Hiking vibes began to conquer the urban style landscape a few years back. Now, its presence is definite. Urban fashion has embraced the styles typical of adventurers and mountain hikers and has brought it to the big cities with a new name. Here is gorpcore and here’s how it has crept into our everyday wardrobe.
From the world’s most important fashion runways to the streetwear of our neighborhood, Gorpcore has extended its wings to become an omnipresent trend that has conquered various communities, countries, and styles. The concept of mountaineering, trekking, and climbing is reinterpreted by urban and high-end fashion brands, becoming an infinite source of inspiration that has given rise to premium pieces of pure luxury and protective gear for the most daring plans.
The expression “gorpcore” (“gorp” refers to the dried fruit and nut trail mix consumed by mountain climbers) was first mentioned in the pages of New York Magazine’s The Cult, a visionary in contemplating the need to adopt a new term that encompasses the style aesthetics of quilted finishes, ultra-resistant fabrics, and garments ready to face the elements. It’s an array of technical clothing items that had previously been relegated to weekend excursions, totally excluded from our everyday looks. But now, what once was considered ugly, we give a euphemism with which we accept designs with a purely practical objective and that, deep down, we like: garments that simply seek to fulfill their purpose, protect us from the inclemency of the weather, and that resist the passage of time. Neither boasting to improve your personal style nor go perfectly with the rest of your wardrobe, it’s unpretentious and real. Performance over beauty. As we enter the new decade, we have set our sights set on this focus on functionality and have elevated trail style to a new category, making it a must-have in urban fashion. “It’s ugly, and that’s why we like it,” Demna Gvasalia would say. Here, we’ll review the most identifying elements of gorpcore.
Quilted finishes, resistant to adverse weather conditions and with technical and waterproof fabrics, have brought back the classic puffer of decades ago, whose best comeback has come from streetwear brands. This is demonstrated by the Thisisneverthat SP-INTL. Sport Men’s Down Coat. It emanates sporty style, with an extremely functional design intended for the harshest winter weather. But that’s not all. We also find padded details in other garments such as pants and sweatshirts, capable of wrapping you in a material that completely insulates you from the cold, protects you from the rain, and ensures extreme durability with the passing of time. The North Face “7 Summits” Gore-Tex® Pants made of down material is a masterful piece of outdoorwear from the brand that combines state-of-the-art Gore-Tex technology, feather-lined padding, and a premium water-repellent finish.
Sneakers are one of the favorite items that the gorpcore has completely conquered. Chunky, bulky, voluminous sneakers, with structures typical of mountain footwear and unmistakable details such as hiking laces, track soles, and elastic bungee cords. From the Nike ACG React Terra Gobe to the Reebok DMX Trail Shadow, each sportswear brand has created its own version of the perfect hiking shoe. In each of these new trekking designs we find the perfect silhouette to go deep into the most remote terrain, but also to give a unique new style to our sneaker collection.
Outerwear accessories such as gloves have also been redefined by gorpcore, giving rise to innovative designs that equip us with the most extreme protection for our daily lives, with waterproof panel overlays, extra-thick materials, and adjustable straps. Utilitarian techwear and nature come together in the rubber grip pattern of Wood Wood Holger Gloves and in the Gore-Tex® finish of Thisisneverthat Gore-Tex® Infinum™ Gloves, which make use of this premium technology that is now seen at its best. An accessory that until now has been a minor detail in streetwear and that, fortunately, is finally experiencing the recognition of importance and practicality that it deserves.
Gore-Tex also arrives to the world of hats with pieces like the New Era x Gore-Tex Bucket Hat, proof that the most famous cap company in the world has also decided to enter the trail style trend by establishing as its goal to protect you against the rain and cold. Headwear accessories are on the rise, and many brands are creating hiking versions of their biggest iconic looks, finishing them off with waterproof materials, premium wool, and polar fleece fabrics such as in the Nike ACG AW84 Cap.
What we define as outerwear is more than a trend; it’s essential items for mountaineers and hikers. Garments with a multitude of safety pockets, with a great capacity to store the necessary belongings for an intense exploration over several days, with nooks and crannies to keep objects isolated from the sunlight and the elements, and zippers and velcro to avoid misfortunes. We find it in its most extreme and daring versions pieces such as the Eastpak LAB x White Mountaineering Vest Bag, but also in the more subdued and easy to combine garments such as the Stussy Highland Veste.
We’ve told you everything you need to know about the polar fleece and its return to the urban fashion scene of our time. The fleece jacket is one of the trends that came back from the 1990s, typical in trail style, that has reached even more formats and versions, becoming an indispensable part of gorpcore. Its origins are in brands such as Columbia and The North Face, but various luxury streetwear firms have also reinterpreted it, creating exciting premium designs like the Nike x Matthew M Williams NRG SE Men’s Fleece Jacket and the Aimé Leon Dore Polar Fleece.
Something that characterizes all trail clothing is the consistency of its style over time. In its patterns and designs, its roots are evident, adopting as its identity an authentic vintage look that has made nostalgic people fall back in love with the retro look. The colorblock design typical of ’80s and ’90s tracksuits presents us with a perfect throwback in gorpcore pieces such as the Columbia Gizzmo™ IC Men’s Parka or the Wood Wood Hannes Jacket.
For its comfort, ease of use, and functionality, the fanny pack is an extremely popular accessory for outdoor activities. “Ugliness” has found its perfect incarnation in the mix of these two trends, and the gorpcore fanny pack has earned a safe place in the latest collections of many urban and sportswear brands. The Eastpack Doggy Camo Bag XXL Waistbag in collaboration with Woolrich and the Puma x Rhude Waistbag prove it.