THE JOURNAL

It’s unlikely that your local rambling chapter would be the first place you’d look for some styling tips, but perhaps it should be. We’re living in a time when men’s style has never been so practical. Gore-Tex and ripstop are as ubiquitous as cotton and suddenly everything seems to come with five more pockets than necessary. This is brilliant news if you enjoy spending time outdoors. As it happens, spending time outdoors is the thinking behind MR PORTER’s Go Out capsule collection. A selection of items tailor-made for the great outdoors, it’s a sartorial celebration of the benefits of getting out there. The net profits are being donated to MR PORTER’s Health In Mind Fund. To tempt you outside, then, we’ve compiled a selection of gear from the capsule below. Think of it as a nudge in the right direction.
01.
The camo fleece

A camouflage fleece is something you imagine bushcraftsman Mr Ray Mears might have worn for practical purposes 15 years ago, but it’s now the height of style for us urban-dwelling dog walkers. This one from Patagonia will have you looking the part everywhere from the local park to a trip to the mountains.
02.
The not-so-camo fleece

Alternatively, and if you prefer to stand out from the landscape rather than blend in with it, you’ll find charm in this fantastically loud fleece jacket, made in Tokyo by the pleasingly named brand Manastash.
03.
The investment boots

Some truly great hiking boots, such as these from Diemme (all handmade in the brand’s Italian workshop), are a worthy investment. More than feasible for a serious trek up a mountain, they’re also more than appropriate to wear to your mate’s birthday bash down the pub.
04.
The trusty hiking bag

If all this gear has you inspired to take up some outdoorsy pursuits, you’ll need a reliable bag. Epperson Mountaineering has your back and will keep all your appurtenances safe and dry when you’re out hiking.
05.
The warming gilet

Mr Yukio Yamai, the founder of Snow Peak, is an expert mountaineer, which should be recommendation enough to test drive the brand’s quilted gilet in cold weather. If you need further convincing, allow us to demonstrate its other winning qualities from the recycled ripstop fabric to the insulating down that will keep you toasty however high up the mountain you go.
06.
The lightweight down jacket

A pioneer in Scandinavian mountaineering equipment since the mid 1970s, Klättermusen has Go Out-appropriate gear down to a fine art. Exhibit A is this dashing red Brokk quilted shell down jacket that’s robust enough for changeable weather yet lightweight enough to pop in your rucksack.
07.
The oversized ripstop puffer

The 1990s were a halcyon time for big jackets, which may be why The North Face has dug into the archives for a reprisal of a classic. This 1996 Retro Nuptse quilted jacket has all the oversized fun of the original with added technical details – it’s made from water repellent DWR-coated ripstop – that bring it bang up to date.
08.
The sustainable watch

You may well be going out to escape your routine, but it’s probably best to keep track of time while you’re out there. This Timex Expedition North watch, with its stainless steel case and leather strap made using a zero-water tanning process, is a fine way to do so. Exclusive to MR PORTER, it’s part of the brand’s most sustainable line yet.
09.
The reversible fleece vest

An insulated vest is one of the most versatile items of outdoor clothing that you can own. It can be worn as outerwear on those tricky trans-seasonal days when the weather can’t make up its mind or as a mid-layer when winter really starts to bite. This jolly example by Norbit by Hiroshi Nozawa ups the ante with a reversible design.
10.
The duvet-like down jacket

This quilted jacket puts the fun in functional, which is exactly what you’d expect from a brand that calls itself Comfy Outdoor Garment. It ticks all those boxes and earns bonus points for coming in a colour bright enough to combat seasonal affective disorder.
11.
The culturally significant sweater

Canadian Sweater Company is not messing about when it comes to either its name or heritage. While playful, the pattern on this zip-up intarsia wool sweater has a serious message at heart. Fashioned on Vancouver Island by First Nations craftsmen, it carries the lineage of the original inhabitants of this rugged landscape.
12.
The lightweight, foldaway chair

Are you sitting comfortably? You would be if you thought to bring this aluminium-framed chair by camping expert Helinox along with you. It weighs just 850g and packs up into a tiny bag, but makes for a sturdy throne while tending s’mores and spinning yarns around the campfire.
13.
The new-age field boot

Tent boots might sound like an indulgence that completely negates the lo-fi joy of outdoor living, but once you pull on this pair by Nanga, you’ll wonder how you ever managed an expedition without them. They’re engineered in Japan from highly water-resistant Aurora-Tex fabric and filled with cosy down to keep your toes toasty on evenings when the mercury is southward bound.
14.
The technical tent

Overnighting in a tent might conjure nightmares of Scout expeditions or muddy fields in Skegness, but Heimplanet’s high-tech solution to outdoor sojourns is far removed from the canvas tepees of old. It’s made from a hardy shell and laminated ripstop. Its clever sturdy diamond frame inflates in less than a minute while the multi-point design will have rainwater running off it like a duck’s back.
15.
The smart trail sneakers

16.
The go-anywhere shorts

With a jazzy abstract camo print and a robust, water-repellent fabrication, Nike proves that style and substance can come in one well-designed package. Part of its All Conditions Gear (ACG) range, these shorts have a wide-leg cut for added mobility while an integrated belt will keep them in situ, wherever your sense of adventure takes you.
17.
The rainy day staple

As residents of the perpetually rainy city of Vancouver, the team behind Veilance have as much right to moan about the weather as anyone. They’re a resourceful lot, however, and have engineered a selection of water-resistant pieces – not least this handsome lightweight jacket – from its signature nylon-ripstop.
18.
The upgraded jogging shoe

Whoever said only a bad workman blames his tools had clearly never attempted a Couch to 5K in a pair of knackered old gym shoes. If you’re one of lockdown’s newly appointed athletes who’s in desperate need of an upgrade, we recommend these cloud-like sneakers by Hoka One One, which should bring you a step closer to that elusive runner’s high.
19.
The winter blanket

Portland-based brand Pendleton has been making blankets since before the telephone was invented. Which is to say, they’re pretty good at it. This ultra-cosy patterned piece is spun from a blend of virgin wool and cotton – exactly the sort of fabric cocoon you’ll be delighted to dive into after a day braving the elements.
20.
The superpowered hiking boots

Hiking shoes may not be the sexiest items to shop for, but pick the wrong ones at your peril. Here, adidas Sport has you and your feet sorted by way of a rather clever-sounding Gore-Tex Primeknit membrane that prevents any sign of sogginess and comes with a cushioned lining for added comfort.