Consumer Trends in Outdoor Apparel

The great outdoors offers so much to so many people. When you’re planning a day hiking or relaxing along a lake, you want the right thing to wear. Outdoor apparel companies understand this. This is why they’re creating clothing that people want to wear. They want to make it even easier to enjoy time in the sun.

If you’re looking to see what’s on trend for clothing designed for the outdoors, there are a few things to keep on your radar. Flexible items that bring in the high tech are deeply popular. Consumers are also looking to natural fabrics that fit in well with the environment. They want items that aren’t too heavy and still get the job done. That makes it easy to find what you want to wear right now.

Built-ins

Items that have build-ins are increasingly being shown to the public. They’re showing off jackets that have lots of pockets. That makes it easy for people to stay organized when they’re on the trail. People can have a jacket that lets them store homemade granola bars in a convenient place they can reach when they’re off hiking. That’s a good way to have an extra burst of energy when it’s most needed. It’s also ideal for parents teaching their kids to spend time getting exercise. Storing items they need makes it easy for kids to stay alert on the trail.

Lighter Weight Items

Weight can be a huge issue when people are at the shore or other places outdoors. The last thing people need when they’re having fun are clothes that weight them down. Carrying a wrap can be hard to store when temperatures start to drop at night. Newer clothing has been designed to keep the weight to a minimum. Even just a few ounces can make a difference. A lightweight jacket can be placed in a backpack, allowing people to adjust to changing outdoor weather conditions. Other items like hats are equally useful when made in a lighter weight fabric.

Natural Fabrics

Another type of fabrics that are much on point right now are all kinds of natural fabrics. Natural fabrics are much prized for many reasons. Cotton, for example, is incredibly soft, easy to clean and can be used to layer on varied items such as sweaters that can help people maintain a constant temperature. Other fabrics are equally prized by outdoor enthusiasts and companies alike. Wool is durable, keeps water away and is made from all natural, renewable material. Designers are showing wool items of all kinds such as vests and thick sweaters just right for a cold evening in front of a fire pit.

Specialized Use

Many items being shown today offer specialized use. For example, clothing that can be worn when people are skiing must have certain qualities. It should be easy to pull on and offer padding in case the person falls. Other kinds of outdoor clothing has been designed for activities such as paragliding, sailing and rock climbing. People want items that allow them to get things with ease and are adapted to the kind of outdoor lifestyle they have in mind. This kind of clothing can be found both in specialty stores and the sporting goods section of department stores.

Wearable Tech

Tech has come to the outdoor world in the form of clothing that makes the most of it. Technology that can be worn like bluetooth speakers are being increasingly adapted for hard wearing outdoor use. Clothing that has technology like a GPS lets people figure out where they are even if they get lost. That allows a backup for an item like a cellphone. Items like watches can be placed inside of a jacket and used to do other functions such as recording a person’s exercise heart rate. That lets the user get to their desired target heart rate.