In recent years, the sneaker industry has听popularized bringing back old designs people used to love and still want to wear. The majority of听companies听in the outdoor segment have been doing this of late, too, and are now catching up to the trend.听They鈥檝e been combing their archives for the most popular jackets, shoes, fabrics, and colors they made 10, 20, or even 50 years ago and reproducing them for a modern audience. Some companies have truly embraced the retro aesthetic.听Here are six of my favorites.
Originally designed for mountaineers who needed a shorter听down jacket they could wear with a harness, the has long been a throwback favorite. Hip-hop artists made it popular in , and you still find it听everywhere. I use the jacket because it鈥檚 damn warm, thanks to giant baffles filled with 700-fill, responsibly sourced听down. I don鈥檛 take it听skiing鈥攊t鈥檚 too big to pack in a bag鈥攂ut it鈥檚 perfect for bitter days around town or for spring car camping when temperatures听fall at night.
Worn in Hawaii in the 1920s, and first mass-produced in the thirties, floral听shirts really took off after World War II as U.S.听servicemen brought them back to the mainland. Since then听they鈥檝e become a听popular summer fashion statement. For some people, they鈥檝e also become a favorite piece for听climbing, riding, and hiking. I like because it鈥檚 appropriate for work and because the 100 percent cotton build has a great feel on my skin, even when I鈥檓 sweating.
The Chelsea听boot has nearly 200 years of history. First designed by , it听became popular in London and was听famously worn by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. There are lots of different kinds, and 听is a little less dressy than what the rock and rollers liked. It鈥檚 a boot听I鈥檝e worn听with everything from a beat-up pair of jeans to a nice slacks out at dinner. My favorite part: the more it gets used, the better it听looks.
A is one of the most iconic pieces of outdoor gear. All the big听brands, from the North Face to Patagonia, made one and have since brought them back. I鈥檓 a fan of this one from Wellen because of the simple design and muted color. Made from a dead stock fabric, which means听it鈥檚 no longer produced and would otherwise end up in the landfill, this jacket has been warm enough to ski in but is also perfect for spring walks around the neighborhood.
Selvage denim is manufactured on a shuttle loom, making听it denser and higher quality than other jean fabric. The style听was made famous over 100 years ago by the听 company of听North Carolina, and it鈥檚 had a resurgence in recent decades, partly thanks to a Japanese obsession with the material. is not only ultra durable听but also insanely comfy due to its built-in stretch. I鈥檝e biked, hiked, and worked in these pants, and听like the aforementioned Chelsea boot, they look better with wear.
The materials听听are听constructed with are听what makes it a throwback.听Built from 1,000-denier nylon, and hung with a leather handle and leather zipper pulls, the Dryden carries on the ruggedness of classic Filson products, which were headed to the Yukon in the late 1800s. The bombproof design comes at a cost but will last for decades.听I鈥檓 a fan of the old-school green colorway, but I听also like the modern amenities, like a padded pocket for a 15-inch laptop and drop-in sleeves听for my water bottle.