From cult hiking boots to high-waisted thermodynamic leggings, see our edit of aesthetically pleasing outdoor clothing and walking gear.
Sweaty Betty
Last Autumn, Sweaty Betty launched its first ever hiking collection enabling us to withstand a battering from the elements while maintaining sartorial credentials. Bestsellers include the natty water-resistant army green backpack, with neon zip, which folds into a pouch. The hiking trousers, made from swanky technical materials, have adjustable cuffs and two zipped pockets while the thermodynamic leggings and reflective power headband show you mean business. Shop the collection here.
Lululemon
During recent lockdowns, as our lives changed almost beyond recognition, walking with a friend was one of the few things allowed. We learnt not to walk in cotton which is terrible for insulation and holds moisture next to your skin. Not great when you get sweaty. To help you hike in style, Lululemon, the holy grail of colour block workout leggings, released a new walking range. This Canadian sportswear label, so championed by yogis, now sells water-resistant, quick-drying, sweat-wicking Nulux fabric tops and bottoms that have been designed especially for hiking, come rain or shine. Shop the collection here.
Vivobarefoot
Walking opens your mind and changes your mentality. Want to feel truly alive? Look to trendy site Vivobarefoot that sells cult flexible hiking boots that promise the effortless feeling of walking barefoot. The wide shape of the shoe and its light material helps you maintain a connection with nature. As the roadmap to normality begins, many of us will continue to hike and to embrace the restorative powers of nature. Consider it as mindfulness on the move. Shop the collection here.
Planet Warrior
There are lots of factors at play when shopping for clothes of any sort. Want to walk, and play your part fixing worldly worries? Planet Warrior is a UK-based eco-activewear brand making leggings from recycled plastic bottles. Their leggings come in a snazzy ‘you won’t miss me in the hills’ tropical print. The site is set up by sisters Josie and Juliette who spent their childhood playing on the beach and travelling Europe in a VW Camper. Their mission is to keep the waters and beaches clean by encouraging reduced use of plastic and creating sportswear made from recycled plastic waste. Shop the collection here.
Free People
The bohemian walkers among us delight in the Free People site which brims with hippie flowing clothes, workout wardrobe and hiking gear. ‘You were more likely to see a unicorn cycling to the moon than an 18-year-old on one of those walks, when I first started,’ said Sam Knight, the Ramblers’ head of young walker’s project in Scotland. Just as your stereotypical hiker has changed beyond all recognition, so has their wardrobe offering. To really turn heads, opt for the printed joggers and fast track onesie. Shop the collection here.
By Annabel Jack
April 2021
READ MORE
11 Travel Influencers You Absolutely Need To Follow in 2021
Best Sites For Camping Equipment
A Digital Guide to Wild Swimming
