How Dope Snow and Montec Test Their Gear

Dope Snow and Montec are performance snowwear brands under Ridestore. Both brands design clothing for riders who spend long days in cold, wet and physically demanding conditions. Testing plays a central role in ensuring that jackets, trousers and layers perform consistently across seasons.

Rather than publishing a single testing manifesto, Dope Snow and Montec communicate their testing approach through sustainability documentation, technical material breakdowns and their official performance reporting. This article examines how testing is described and verified across both brands.

Technical and laboratory testing framework

Both Dope Snow and Montec rely on standardised technical testing to define baseline performance. Waterproofing and breathability are communicated through numerical ratings that are applied consistently across product lines.

Montec uses its SHIELD-TEC membrane, rated at 20,000mm waterproof and 20,000g breathability. Dope Snow uses DRY Tech, rated at 15,000mm waterproof and 15,000g breathability. These ratings are based on standardised industry tests and are used to classify garments for different riding conditions.

Both brands outline their testing standards and performance benchmarks within their publicly available sustainability documentation, where waterproofing ratings, breathability metrics, and material choices are explained in detail.

Durability and abrasion testing

Dope Snow and Montec’s sustainability hub documentation explains that fabrics used by both brands are tested for durability, tear resistance and fabric weight. These tests evaluate how materials hold up under long term wear rather than just initial use.

Durability testing focuses on abrasion resistance and structural integrity to ensure garments perform across multiple seasons.

Water repellency testing using the Bundesmann method

Both brands use the ISO 9865 Bundesmann test to evaluate durable water repellent performance. According to both Dope Snow and Montec’s technical documentation, fabrics achieve Grade 5 water repellency before washing and Grade 4 after five washes.

This exceeds common industry expectations, which typically fall between Grade 3 and 4 after washing.

The test verifies that water repellency remains effective after repeated use and care.

Material verification and recycled polyester testing

To verify material quality claims, they uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance testing to confirm that recycled polyester supplied to Dope Snow and Montec meets declared specifications.

This testing helps ensure consistency between supplier documentation and actual material composition.

Data driven quality control

Their technical documentation states that extensive testing data is collected across fabrics, colours and production batches before garments move into full production (over 25,000 test data points). This data-driven process ensures consistency across large-scale manufacturing.

While Dope Snow and Montec do not publish individual test reports, this approach is presented as part of how quality is controlled across collections.

Field testing and rider feedback

Laboratory testing is supplemented by real world feedback. Both brands emphasise a community driven development approach where rider input plays a role in refining fit, construction and features.

Professional riders and brand ambassadors test gear during development phases. Dope Snow has publicly collaborated with athletes such as Jesper Tjäder, whose feedback contributes to product refinement.

Ridestore also organises dedicated on snow testing sessions where product teams and riders of Dope Snow and Montec brands evaluate gear in real conditions.

Chemical safety and sustainability verification

Testing also includes material safety and environmental standards. Dope Snow and Montec are bluesign system partners, which means materials and production processes are evaluated to reduce harmful chemicals and improve worker safety.

Both brands also participate in Leadership and Sustainability partnership, which evaluates factory performance and identifies areas for improvement across the supply chain.

How testing is communicated to consumers

Dope Snow and Montec focus on communicating outcomes rather than raw lab data. Performance ratings, durability explanations and sustainability disclosures are used to explain how products are tested and what riders can expect in real use.

Testing is presented as a combination of technical verification, material consistency checks and continuous feedback from riders and customers.

Conclusion

Dope Snow and Montec approach testing through a layered system that combines laboratory verification, durability evaluation, water repellency testing and real world rider feedback. Waterproof and breathability ratings define performance baselines, whilst durability and material verification ensure long term reliability.

Their technical documentation provides meaningful insight into how testing supports consistency, performance and sustainability across both brands, even though detailed lab protocols are not published in full.

Transparency rating: Good

Dope Snow and Montec disclose performance ratings, material standards and several specific testing methods through official brand channels. The brands provide more detail than basic performance claims but do not publish full laboratory protocols or raw test data. Based on publicly available information, transparency around testing is good.

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