalAdapt, which is described as responsive legwear technology that is engineered to adapt to the way women’s bodies move and change. Tested and shaped by more than 100 women, anatomists and scientists, the new products adapt to the needs of a woman’s body.
The technology is available in Farren leggings and trousers.
The product is part of is part of Berghaus’ innovation initiative MtnHaus.
What is ZonalAdapt?
ZonalAdapt is the result of an 18-month project that has been informed by extensive consumer insights. The latest quantitative research states that more than 50 per cent of women avoid wearing their favourite clothes due to bloating*, while seven in 10 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 support the natural shifts of women’s bodies, without compromising on performance.
Berghaus recruited a test squad of 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.
UK women’s adventure community Love Her Wild was involved in the test squad. Love Her Wild director Fiona Orrell said: “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.”
ZonalAdapt products – the Farren leggings and trousers
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 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.