Gorpcore is a style of dress that takes clothing made for hiking and camping, such as shell jackets, fleece, puffers and cargo or hiking pants, and wears it as everyday clothing, mostly in cities. Writer Jason Chen coined the term in The Cut in May 2017. It grew into a mainstream trend during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This guide covers where the word came from, the pieces and fabrics that define the look, and how it has changed by 2026.
Where the term came from
On May 25, 2017, The Cut published Jason Chen's article "First Came Normcore. Now Get Ready for Gorpcore." Chen had noticed New Yorkers in Patagonia fleece vests, Columbia windbreakers, North Face puffers and Arc'teryx parkas. He also pointed to A$AP Rocky wearing a full-zip fleece at Fashion Week that January and Drake performing in a Stone Island windbreaker. He described much of the look as "rather defiantly ugly". He saw it as the successor to normcore: where normcore "idealized the Mall", the new style "worships the Woods". In the same piece, Lawrence Schlossman of the resale site Grailed linked it to Japanese labels such as Needles, Engineered Garments and Snow Peak.
The name joins "normcore" with gorp, the hiker's word for trail mix. Dictionary.com says gorp is said to stand for "good old raisins and peanuts". Wikipedia adds "granola, oatmeal, raisins and peanuts" as another version, and says both are likely backronyms. Dictionary.com also notes that Chen first used the word to poke fun at the trend. The word stuck long after the joke wore off.
How the trend spread
| Date | Source | What it reported |
|---|---|---|
| May 2017 | The Cut | Coined the term and tied it to city dwellers wearing Patagonia, The North Face, Teva and Columbia. |
| May 2021 | British Vogue | Said the trend's influence had been "catalysed by the pandemic". It reported that Lyst named a jacket from the Gucci x The North Face collaboration its "hottest product". |
| November 2021 | The Guardian | Called Arc'teryx "central to this extreme moment". It reported Salomon and Snow Peak among a retailer's bestsellers and noted an Arc'teryx collaboration with Jil Sander. |
| April 2023 | Teen Vogue | A stylist told the magazine gorpcore "became popular in 2020, when outdoors was the only way you could get close to friends and family". |
| 2025 | HIGHXTAR | Described outdoor style taking over city streets and named collaborations such as Salomon x MM6 Maison Margiela and On x Loewe. |
| April 2026 | Istituto Marangoni | Asked why gorpcore has "not only survived but kept growing", and argued that a shell jacket now does the job of an umbrella. |
| October 2026 | KrASIA | Quoted Salomon's chief executive saying "Gorpcore is over". It also reported that Salomon's 2025 revenue rose 29% to more than USD 2 billion. |
The key pieces
Gorpcore is a wardrobe of outdoor categories, not one garment. These pieces come up again and again in the coverage above:
- Shell jacket or windbreaker. This is the centerpiece: a hooded nylon or polyester layer that blocks wind and rain. See gorpcore jackets and shells.
- Fleece. Full-zip or half-zip fleece, often worn as an outer layer in the city. Chen's 2017 article opens with Patagonia fleece vests.
- Puffer or down jacket. Quilted insulation, often in a bold color. British Vogue counted puffers among the pieces whose sales rose during the pandemic.
- Cargo and hiking pants. Loose, with many pockets and adjustable hems. See gorpcore pants.
- Quick-dry shorts. The summer version of the hiking pant. See shorts.
- Sun-protection layers. Light hooded jackets made from UV-blocking fabric. See sun-protection jackets.
- Accessories. Teen Vogue lists fanny packs, Nalgene bottles and sporty sunglasses. Bucket hats, backpacks and trail shoes complete the look.
Altitude Sports sums up the fit as "loose but adjustable": volume to layer over, with drawcords at the hood, hem and ankle.
Fabrics and what they do
Fabric is what separates outdoor clothing from clothing that only looks outdoorsy:
- Nylon and polyester shells. Light, quick to dry and wind-resistant. Ripstop versions weave in a grid of stronger threads so that a small tear does not spread.
