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You don’t need to dress in head-to-toe Arc’teryx for your style to be considered “gorpcore.” You don’t even have to actually step foot on a trail at all. Since the term was coined in the 2010s, the trend has evolved. Now, it’s less about rocking this gear for survival in the wilderness and more about how this functional, high-performance gear can fit into your daily life. From raincoats to backpacks and shoes, these are six gorpcore brands on Complex Shop that’ll keep you dry and comfortable.
Discover More: Complex Shop’s streetwear brands, Elevated Minimalism brands, Grunge brands, and our new arrival staff picks here.
A spin-off project between Oakley and Brain Dead, Oakley Factory Team is reviving the brand performance footwear from the aughts with a freaky-futurist twist. You’ll find sneakers, hiking boots, and Mary Jane sandals in the most unexpected color combos, all built with Oakley’s signature sculptural shapes.
Parisian label côte&ciel makes backpacks that won’t make you feel like a dorky college kid. The brand uses folds and drapes to create architecturally interesting bags, while technical materials keep them durable and weather-ready. Whether it’s for your daily commute or a weekend hike, côte&ciel’s got you covered.
As the name suggests, Rains specializes in storm-ready outerwear. The Danish brand gives waterproof essentials a clean, minimalist silhouette.Past collaborators have included Zellerfeld and Palladium. You might even remember Justin Bieber stepping out in a neon Rains jacket a few years back.
London’s Acid Running is flipping the script on traditional run gear. Built with recycled tech fabrics and ethically-sourced cotton, the brand is all about merging high performance with street sensibility. It’s ideal for anyone looking to ditch the big-box sportswear logos and add a bit of style to their stride.
What started as a military supplier in the ’50s is now synonymous with the MA-1 bomber. Though you wouldn’t typically associate military style and gorpcore, there is surprising overlap in materials and the prioritization of function. Alpha Industries has collaborated with everyone from Vetements to Supreme, reinforcing its heritage status without sacrificing the functionality that got it here in the first place.
Founded by industry vet brothers Brandon and Josh Brubaker, Clearweather is a SoCal-based footwear brand blending skate roots with experimental design. Collabs with The Shoe Surgeon and Takahiro Miyashita The Soloist show the brand’s range. Expect everything from work boots and foam clogs to skate shoes that are understated but built to stand out without trying too hard.
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