I disappeared for a while, went hiking in the Pyrenees.Back to nature! As I was preparing my luggage, with a focus on lightweight to avoid a too heavy backpack, I realised there’s not a ‘fashion wow ‘when it comes to mountain clothes…Or is there ?! I decided to have a look, to be a Fashion Observer while we did our ‘ tour de refuges’ during that week. How would we and the other colleague hikers dress (up)?!
The first and most important part of your outfit are of course the mountain shoes: Called trail-, approach -, or stiff mountain boots. I’m sure you’re familiar with brands like Merrell, Columbia, Scarpa, North Face and Kathmandu, even if you only climbed stairs so far in your life. They come in categories from A to D.
The rest of your ‘ hiking garderobe ‘ can’t be more then 2in1 short trousers, Merino wool sweat and smell reducing(?) shirts, blister free socks, a fleece and 1 Hydrodown jacket. Lingerie anyone ? Forget it, a Shock Absorber sportsbra and Nike shorts will do. You can add as accessories only a pair of cool dark Julbo sunglasses and the never to be missed multi-usage Buff to protect hair and head. You would find these items in the collections (?) of Paramo, Berghaus, Mammut, Montane, RAB,etc… They all have ‘ moisture management ‘ high in their ranks ! Maybe they replace the Fashion Fitness Monograms like Moncler and Canada Goose in the hiking clothing business , because I never came across them. Though a high street brand as H & M has found a counterpart in the mountains; Decathlon is everywhere ! We were not the only ones wearing them during our stay. They even make an effort this season to add some vibrant and cool prints , so it doesn’t look like as if we were all members of the same mountaineering club in black and khaki repetitive camouflage colours.
To round it all up, Fashion is not really part of the deal when you reach for the summit, but textile technologies as eVent, Nevoshell, and Hydrophobic down are given the highest attention.
It’s another side of Athleisure. And it suits me fine!
To Be Continued.
TeDe
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