- Waterproof versus water-resistant. According to Switchback Travel, a waterproof jacket has a laminate or coating that blocks water plus taped seams. A water-resistant jacket sheds light to moderate rain but will soak through in a long downpour.
- Layers (2L, 2.5L, 3L). Waterproof shells are built in two, two-and-a-half or three layers. Switchback describes 2-layer jackets as best for casual use. It calls 3-layer jackets the most durable, and usually the most expensive.
- Fleece. Brushed polyester that traps warm air, stays light and dries fast.
- Down and synthetic insulation. Down is warmest for its weight. Synthetic fill keeps more warmth when it gets wet.
- Softshell. Stretch woven fabric that resists wind and light rain and breathes better than a waterproof shell.
How gorpcore has changed by 2026
Gorpcore began as an ironic observation. Within four years it had reached luxury runways and collaborations, from Gucci x The North Face to Arc'teryx x Jil Sander. Since then it has moved in two directions.
First, it has become ordinary city dress. HIGHXTAR wrote in 2025 that full Arc'teryx, Gramicci or Patagonia outfits are no surprise in Madrid, Paris, Tokyo or New York. Istituto Marangoni describes trail shoes, waterproof shells and backpacks as standard urban kit, worn because daily life has become "structurally unpredictable".
Second, the label itself is being questioned. Salomon, one of the brands most tied to the trend, now says the trend has passed. Its chief executive argues that people still buy the gear because they "began searching for brands that could offer genuine outdoor technology" (KrASIA). In practice, the clothes are staying while the trend label fades. Shoppers now ask what a jacket does as well as how it looks.
Shop gorpcore at AFTERSOIL
AFTERSOIL sells unisex outdoor-inspired clothing from independent labels. Start with the gorpcore clothing hub, or go straight to one of these pieces:
- ENSHADOWER Teflon Waterproof Windbreaker ($159). The label describes a Teflon-coated polyester shell with four waterproof zip pockets and a two-way front zip.
- ENSHADOWER Spliced High-Collar Fleece Jacket ($179). A high-collar fleece in two textures with double-stitched seams.
- ENSHADOWER Wave Line Texture Light Down Jacket ($139). It holds 110 g of white duck down, with fabric the label describes as wind-resistant and water-repellent.
- SILENSTORM Waterproof Hiking Shell Pants ($95). Made from three-layer bonded fabric with a Teflon coating, with YKK zip pockets and a webbing belt.
- CATSSTAC Utility Dual-Zip Stand Collar UV Protection Jacket ($99). The label rates its fabric UPF50+ and adds laser-cut mesh vents on the back.
- OVERCLOCK ROAM Rolltop Ripstop Foldable Backpack ($65). A 20-liter rolltop in 210D nylon ripstop that folds flat.
Thinking about a bigger outdoor brand instead? Our guide to Arc'teryx alternatives compares prices and fabrics across brands.
FAQ
Who coined the term gorpcore?
Writer Jason Chen, in an article for The Cut, the fashion site of New York magazine, published on May 25, 2017 under the headline "First Came Normcore. Now Get Ready for Gorpcore." Dictionary.com and Wikipedia both credit him.
What does GORP stand for?
Gorp is a hiker's name for trail mix. It is often said to stand for "good ol' raisins and peanuts", as Teen Vogue puts it, or "good old raisins and peanuts" in Dictionary.com's version. Wikipedia notes that this is likely a backronym, a phrase fitted to the word after the fact.
Is gorpcore still in style in 2026?
The look is still everywhere, but the word is contested. In April 2026 Istituto Marangoni asked why gorpcore has "not only survived but kept growing", while in October 2026 Salomon's chief executive told 36Kr, as reported by KrASIA, that "Gorpcore is over" because city shoppers now want real outdoor performance rather than a trend.
What is the difference between gorpcore and techwear?
Gorpcore borrows from hiking and camping gear and is often colorful, loose and logo-friendly. Techwear is usually black, closer-fitting and built around engineered city garments. Our guide Gorpcore vs Techwear vs Outdoor Streetwear compares them side by side.
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