Some, but not all, links on Kit & Grit are affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
I've been watching the rise of hiking clubs with interest. There's something very appealing about getting outside with a group of people without having to discuss kilometre splits.
You still get the exercise, fresh air and social side. Just at a pace that allows for a proper conversation. And potentially a pub at the end.
I can see the appeal. If you fancy trying one, Instagram is the place to look. Search "hiking club" and your city and you'll find the newer, more social crowd. Strava and Meetup turn up a few too.
The distinction between what we'd wear for a hike and what we'd wear on an ordinary Saturday is becoming less obvious. Fleeces have found their way into everyday wardrobes, technical trainers are being worn with tailored trousers, and a good padded jacket is as useful on the school run as it is halfway up a hill.
Which brings me to the latest Merrell x Sweaty Betty collaboration.
01
Born for the Storm
Launched in October, the fourth collaboration between Merrell and Sweaty Betty takes a more fashion-conscious approach to hiking. The idea of getting outside, doing something active and making it social feels like a natural extension of how many of us already approach fitness.
The hiking trainers are what caught my attention.
They come in a beige heritage check with pink laces and a mushroom-brown sole. Not what I'd immediately associate with traditional walking boots, which is precisely why I like them.
The shape is sporty rather than heavy, with a substantial sole and enough pattern to make the footwear part of the outfit rather than something you reluctantly change into at the car park.
They're also waterproof, which is rather important if we're imagining a British hiking day.
I wouldn't try to match the pink with anything else. I'd keep the rest of the outfit earthy, with dark leggings, a cosy fleece and a jacket that could cope with the weather changing its mind.
Which, realistically, it will.
02
Starting at the trailhead
My first layer would be a fitted long-sleeved top with black or dark brown leggings. Something comfortable enough for a few hours of walking, but close-fitting so I could pile on layers without feeling like I'd dressed for an expedition to the Arctic.
Over that, I'd wear Berghaus's stone fleece.
This is where the outfit gets interesting. With the check already on my feet, I'd keep the fleece plain. It's a soft, collarless shape in a pale stone that stops everything becoming a sea of practical brown clothing, and it makes the browns around it look richer.
I particularly like the contrast between the slightly retro fleece and the more technical shape of the trainers. The two-way zip helps, too, because you can open it from the bottom once the walking warms you up.
The fleece is smart enough to work as an outer layer on a dry day, and I'd happily wear it with jeans and trainers when hiking wasn't on the agenda.
That's quite an important consideration for me. I like buying clothes that have more than one job.
I'd finish the outfit with FILA's pine green beanie. A relatively small addition, but it's the colour of everything you'd be walking past, so it looks right without looking deliberately coordinated.
Although obviously I've just deliberately coordinated it.
03
Somewhere near the summit
By the time we're heading uphill, the fleece might be coming off.
This is where a gilet earns its place. TALA's reversible fleece version in Americano has caught my eye, partly because I have a longstanding weakness for brown, and partly because I like having warmth around my body without restricting my arms.
The reversible design gives it a little more use, and the colour would work with most of the kit already in my wardrobe.
I'd wear it over the fitted base layer, with the fleece available if things turned colder.
There's something about combining different textures that makes outdoor clothing much more interesting. Smooth leggings, soft fleece, a substantial walking shoe. The shapes are practical, but they don't have to look purely functional.
Of course, for an actual wet hike, I'd want a proper waterproof shell in my bag. A fleece gilet isn't going to do much against horizontal rain, however lovely the colour.
And if the forecast was particularly grim, I'd probably reconsider the whole plan.
04
The weather turns
For the colder parts of the day, I'd bring in the brown padded jacket from The Couture Club.
It's a different proposition from a traditional outdoor coat. The funnel neck gives it a lovely shape around the face, while the cinched waist stops it looking like one enormous padded rectangle.
I like that combination of volume and definition. Particularly over leggings, where a big jacket can look brilliant if the proportions are right.
The brown also ties everything together without matching the rest of the outfit exactly.
I'd wear the jacket open when walking, then zip it up when the temperature dropped. For heavy rain, I'd still choose a technical waterproof instead.
There is a limit to how much I expect a nice jacket to suffer for fashion.
05
Same shoes, different destination
The part I like most about this whole look is that I wouldn't need to change much afterwards.
Imagine finishing the walk and heading into a pub for lunch. The trainers stay on, the jacket goes back over the fleece, and the beanie probably stays too, depending on what the weather has done to my hair.
It's an outfit that makes sense in both places.
And perhaps that's why hiking style is becoming more interesting. People want clothes that work for the activity but also fit into the rest of their lives. Not an entirely separate wardrobe that only comes out when someone suggests climbing a hill.
I suspect hiking clubs will continue to attract people who like the social side of fitness but don't necessarily want every outing to be a workout with kudos. A few hours outside, good company and somewhere nice to eat afterwards sounds like a very decent way to spend a day.
The Merrell x Sweaty Betty collaboration has certainly got me thinking about walking shoes in a different way.
With Black Friday approaching, I'm also starting a wishlist rather than buying everything that catches my eye. Outdoor kit can be an investment, and I'd rather find pieces I'll wear repeatedly than get carried away by a discount.
The trainers are on the list.
Now I just need to find a hiking club with a particularly good pub at the end.
06
