Nice hiking wear

[CallMeMousie]

After years of small kids and only getting out for quick runs I'm keen to get back into walking/hiking more in 2024. I've plenty of SB leggings and sports bras but was hoping to pick up more hiking type stuff in the sales. Any recommendations for useful layers/shorts/anything that I should consider.

Also while I don't want to try and look like a 20-something tiktoker I'd still like ideally to have clothes that make me feel good as well as functional - what do edgy 40 somethings wear on hikes now?? Any advice (and sale bargains) gratefully received.

The one thing to note with the Revolution Race trousers is that they can be quite long - and the bigger the waist size, the longer the leg! However, they now do a shorter length, but in a more limited range of colours at the moment.

@CallMeMousie this is a dangerous thread you've started....I've just been browsing the Fjallraven Abisko tights recommended by @Vetoncall and I see they do some in 7/8 length. I'm now wondering if I can justify the expense and whether they'll be ok for my short legs 😁 - it's really not a cool look having lots of extra fabric wrinkling around the ankle.

Thank you OP for starting this thread. I’m looking for the same - hiking gear I can wear to go for lunch after. Now I’m about to spend a fortune!! I hope there are some sales.

I personally think Acai is a mixed bag. Their max stretch trousers bobble badly and look dreadful after a few months. However I've had better luck with their thermal lined trousers and I love the jacket and fleece I have from there.

I have hiking leggings from My Urban Trail which I love, and I also have some bits from Finisterre which has had light use for about three months but I'm so far impressed with.

Alpkit stuff is brilliant and well-priced for the quality. Also like RAB for waterproof jackets and Decathlon for hiking trousers

I have a pair of Acai leggings in black and they are very nice, I wanted something similar in navy but less spenny so got these from M&S. I've had them on all day today and they are just as good as the Acai ones.
They have a handy leg zip pocket and are fairly snug so give a nice shape. I'd size down though, the 10 fits a 12.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/go-discover-stormwear-walking-leggings/p/clp60604174?intid=mobileappppdpshare

If you have narrow feet, it’s definitely worth looking into La Sportiva boots as a pp said. They’re cut quite narrow - my feet are a pretty normal width (I think!) but I have to buy their wide size. Their ultra raptors are extremely lightweight and comfortable, or the nucleo is a good leather option

The Abiskos are fab @Neversaygoodbye . I'm 5'7 with relatively long legs and the regular length sit at my ankles. I agree with the pp about the Revolution Race trousers being on the long side though, and I've found that their stuff fits quite small in general.

Sorry for being so vain and wanting clothes which look good.

No need to apologise for wanting clothes that are functional and also look good! As I said, I live in this kind of stuff and I'll happily spend more to get good quality gear that looks nice and lasts. My issue is I buy far too much of it, I could kit out an expedition 😄

Italian (La Sportiva/Zamberlan) and French (Salomon) shoes definitely suit narrow feet. I'm a big fan of the Salomon quicklace system, I have this exact pair and this is a great price: X Ultra but these La Sportiva Ultra Raptor are probably my favourite hiking trainers.

These are my Zamberlans, pricy but worth it for me, they're so well made: Zamberlan Vioz

Thanks @Vetoncall I am potentially putting the Abiskos on next years Xmas list - will try & find some in store to try, couldn't justify the price after Xmas. However, after disappearing down a rabbit hole of online searching this morning I've ordered some Arc'teryx leggings which are 26" (I have such little legs) and a good discounted price.

I'm also on my 2nd pair of Salomon trail shoes, love them. I would say my feet are a standard width & they fit great.

Another vote for M&S walking trousers. It was a toss up between those and Açai for a trip to Iceland and got the M&S ones. Survived the wind & rain and was able to wear them out at night

I'm just going to add a conflicting view here, because I sometimes get dismayed at the assumption that you have to spend hundreds of pounds to be able to go walking, which should be a cheap activity open to all.

I walk regularly (12- 14 mile hikes on Dartmoor and the SWCP), and the only "technical gear" I have is boots (Vivobarefoot - amazing! I have wide feet). I usually wear jeans and T shirt, with a normal everyday jumper or cardigan to keep me warm and that was absolutely fine. I've even been caught in the rain with my jeans on and they dry absolutely fine within a couple of hours.

I do try not to go walking in the rain though, and that's down a lot to my glasses. So, one thing I AM hankering after is a Tilley- style hat, which works better than a hood. Not particularly stylish though.

I had a walking first date recently, and wore black shorts over black cotton leggings, a black vest and a leopard print cardigan. And my Vivos.

Why is it anymore effort to try and find flattering but practical clothes for hiking? I don't want to look like a frumpy, dowdy lump when I'm out anywhere even the hills thanks v much

Fjallraven and On is you’re willing to spend £££

I also like to look decent, a bit trendy even, and I do a LOT of mountaineering and long-distance hiking. Though young people go about my city in fleeces and walking shoes now…

Alpkit (everything) and Acai (trouser/legging hybrids) mentioned by others. Findra is another great independent British brand, they do really nice merino layers.

I tend to wear leggings for all but full winter conditions. Have some quite cool lightweight Karpos trousers though, and Norrona soft shell winter trousers that are a really flattering cut.

Waterproofs I generally go function over style, though I’m in love with my Paramo smock and think it’s more stylish than a hard shell jacket!

None of this is cheap (alpkit best value) but I’ve had so much wear out of it all over many years that I’ve never regretted invested in quality stuff.

Random bump of an old thread.
Wonder if the OP is still looking
Or maybe they're lost in the hills of Derbyshire..

Oh yes so it is! For once it's actually useful though!

Hello! Still here and still hiking! Still mainly in Sweaty Betty though - and probably still too obsessed with my own appearance for some of the posters on this thread 😅.

I did get a nice fjern quitled jacket from Sports Pursuit. But now you've reminded me of this thread I'm tempted to browse again!

Yay, you're not lost..

Or maybe it's a shame you're not. Ime, getting lost leads to new places you've never seen..
Just... Remember the way back. 🤣

https://arcteryx.com/gb/en/c/womens

This is a very useful thread. I really suffer with my feet and am pretty happy with my Hoka waterproof walking boots, although possibly not edgy!!

I was going to post something similar. I do a lot of hiking in leggings and a skirt. And wool tights under shorts.

Also a big fan of wool jumpers to walk in.

I’ve been trying to find hard wearing wool trousers to walk in for years (if they were good enough for Wainwright…) but failing. I do have a pair of men’s poly-wool blend trousers that I picked up in a charity shop for £2 that work well though. Light, tough, comfy.

A technical windproof, waterproof coat is a must though. Mine is Paramo.