If wearing Patagonia makes you appear like a Silicon Valley bro, there are other menswear brands which strike a balance between function and fashion. Outdoor-adjacent brands offer gear for hiking, climbing and camping that looks equally great at the crag as in a coffee shop.

Base Layer

A base layer is the cornerstone of any outdoor clothing system. Made of synthetic or natural material, its snug fitting should keep you warm while wicking away sweat quickly.

Our Summit base layer utilizes 37.5 Technology’s Cocona particles to draw sweat away from your body, increasing performance while also maintaining the desired body temperature. Furthermore, this fabric is quick-drying, breathable, and comfortable against your skin.

Men’s base layers come in various fabrics and are commonly known as thermals or compressions. These base layers help retain body heat while wicking away sweat to keep you at an ideal temperature for whatever activity or environment is being undertaken, or acting as insulation when worn under jackets for extra insulation purposes.

Rain Jacket

No matter the conditions, raincoats provide essential moisture protection when hiking or camping in light rain or wet environments. Look for waterproof fabrics designed to withstand atmospheric river storms as well as pit zips for easy venting and comfortable cuff adjustments, plus an adjustable hood that will provide peace of mind during any wet outings.

Shoppers often ask us which rain jackets are the most waterproof and breathable, yet there is no definitive test results to compare against. While most brands test their fabrics extensively for waterproofness, there is no set testing methodology that determines which jackets truly have waterproof qualities.

Our men’s rain jacket testers–including our staff writers, editors and contributors–are experts at donning their rain gear during atmospheric river storms as well as cold and snowy winter hikes. Here are their top recommendations.

Hats & Caps

Hats provide sun protection for the head, ears and face. Broad brimmed hats, such as bucket hats or legionnaire hats provide optimal shade from UV radiation.

Winter hats with ear flaps offer excellent protection from cold conditions when hiking, camping or mountain trekking. Not only do they keep heads warm but the fold-up ear flaps can be folded back up when not needed.

Mesh hats provide ample ventilation to allow the head to breathe while also reducing sweat build-up, helping regulate temperature, and being the ideal solution for high intensity activities with rapid movements.

Loro Piana offers timeless hats crafted from luxurious materials like cashmere, vicuna and extrafine wool that provide maximum comfort during athleisure style. Combine your hat with track jackets, jogger pants or hoodie pullovers for stylish athleisure wear.

Travel Pants

Travel pants for men are an essential outdoor clothing component, combining elements from both casual and performance apparel. Travel trousers must be comfortable yet durable while featuring secure pockets for valuables storage and be breathable and quick-drying for optimal use in outdoor conditions.

KUHL’s travel pants are made of comfortable advanced fabrics designed specifically to support adventurers and wanderers. Not only are they wrinkle-free and spill resistant, but repeated washes won’t ruin them either!

LL Bean has long been recognized in the Northeast for their duck boots, blissful flannel-lined jeans and iconic birdseye wool sweaters – not to mention outdoor clothing for men like these jean pocket travel pants made from recycled materials with an antibacterial inner lining and flexible hems that bend with you along your journey. Now they are making waves in outdoor apparel too – just check out these jean pocket travel pants made of recycled materials with flexible hems so they won’t lose shape on trail adventures!

T-Shirts

Long before fashion co-opted the term, American heritage brand Carhartt created hard-wearing workwear. Now they continue this legacy by producing a heavyweight pocket tee which is soft yet beefy in all the best ways.

Tees that feel great make an ideal addition to any outdoor wardrobe. When selecting cotton tees or 50/50 blends that are durable and easy to care for, consider 100% cotton or 50/50 blend fabrics like polyproylene for best perspiration wicking abilities while synthetic fabrics such as polyester can wick perspiration away more effectively; however they tend to pill easily when working up a sweat, leaving less comfortable pieces behind.

Vancouver-based DUER takes performance apparel to new levels by using eco-friendly fabrics and timeless cuts that never look trendy. Their Pima cotton/Lyocell/nylon long sleeve tee is both comfy and elegant; wear it together with their No Sweat Pant for a versatile cold weather ensemble!