Outdoor clothing differs from casual wear by prioritizing functionality over fashion. The materials utilized are thus chosen for their performance. Different fabrics naturally perform differently and have different advantages and short-comings. In the articles below we describe, discuss and compare various clothing materials, garment types and fabric technologies.
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I got my first neck gaiter in 2008 as a part of the promotional stuff you get in marathon bags. At first, I didn’t know what the tube-shaped piece of fabric was supposed to be used for but after a little bit of research I figured out that it’s a neck gaiter. I checked how…
If you need a jacket for protection against rain and wind, you can choose between a hardshell or a softshell jacket. While there are many similarities between hardshell and softshell jackets, the two garment types are ultimately made for different weather conditions. They also differ by breathability, weight, drying time, price and more. I own…
Outdoor clothing is performance wear, which is made to make you perform better in the great outdoors whether it is in the form of a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid-layer or a shielding shell layer. However, as all other apparel, outdoor clothing will get dirty eventually – from within as well as from without….
No pair of hiking boots lasts forever, and since high-quality boots are an expensive hiking essential, you’re probably wondering how long they’ll last for the money you spend. Many online articles on this topic suggest that robust hiking boots last from 600 to 700 miles (900-1200 km) and their lightweight counterparts from 400 to 500…
Rain jackets differ by layering construction and before purchasing a new rain jacket you should definitely check which layering construction it utilizes. Why? Well, the thing is that there is a big difference between 2.5-layer and 3-layer rain jackets in terms of weight, protection against the elements, durability packability and price. Both types of jackets…
Outdoor adventures can be hard on your gear, as both cliffs and vegetation expose it to abrasion and tears. We always recommend that you repair your current gear and apparel rather than buying new products incessantly. We have previously made articles about how to repair holes and tears in Merino clothing and how you can…
Windbreakers have become increasingly popular in the last years and many hikers have switched from rain jackets to these minimalistic shell layers. Windbreakers are lighter and pack smaller than rain jackets and are thus perfect for lightweight hiking. Nevertheless, it’s important to know that a windbreaker performs quite differently than a rain jacket. A rain…
Functional outdoor apparel is much less affected by passing fashion trends than casual wear. This in itself makes outdoor apparel much more sustainable, as such garments are often of a higher quality and thus both lasting and being used longer than ‘fast fashion’ items. There is, however, one area where the outdoor apparel industry has…
As hikers we all get to experience the negative impact of humans in the landscapes we spend our time in – whether it is the pollution of a local lake, an abundance of trash in nature, excessive logging or witnessing how the glacier in a national park gets smaller and smaller over the years. According…
Over the last couple of years, the popularity of fleece jackets has decreased, and many hikers have replaced their fleece apparel with jackets insulated with synthetic fill. While synthetic fill jackets are indeed warmer for the weight and pack smaller, fleece does have certain advantages over synthetic fill. I own a fleece jacket (Mountain Hardwear…
