Are these some of the coolest outdoor clothing brands you’ve never heard of? And is that woman wearing a fruit-bowl on her head?
We’ve been testing everything from walking trousers to cycle helmets and from backpacks to everlasting socks.
Latest update: May 2021
All our reviews at Campfire Magazine are independent and honest.
Two perfect ponchos for hiking, biking and camping
The People’s Poncho
Brilliantly designed ponchos for cycling and walking .
Clever fastening straps and total waterproofness. They fold up into the front zip pocket for portability, have a peaked hood and weigh less than 500g.
Four colours and at Wildbounds
Rubbastuff
I tested the Rubbastuff Pacmat poncho on a wild walk with my step-mum.
This poncho is pretty perfect. Waterproof, soft inside, straps to keep it attached to bike handlebars or a pram handle, rolls up small, nice colours and you can spread it out for a picnic mat. Great.
You can stash your rucksack underneath, there are reflective bits for night-time…oh, and the hood works. It’s very adjustable and has a peak.
Baselayers worth showing off
Ziplongs from Northern Playground
A base or mid layer you can take off without removing your boots or outer trousers. Ingenious!
So, dress up warm in the morning and then zip ’em off as the hike, ski or cycle heats you up. Ziplongs come in full and 3/4 length, in wool and microfleece and for men and women.
Bamboo Clothing
Soft, breathable, environmentally friendly…and lots of great lyering tops, hoodies, running clothes and more.
Clothes from Bamboo Clothing are, as the name suggests, usually made from natural bamboo, but there are also linen and ethical merino mixes too.
We love their cushioned sports socks and their long-sleeved tops. Nice underwear as well, plastic-free packaging and a good clearance section on their website.
For the cyclists
Unlike any other bike helmet, the Closca folds down and opens up to something akin to a horse-riding helmet or even a beautiful Swedish fruit bowl…almost. Not cheap, but lovely, fits in a bag and very protective.
Ventilated, adjustable, CPSC & EN1078 international safety certifications and a two-year warranty. Available in black, grey or white with contrast accents. Sizes M and L.
Stretchy, beautiful and fits all bikes, these ‘sock’ bike covers are designed to keep your bike’s muck out of the car, the campervan or the house.
If you don’t like peacock feathers, there are plenty of patterns and plain colours, plus full covers as well as bottom-half ones.
Velosock are the best, but around £65. Go for plainer BEEWAY Bike Cover as a less than £20 alternative.
All the socks you’ll ever need
Horizon Socks
We love Horizon Socks’ bamboo, merino and cotton socks. Have a look at their range at WildBounds.
Darn Tough
The only socks you’ll ever need. I have to admit I’d stayed clear of trying these made-in Vermont socks because of the price. Then I found out that they’re guaranteed for LIFE!
And that makes them the cheapest socks you’ll ever buy. With that hurdle passed, you can indulge yourself in their softness, their cushiony comfort and their fabulous range of patterns and colours.
We love the company’s phrase: “Nobody ever outsourced for quality” – says so much about all that cheap and nasty camping gear we come across. Their merino wool is ethically sourced from known suppliers too.
There are ranges for men, women and children, for hiking, skiing, sports and everyday. The “unconditional guarantee” states: “unconditional lifetime guarantee is simple and without strings or conditions. If our socks are not the most comfortable, durable and best fitting socks you have ever owned, return them for another pair.”
Cool shoes and practical shoes
The most minimal, lightweight, comfortable and cool-looking shoes just happen to be pretty good for your feet too.
Vivo make shoes that allow your feet to move and breathe as if you were barefoot. There are running shoes, hiking boots, streetwear and all-round trainer types – for men and women.
They won’t suit everyone’s feet. If you have no arches or a serious foot problem that requires a lot of support, you might not find these help. For most of us, though, they give a fantastic sense of freedom that makes you want to hop, skip and jump.
There are some non-leather options for vegans, some that come with a training insole to get you used to the feel and some with a choice of sole for firm or soft ground. Plus amphibious running shoes (for walking on water?!)
We’ve been recommending the Dirt Boot shoes for all that in-and-out of tents and vans, but we’ve just discovered the Toffeln range of professional quality clogs and shoes. Brilliant!
Lightweight, waterproof, proper insoles and non-slip grips. Go for the higher-back clogs with back strap or the closed shoe. Both easy to get on, but won’t leave your feet half way to the toilet block. Around £40 and way better than Crocs. Oh, and men’s and women’s sizes plus lots of colours.
Check out our lightweight walking boots article for more footwear ideas
Locally made bags and packs with real class
Restrap
Made by real people in real Leeds, Restrap makes beautifully finished backpacks, bags, cycle straps and more with a thought for sustainable materials.
Millican
Based in Keswick in the Lake District, Millican make backpacks and accessories out of natural and recycled materials.
The range is very minimal in style and beautifully made. All hardware is lightweight aluminium – no plastic.
Buy direct from them and support a small business. Prices aren’t cheap but you’re buying long-lasting packs from an ethical business.
Blankets and more
Voited…environmentally friendly and VERY cool
We came across Voited when looking for a lightweight insulated blanket for camping trips.
We were after something that packed reasonably small, had good insulation and withstood damp and drizzle.
Voited’s blankets have it all and more. Use them as a blanket, a wraparound, a sleeping bag and a pillow. Plus they’re made of recycled fabric.
There’s a choice of gorgeous designs and colours (I have the Bahia), as well as models with a fleecy lining. From around £90.
Voited also do camping in-out insulated slippers, coats and caps. Keep an eye on them as they add even more to the range.
A Voited blanket transforms from this…to this…
Lightweight Jackets & Walking Gear
TOG24
We love these jackets so much we got one for each of the family! This Yorkshire based company really know there stuff when it comes to walking gear, this jacket is super lightweight and when they say windproof they mean it, worth going a size up if you like to fit a thick jumper under and has a cosy soft inner which feels great against the skin for them hot but wet days. Below is the mens version. You can see from this photo how the rain just slides off the jacket. Lot's of colours to choose from too.
Got any favourites? Let us know below. And we’ll keep adding as we discover more brands that know how to style as well as keep us warm, cool and active.
We care about making our camping less enviromentally impactful, have a look at our 20 ways to make camping greener.