Blacks Has A Brand New Look - Discover 18 Stylish Gorpcore Buys For Taking On Mountains (And Your Morning Commute)
To mark the rebrand, scroll on for our edit of the best outdoor clothing buys from Blacks - ready for the trail, the commute, and everything in between.
There was a time when wearing a technical jacket came with an expectation. If you were wearing it, you’d better have a summit story ready - something with altitude, grit, maybe a near-miss with the elements. These days? The only climb most of us are doing is up the escalator at Bank station - and even then, we’re doing it in Gore-Tex.
Outdoor attire - or Gorpcore if you want the shorthand - was once reserved for campers and climbers. So how did it become the uniform of modern life? Not in a try-hard, head-to-toe way, but in fragments: a Salomon trainer here, a North Face puffer there. Clothes that were designed for the unpredictable have found a natural home in… well, everyday predictability. It’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by British outdoor brand Blacks who, rather than dig their heels into the old ways and gatekeep its wares from us normies, has welcomed us into the fold - making it easier than ever for us to add these brands to our everyday line-up. And, to acknowledge that shift, it’s also given itself a shiny new rebrand.
For most Brits, Blacks has always been there - dependable, somewhere your dad loves, and the place you’d go when you actually needed something functional. Boots before a countryside trip, or a tent for Glasto. Founded in 1861, it’s a brand built on utility, not trends. But our definition of utility has changed. We don’t really divide our lives or our wardrobes into separate, neat categories anymore - work, weekend, outdoors. It all bleeds into one. You might start the day at your desk, end it in a park, and spend the weekend chasing some version of fresh air, however that looks and we need kit that can keep up. Blacks’ new look and feel isn’t a reinvention, exactly - more understanding what its customers need every day, not just on the occasional excursion. Its product line-up is still grounded in performance, centred around the big name brands that know what they’re doing (Rab, Patagonia, The North Face, Fjällräven, Salomon).
Blacks’ change is most obvious across its newly reworked stores - Glasgow, Harrogate, Aintree, Meadowhall and Brighton - where the experience and style has been dialled up without losing the substance. You can still get properly fitted for boots by someone who knows the difference between “water-resistant” and “waterproof”, while those who require proper hiking and climbing gear can shop from the best of the best – just now alongside more of the staples we want everyday.
To mark the rebrand, scroll on for our edit of the best indoor-outdoor clothing from Blacks below – ready for your commute, a weekend camping, and everything in between.
The Best Outdoors Brands For Women, Available at Blacks
Blacks
Columbia Women's Helvetia II Cropped Sherpa Half Snap Printed Fleece
£65.00
Proof that even the humble fleece can have personality - cropped, comfy, cosy, just the right amount of warmth you need on a windy spring day. Great with a cargo trouser and your chunkiest trainers.
Blacks
Cotopaxi Elqui 18L Backpack
£90.00
Ready for big days out, whether they're in the city or the Great British countryside, this Cotopaxi Elqui 18L Backpack packs in everything in and then some. Load in your laptop, a change of clothes, or supplies for a hike depending on your diary.
Blacks
The North Face Women's Mountain Athletics Wind Jacket
£110.00
Providing instant protection from cool winds, this technical jacket is designed for movement, but will prove just as useful when the forecast turns mid-errand.
Blacks
Teva Women's Hurricane XLT3 Sandal
£105.00
Once strictly practical, now firmly in fashion territory, finally there's a pair of summer sandals that won't leave your arches aching. These go perfectly with a mini dress on holiday, or hiking through uneven terrains.
Blacks
Acai Women's Snowdon Graphic Tee
£29.00
You're never going to have enough graphic tees in your wardrobe - this one has a subtle nod to the outdoors, minus the clichés. Just add denim shorts.
Blacks
Sweaty Betty Womens Training Power Pro Skort
£65.00
For days when you’re doing a bit of everything - and need something that can keep up with workouts, brunches, and everything in between. This savvy skort is practical and preppy, great with a vest and oversized shirt or dressed down with a sweatshirt and trainers.
Blacks
New Era Cap 9Forty Duck cap
£23.00
Low effort, high payoff - the quickest way to make an outfit feel considered. The duck feels like a nod to countryside pursuits you can wear all round the city too.
Blacks
Craghoppers Women's Nosi Life Lola Trouser
£65.00
Cut in a way that works far beyond the trail, these easy fit slimline trousers are such a no-brainer. Give your jeans a day off and wear these instead.
Blacks
Merrell Women's Moab 3 Hiking Shoe
£115.00
Moab is Merrell's best-selling hiker prized by adventurers across the world. It also happens to be a pretty sick streetwear shoe too. This third generation style features a super supportive insole, a softer midsole for extra cushioning, plenty of grip to keep you feeling supported whatever you're up to.
The Best Outdoors Brands For Men, Available at Blacks
Blacks
The North Face Men's Ridgelite FUTUREFLEECE Wind Jacket
£180.00
This is one of those pieces that reminds you how far technical gear has come. It’s incredibly lightweight, properly breathable, and designed for movement - but crucially, it doesn’t look overly technical. You could wear it on a hike and forget about it, or throw it on in the city and it just reads as a clean, well-cut outer layer.
Blacks
Berghaus Unisex Logo Recognition Cap
£25.00
Not to be a logo fiend or anything, but you really can't go wrong with a bit of Berghaus. A staple everyday cap that completes any summer look.
Blacks
Columbia Men's Spire Valley Hooded Windbreaker
£65.00
A solid, no-drama layer from Columbia that does exactly what you need it to, whatever the weather. Ideal for that in-between point of the season where you don’t quite need a coat, but definitely need something.
Blacks
Rab Men's Hepton Pullover Hoody
£95.00
Rab has a way of getting the basics right, and this is a good example. The Hepton Pullover Hoody provides easy comfort on all activities from weekend walks to bouldering session.
Blacks
adidas Men's Xploric Cargo Pants
£85.00
Cargo trousers have fully settled back into rotation, but these feel more considered than most. There’s enough technical detail to make them functional, but the fit keeps them firmly in everyday territory - just style the same way you would denim.
Blacks
The North Face Unisex Antora Rain Bucket Hat
£47.00
Is this just a great bucket hat? It is, but it’s also properly weather-resistant, which makes it more than just a styling choice. But also, it's just a great hat.
Blacks
adidas Men's Xperior CLIMAWARM PrimaLoft Hybrid Gilet
£130.00
Ideal when the temperature dips but you don’t want the bulk of a jacket, and works just as well over a hoodie in the city as it does on a colder walk outdoors. Also looks cool, did we skip that part?
Blacks
Crocs Men's Baya Clog
£54.99
At this point, Crocs don’t need defending. They’re comfortable, easy, and unapologetically themselves. Whether you lean into them fully or just keep them as a practical option, this almost camo-effect style is one of the best designs we've seen.
Blacks
adidas Men's Multi Tee
£38.00
A straightforward essential, but a good one thanks to the quality fabric and textured effect finish. Breathable, easy-fitting, and versatile enough to cover everything from workouts to weekends without needing a second thought.
Blacks
Men's Rab Harpur Shorts
£60.00
Shorts for summer? It's a no brainer. But when temperatures hike up and the mountains beckon, these Rab Harpur Shorts the ones you want to be wearing. They're super light, constructed with an exceptionally stretchy fabric and feature a split hem, for movement in every direction.