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In recent years, technical outdoor clothing has made an unlikely leap into the mainstream, becoming the style of choice for TikTok teens, high fashion brands and rappers. We shared an article about this strange world of hiking-fashion crossovers on our website, and it sparked some interesting debate. Here’s how readers responded: Alex Slipchuk (Facebook):

“It started eons ago with Glasgow young people sporting Berghaus Gore-Tex jackets as an improvement to shell suits in rainy weather.”

Leigh van der Byl (@go.hike.uk, Instagram): “Ugh. This is just more worshipping at the altar of mindless consumerism and materialism that is making the world a worse place... This stuff is so depressing.”

Kyle Lintern (@impalaontrail, Instagram): “Why shouldn’t it be fashionable to be comfortable outside?”

Katie Featherstone (@ featherytravels, Instagram): “Yeah, this has been the case in Iceland for many years. Mostly 66° North stuff, but other brands too. It does make sense to be honest, as in Iceland or the UK we do actually have to deal with rain and other bad weather in our daily lives.” Adam Raja Campbell (@ itsadamraja, Instagram): “Outdoors clothing, such as Berghaus and North Face, was considered ‘cool’ for a long time in Scotland… Difference now is that these brands are actively marketing to urban markets. Some of which is a little problematic.”