Outdoor clothing should be stylish yet practical; yet often tailored to men. Women require gear tailored specifically to meet their unique needs and styles.
Gen Z has transformed outdoor recreation into both an aesthetic and lifestyle statement, as seen through the rise of gorpcore trend.
TomboyX
Women-led brands produce technical outdoor clothing tailored specifically for female bodies. Furthermore, they prioritize supporting local suppliers while using sustainable fabrics in production processes.
TomboyX offers gender-inclusive undergarment in sizes up to 3X for men and women, including leakproof bras for periods and incontinence, made with sustainably produced fabric designed for an array of customers. As one of Forbes Expert Collections, you can shop its products here.
32 Degrees
32 Degrees Clothing Line offers fall/winter and spring/summer outdoor apparel. Their products include base layers, outerwear, accessories and casual t-shirt/hoodie/legging sets at competitive pricing with other brands like Uniqlo. Based in New York and selling its goods online only, 32 Degrees has not raised funds and its competitors include Everlane and True Religion Apparel.
LL Bean
Though LL Bean catalogs have traditionally depicted white people enjoying outdoor recreation, the retailer has striven to foster inclusivity by supporting various organizations that work on diversity, equality and accessibility issues.
LL Bean believes nature should be accessible and encourages more people to appreciate nature. They promote its benefits for mental health by encouraging more people to spend time outside.
REI
REI is a retail co-op that sells outdoor gear. Owned by its members who pay a lifetime membership fee, the store guarantees 100% customer satisfaction on every product purchased and offers an enviable returns policy; nonmembers may return items within one year from purchase date.
Over the past two years, employees at REI have expressed displeasure with low wages, inconsistent scheduling and safety protocols as well as requests to form a union.
Frogg Toggs
Frogg Toggs are lightweight and cost-effective rain gear that provide both protection from outside rainfall as well as keeping sweat away from you if managed well enough. Unfortunately, they don’t breathe as well or hold up well against abuse, making them best suited as budget options for thru-hikers – with many having to replace theirs after an entire PCT trek.
Target
Target Clothing Line, All in Motion is specifically tailored for workouts and outdoor activity, including leggings, pants, tops and shoes for women of all ages to wear during workouts or outdoor activity. It provides leggings, pants, tops and shoes in various styles from leggings and tights to faux fur and puffer coats as well as parka jackets in colder climates. Meanwhile Universal Thread features sustainable fabrics in dresses, jumpsuits, tops/bottoms/shoes as well as jewelry/accessories including adaptive clothing pieces made with sustainably sourced fabrics – providing dresses jumpsuits top/bottoms/shoes/jewelry accessories as well as adaptive clothing pieces designed specifically to assist physically disabled users during activity.
Columbia
Columbia is an Ivy League school known for attracting academically inclined students, yet the campus still provides ample opportunity for fun – like late night runs to Tom’s diner for Koronet’s pizza slices at Tom’s diner!
Columbia stands out for more than just academics; its prime New York City location allows its students to experience all that this vibrant city has to offer. They come from diverse backgrounds with diverse interests who are independent enough to enjoy all its wonders.
Eddie Bauer
Bauer Company boasts an illustrious legacy. Established in 1919, it eventually evolved into an outdoor enthusiast-focused catalog and retail company.
During World War II, the company was contracted to manufacture B-9 flight parkas for the military – this mark marked their beginning as a mail order business.
In 2000, due to a misstep in merchandise merchandising, sales at this company experienced a dramatic drop. Since then, it has rebounded and now operates over 280 stores and outlet stores.
Alpine Parrot
Ponderosa pants are constructed of easy-care fabric designed to withstand wear and tear and produced in a WRAP-certified factory. With five pockets and an adjustable-capri cuff that converts easily for hiking or strolling around town, these versatile pants make an ideal companion.
Raquel Velez knows first-hand the frustration of walking out of an outdoor store without buying anything because nothing fits, which is why she founded Alpine Parrot: an apparel company offering plus-size clothing specifically targeted to female hikers.