For years we’ve put up with low fashion standards in the outdoor clothing industry. And since outdoor clothes have never been fashionable, we thought that that was just the way it had to be. It was the ultimate example of form over function. If you didn’t want to get cold or wet or blister on your toes, you put up with it.

But then, starting in about 2014, there was a sudden rush. Clothes makers suddenly realized that there was no reason why outdoor clothes had to be bland. They could be as stylish and as fashionable as regular clothes on the high-street. And so the deluge of designer interest in outdoor clothes began. The question then, is what has happened since?



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Designer Sleeping Bags

When you’re out camping, your biggest enemy is the cold. Sierra Designs, a sleeping bag company, knows this very well. That’s why they’re in the business of doing what they do. One of their latest products the “Mobile Mummy” is designed to keep occupants warm. But it’s also designed to look good too.

Casio Pro Trek

Casio watches used to be the preserve of only the geekiest among us. But now geeks are cool, we all want one. Casio never apologized for their digital watches. They kept making them and refining them over the years. And now they’ve come out with something that’s a super-version of those early digital watches. It’s called the Pro Trek, and it does everything. It’s solar powered, and it has a compass, measures altitudes and has an atmospheric pressure warning. In other words, it alerts you if it thinks it’s about to rain.

Fleeces

Right now, it's the perfect weather for a fleece vest. Even in summer, there’s a need to layer and wrap up warm, especially if you’re hiking up mountains. But now you can wear fleece vests in style. Recently Marmot released one that has all of the trappings of a fashionable vest. It’s bright and expertly cut, but thin enough to find underneath a waterproof coat.

Don’t just focus on the fashion, though. Make sure you get a vest with a fleece collar lining and a drawstring for extra wind protection. You never know when you might need it.

Smith Sunglasses

If you’re going out hiking this summer, there’s a good chance you’ll be doing it in either the morning or evening. This is perfect for avoiding sunburn and the midday heat. But it’s not so good for having the sun glare in your face. It’s at times like this when you wish you had some fashionable sunglasses that can also withstand the demands of camping. Well, now you can. Smith have come out with spectacles that are polarized and look great too. The polarization is of particular importance. The sun is at its apex in the morning and the evening, meaning maximum glare. So these glasses are essential for anybody walking near water or snow. They even come with a cushioned nose bridge to keep those who don’t wear glasses comfortable.