Hiking's Style Revolution
Does a great view demand a great outfit?
A few weeks ago the algorithm gods blessed me with an Instagram video from the creator Kamryn Renae, who is currently hiking the Pacific Crest trail with a pink backpack, a skort, and a bottle of nail polish.
As someone who has done her fair share of backpacking and camping in the past, I was too busy being tired and dusty to care much about what I looked like. Every extra ounce of stuff makes a hike harder, so on the trail, everything has a purpose.
But this new era of well-dressed wilderness explorers begets an important question for someone who loves fashion and hiking alike: should a great view demand a great outfit?
Thanks to social media, a trail may be an escape, but it’s also a chance for a one-of-a-kind photo. “Gen Z is the most travel-hungry generation, not in a luxury sense, but in a ‘collect experiences early and often’ sense,” Erifili Gounari, the chief executive and founder of marketing agency the Z Link told the Times. But, to want to experience all the unique green, craggy corners of the globe, and share it online, a swoon-worthy location is no longer enough. Hiking has become an aesthetic to achieve, not just a hobby to enjoy. As such, capturing the experience now includes dressing up for the occasion.
Recently, my friend Amanda sent me “What Outdoors Means Now: fashion, sport, or identity?” by Ariana Ferwerda, who co-founded Halfdays. I thought her explainer was a nice way to break down how outdoor activities have shifted from something you do, to a signaling of who you are — a hiker, a traveler, an environmentalist.
In the era of “gorpcore,” we saw technical, tactical, and practical gear make its way from the great outdoors and into the streets (embarrassing or not, I’ll admit that I lusted over the Gucci x North Face down jackets when they first came out). As Avery Trufelman covered on Articles Of Interest’s “Gear” series, gorpcore has a long history traced through everything from the great frontier to military surplus to get to the streets of fashion week. Today, you can dress the part of an Alex Honnold disciple to grab a cup of coffee, no belaying necessary.
But, it’s cool to see how as more and more people discover nature, a fresh wave of personal style is making its way into the great outdoors. What used to be a sea of taupe zip-off pants and jewel-toned Patagonia fleeces, is now feeling a whole lot more diverse. Last summer, I met Sabrina Bloedorn, who was the first creator I saw really taking off-the-grid style to the next level. She incorporates plenty of technical gear into her looks, but the way she plays with proportion, color, and shape felt like a revelation.
In tandem, brands — both established and emerging — are challenging the parameters of what outdoor clothing can be, still honoring function while bringing a fresh level of personality and style into the mix.
Back in February I went on a trail run to celebrate the relaunch and restructuring of Nike’s ACG line, rolling their trail running and hiking gear under one umbrella, continuing to enmesh the technical and fashion-forward. It’s a harbinger of the growing overlap between those who want to look cool climbing a mountain, and those who want to look like they could climb a mountain, but aren’t. Would I wear the brand’s trail running shoes around town? Objectively no, but their fleece I’ve worn camping and running errands alike. As style rules have relaxed, the line between performance clothes and everyday ones have blurred. Cecilie Bahnsen’s collab with the North Face isn’t just made to look sporty, you can actually wear it on a trail.
On one hand, I can’t help but cringe a little, since getting away from the pressure of my phone is half the point of being outside. But, at the same time, having more diverse dressing options for those of us hitting the trail is never a bad thing. I remember what a revelation it was the first time I wore Outdoor Voices’ exercise dress on a hike. The more that brands bring a unique point of view to outdoor gear, the better.
In the past, I’ve seen functional trail outfits as a bit of a creative respite, a break in styling to dress for the sake of getting somewhere sans blisters or sunburn. I’ve argued that there’s no need to dress up to go on a run, which I still stand by. But, the rise of brands like Roa and Gnuhr inspires me to get a little more creative with what I wear on the trails — to bridge the gap between practical and personal. Hiking is a cool thing to do, dressing the part is never a bad thing.
Now onto the shoppies:
Gonggar DewDash Shorts ($101)
Hikerkind Packable Windbreaker ($188)
Salomon Half Zip ($140)
Roa x & Wander Breathable Pant ($322)
Peak Performance Vest ($150)
Salomon Bandana ($40)
Thank you for reading Taeste Bud! You can follow me on IG or subscribe below for more of my dispatches on style, travel, and more. If you have a case of the shoppies, you can find my latest recs here. I may earn a commission from affiliate links.