Let’s set the scene: It’s a cool, maybe even blustery day. You need something durable and dependable, yet casual, from your outerwear rotation. So maybe one day, maybe in a rush, you grab a puffer jacket heading out the door instead of a peacoat.
Maybe the next day, you felt just fine wearing a fleece jacket instead of a denim trucker. Or you traded in your Red Wing Heritage boots for some USA-made hiking boots alongside your blue jeans and a henley. Congrats, my friend: You’ve hit the sweet spot when it comes to “Gorpcore.”
The burgeoning, hiking-inspired trend has had legs for a while now—but what is Gorpcore, exactly? It’s the idea that the clothes you’d wear to hike or hit the trail, the clothes you’d wear on a weekend away from the city, are just as stylish and functional back in town.
To put it even more simply: Think of an old Polaroid of your dad, perhaps wearing a retro, colorful windbreaker on a camping trip (crushing a cold one, of course). You could call that the “OG” version of Gorpcore—what your dad used to wear hiking is cool again, in short.
Naturally, high-fashion brands are taking notice. Take, for instance, a high-fashion clothier like Balenciaga—intimidating, right? Well, Balenciaga now makes hiking sneakers. They’re out-of-this-world, futuristic and quite bold – and probably comfortable as heck out on the trail. You could call this a “trickle-up” effect, in a way—the clothing of the masses, of those who love the great outdoors, is making its way back down the runway.
Fear not: Just because high fashion is co-opting Gorpcore doesn’t mean it’s out of reach for the rest of us. These are some of our favorite Gorpcore pieces of the moment, all the better to let you embrace your most granola (yet stylish!) self.
Photo via Topo Designs
Topo Designs Retro Ridge Puffer Jacket
The thing about embracing Gorpcore is that you’ll find plenty of brands that both talk the talk and walk the walk. Topo Designs is among the best of the bunch when it comes to durable outerwear with a touch of retro flair (it’s right in the name of this puffer jacket, after all). It’s also made from fully recycled materials and offered at a fair price.
Photo via Patagonia
Patagonia Retro Pile Jacket
It’s mighty hard to talk about trail-focused, adventure-ready gear without mentioning Patagonia. The brand arguably brought hiking and outdoor gear to the masses, along with a hefty dose of sustainability. The pairing of style, comfort and eco-conscious dressing rings true to this day, but at the end of it all, if what you want is a darn comfortable fleece jacket that brings it right back to the 1980s, this is it. Gorpcore has come back around, kids.
Photo by Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi Teca Half-Zip Windbreaker
Perhaps the easiest way to spot someone who’s similarly obsessed with Gorpcore? Look at their outerwear of choice: Does it use bold, vibrant and often unexpected color combinations? Does it come in a technical build, like a hooded windbreaker? Does it even seem a little, dare we say, fun to wear? If it checks those boxes, it’s Gorpcore, and it might just be this eye-catching Cotopaxi windbreaker.
Photo via ROARK
ROARK Campover Cargo Pants
The much-maligned cargo pant is getting its moment in the sun once more, but this time in a way that’s both functional (not simply baggy) and actually good-looking. Think back to the baggy cargo pants you might have worn in middle school, and then cast those thoughts out of your mind. These Gorpcore-approved cargo pants boast the utility needed to hit the trail , yet the overall effect—when paired up with rugged leather boots, for instance—isn’t all that unpleasant.
Photo by Outdoor Voices
Outdoor Voices RecTrek Zip-Off Pants
One of the things you might notice about the best Gorpcore gear is the color: or colors, lots of ‘em, in fun, peppy, and throwback-minded combinations. Throw it all in a pot with technical fabric and trail-minded performance, and you’ve got these Outdoor Voices pants. It’s also nigh impossible not to appreciate the zip-off design. If you’re anything like this writer, elementary school recess in the ‘90s is calling.
Photo via Topo Designs
Topo Designs Mountain Utility Tote
Be warned, fellow fashion traveler and Gorpcore enthusiast: The trend (or the lifestyle, rather) isn’t simply about your outerwear or your boots. The right tools and tricks of the trade, like a trusty tote in a vivid set of colors, are downright essential. In the same way Pops trusted his hiking backpack, you can trust this tote—and its many compartments and carrying set-ups—to get you from point A to point B.
Photo via Huckberry
HOKA Kaha GTX 2 Hiking Boots
Remember what we said about gear making its way from the trail to the town naturally? HOKA, purveyors of some of the most popular running shoes on the market, knows a thing or two about comfort in tight situations, and its hiking boots blend the hybrid modern look of a sneaker with the durability of a sturdy pair of boots. The result is all Gorpcore, no filler.
Photo via La Sportiva
La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Hiking Boots
Looking for a pair of boots that are a touch more retro in design, if not execution? The type of boots you might have found alongside your dad’s camping gear back in the day? Well, they’re a tad more souped up and boast more bells and whistles, but La Sportiva’s rugged hiking boots are a classic example of modern Gorpcore—technical, stylish, and trail-ready.
