Adventure-ready: summer outdoor clothing we’re loving right now

From breathable graphic tees to packable technical layers, these are the best summer outdoor clothing picks on our radar this season

Summer outdoor clothing has a difficult job. It needs to keep us comfortable when the temperature climbs, pack down easily for travel and, ideally, cope with the inevitable moment when the sunshine disappears behind a bank of grey British cloud.

This season, we’ve been drawn to versatile pieces of gear that work across hiking, travel and everyday life. There are organic cotton tees for slower days, breathable technical layers for hotter trails, shorts designed to move from land to water and, naturally, a couple of penguin-themed additions.

Here are some of our favourite summer outdoor clothing picks right now.

Sherpa Adventure Gear graphic T-shirts

Sherpa Adventure Gear has produced two particularly strong graphic tees this season: the Bali Circle T-Shirt and the Tarcho Mountain T-Shirt.

The Bali Circle T-Shirt combines an understated mountain-and-river graphic with a fabric blend of recycled polyester, Tencel and organic cotton. It is breathable, moisture-wicking and quick-drying, making it more suitable for warm-weather travel and gentle activity than the average cotton tee.

The Tarcho Mountain T-Shirt is the more relaxed option. Designed in Nepal and made from 100% organic cotton, it has an oversized fit, soft jersey construction and a bold mountain graphic. Like all Sherpa products, each purchase helps fund a day of education for a child in Nepal, adding some genuine purpose to an already appealing piece of summer clothing.

ThruDark technical summer kit

For more demanding days outdoors, ThruDark’s Oryon and Force ranges offer the sort of technical performance normally associated with far heavier kit.

The Oryon Windguard Jacket is designed for breezy ridgelines, exposed trails and fast-changing summer weather. Constructed from wind- and water-resistant Pertex Equilibrium fabric, it offers UPF 50 sun protection while weighing just 150g in a medium. There is also an adjustable hood, a dropped hem and a rear vent to help release heat during harder efforts.

This is not a full waterproof shell for prolonged downpours. Instead, it is the sort of lightweight layer you can leave in your daypack and pull on when the wind picks up, the temperature drops or the trail becomes more exposed. The fabric’s water-repellent treatment is also PFC-free.

Underneath, the Oryon Delta T-Shirt is made for activity in intense heat. Its Polartec Delta fabric is engineered to increase airflow, disperse moisture and reduce the unpleasant cling that can develop when a top becomes wet. A half-zip provides extra ventilation, while UPF 15+ protection offers some defence from the sun.

It is far more technical than an ordinary T-shirt, making it particularly well-suited to summer hiking, running and travel in hot or humid destinations.

Completing the outfit, the Force Motion Shorts are lightweight, breathable and cut for unrestricted movement. The moisture-wicking fabric, adjustable waistband and articulated splits at the thighs make them suitable for running, gym sessions and steep hiking trails. A zipped rear pocket also provides somewhere secure for a key or other small essential.

Montane’s everyday mountain tee

The Montane Abstract Mountain T-Shirt is aimed at the quieter days between adventures.

Made from 100% organic cotton, it combines a modern crew neck and semi-tailored fit with a simple abstract mountain graphic. At 155g, it is light enough for summer travel without feeling overly thin, while the understated design means it works just as well in town as it does around a campsite.

Montane states that the cotton is certified under the Organic Content Standard, while the print is free from PVC and phthalates. It is a straightforward, comfortable tee with better material credentials than many high-street alternatives.

Jack Wolfskin keeps it simple

The Jack Wolfskin Paw Time T is another uncomplicated summer staple.

Made from 100% organic cotton single jersey, it has a regular fit, breathable construction and soft feel against the skin. The clean design and subtle Jack Wolfskin detailing make it easy to pair with hiking shorts, travel trousers or jeans.

It is not trying to be a high-performance base layer. Instead, it is a dependable everyday T-shirt for sightseeing, travelling and relaxing after a day on the trail.

Penguin T-shirts from UKAHT

I must admit to being slightly biased when it comes to the next two additions. After spending the austral summer counting gentoo penguins at Port Lockroy, it was probably inevitable that at least some of my summer outdoor clothing would end up featuring penguins.

UKAHT’s Gentoo Pop Art T-Shirt features nine colourful portraits of Port Lockroy’s most charismatic residents. It is bright, playful and considerably cleaner than the real penguins were by the middle of nesting season.

For anyone who struggles to distinguish a gentoo from a chinstrap or an Adélie, the Types of Penguin T-Shirt provides a useful illustrated line-up. Admittedly, wearing one does not qualify you as a wildlife monitor, but it is a decent place to start.

UKAHT’s apparel is produced through Teemill, whose circular manufacturing model uses organic materials, renewable energy and clothing designed to be returned and remade. Purchases from UKAHT also help support the charity’s conservation work, protect historic sites in Antarctica and share the continent’s stories with wider audiences.

Passenger Escapism T-Shirt

The Passenger Escapism T-Shirt is inspired by switching off the background noise and escaping outdoors, which is a message we can get behind.

It is made from a blend of recycled and organic cotton, with water-based graphics on the front and back. Passenger has given it a classic fit that is neither particularly tight nor excessively oversized, making it easy to wear alone or beneath a light overshirt. The company also plants a tree for every order.

Rapanui Mountain Life T-Shirt

The Rapanui Mountain Life T-Shirt features a mountain, forest and rising-sun design on soft organic cotton.

Rapanui’s products are made using renewable energy and designed as part of a circular system. Once an item is worn out, it can be returned to be remade rather than simply discarded. For an everyday graphic tee, that end-of-life thinking helps distinguish it from less responsible alternatives.

Finisterre Searcher Hybrid Shorts

The Finisterre Searcher Hybrid Shorts are perhaps the most versatile additional pick.

Designed to move between hiking trails and the water, they are made using NetPlus recycled nylon sourced from discarded fishing nets. The fabric is lightweight, stretchy and quick-drying, while self-draining pockets prevent you from carrying half the sea around after a swim.

They are ideal for coast paths, paddleboarding, beach days and any summer walk likely to end with an impulsive dip.

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Lead image: Sherpa Adventure