You’re in luck if you feel like you never look better than when you come fresh off the forest trail. Gorpcore is the new hiking fashion trend that is making headlines everywhere, and it’s about time practicality wins out over glitz and sacrificing comfort for appearance. 

What is the gorpcore trend? How can you get in on this new hiking fashion trend? Get ready to experience new freedom in your wardrobe by making the practical stylish. 

What Is Gorpcore? 

It helps to know what gorp is. Many people believe the word came from a mishmash of words for raisin and peanuts — the latter often goes by the nickname “goober peas.” “Gorp” is an all-encompassing term for various types of trail mix usually eaten by hikers in the wild, consisting of nuts, dried fruits and granola. It’s what puts the crunch in “crunchy.” 

The gorpcore trend involves more than wearing your favourite hiking shoes to the office. It’s an attitude, a symbol that there need not be such a stark division between work and play. It’s similar to the difference between a job and a career. You punch into one for eight hours and then forget, while the other is an integral part of your identity and daily life. The gorpcore trend is more than fashion — it’s a lifestyle. 

This New Hiking Fashion Trend Promotes a Healthier Lifestyle in and Out of the Wild

To become the best version of you that you can be, it helps to have a wardrobe that facilitates your various activities. You shouldn’t have to stop backstage for a costume change before going from work to leisure. Rather, your clothes should serve multiple purposes and enhance your lifestyle, not stymie it. This new hiking trend promotes a healthier lifestyle by addressing some of the problems inherent in typical modern wardrobes. 

For example, you wouldn’t dream of hiking in heels and might find so much as a walk around the block painful. That’s because every step you take sends shockwaves through your entire body, and the unnatural foot positioning foisted upon you by such shoes can spur plantar fasciitis, perpetually aching calves and chronic back pain as your body struggles to find alignment. 

Those who embrace the gorpcore trend wouldn’t dream of wearing heels to the office. They select sturdy, comfortable shoes that offer sufficient support to prevent ankle twists and let them go straight from the office to the trail if the spirit moves them. 

As for those oddball articles of clothing that serve no recognizable purpose beyond appearances, like ties and nylons? The new hiking fashion trend demands no such accoutrements. While you can certainly dress up a basic flannel shirt, you might pair it with a convenient bandanna that keeps your hair out of your eyes while you work instead of adding a strand of pearls or belting it to wear as a dress over chunky heels. 

How to Integrate the Gorpcore Trend Into Your Wardrobe

If you prefer clothes that let you move and express your personality, the new hiking fashion trend may be for you. Here’s how you can integrate more of the gorpcore vibe into your wardrobe choices. 

1. Put Function and Comfort First 

Function comes only slightly ahead of comfort in the gorpcore trend, as your clothing choices should provide benefits on the trail. For example, if it’s time to replace a pair of pants, look for a cargo style with plenty of deep pockets instead of your standard khakis with only two or spaces big enough for your wallet, if that. 

Ask yourself questions like the following before adding a new piece to your wardrobe:

• Can I move in this? Can I, for example, leave the office and go for a bike ride without changing clothes, weather permitting? Can I bend over without tugging at my shirt or pants? If I had to break into a run, could I? 

• Is changing my clothes the first thing I want to do when I get home? Gorpcore should be comfortable enough to feel relaxed. 

• How durable is the item? Do I have to take special care to avoid spills, stains and splashes or is it wash-and-wear? Getting in on the new hiking fashion trend means fewer trips to the dry cleaners. 

2. Go for Layers 

Hikers dress in layers because their body temperature naturally shifts as they adjust to exertion and the rising or setting sun. However, doing so in daily life keeps you more comfortable at the office, too. It’s especially helpful if your workplace tends to freeze in the morning but heats up when the afternoon sun hits the window behind your desk. 

Layers typically consist of a sweat-wicking base, an insulating mid layer and an outer layer that protects against the weather. Many find adding a vest that they can put on to keep their vital organs warm but leave their arms free helpful. 

3. Embrace Breathable Fabrics 

Hikers need breathable fabrics to facilitate airflow, wick away sweat and maintain a comfortable temperature. These qualities don’t disappear when they go indoors. Seek the most breathable fabrics you can find, such as: 

• Linen

• Cotton 

• Silk

• Merino wool

• Chambray 

4. Ensure a Comfortable Fit 

You won’t get very far on a hike if you struggle to breathe due to a too-tight belt buckle. Embracing the gorpcore trend means finding a comfortable fit, ignoring the size on the label — they mean little for most women’s clothing anyway. 

Gorpcore: The New Hiking Fashion Trend

Who said fashion had to mean discomfort? The new gorpcore trend is all about choosing clothes that you could wear in the wild, which means plenty of comfort and freedom to move. 

Begin integrating the new hiking fashion trend into your wardrobe. Feel good about how you dress while getting more utility out of your clothes. 

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Beth, the Managing Editor and content manager at Body+Mind, is well-respected in the mental health, nutrition and fitness spaces. In her spare time, Beth enjoys cooking and going for runs with her dog.