The Best New Camping Clothing For 2020

Specialist outdoor clothing will keep you and your family warm and dry no matter the weather.

Here is our selection of some of the best new outdoor clothing for 2020

Sprayway Torridon jacket
sprayway.com
Expect to pay £300
It says a lot about how old we’re getting that the 1990s is now considered “retro” when for us, it is still the height of modernity! Thirty years ago, Sprayway launched the Torridon and took the waterproof jacket market by storm and by the mid-90s it was one of the UK’s best-selling Gore-Tex jackets. Its popularity was based on its simple, functional design with a bright, distinctively 90s colour scheme that made it stand out from the crowd. It was a jacket that truly defined that era. Now, after two years of development, Sprayway has relaunched the Torridon. The new version takes inspiration from its 90s predecessor, but with a modern twist – improved fit, a redesigned hood and longer length with recycled PFC-free Gore-Tex fabric. And of course that signature three-colour panelling.

Sunday Afternoons Infant Sunsprout hat
sundayafternoons.co.uk
Expect to pay TBC
Modern parenting can be difficult at times, with conflicting expert messages pulling you in seemingly opposite directions. Here’s an example – on the one hand you want to get your kids outside and enjoying the outdoors, on the other there’s the ever-present danger of exposure to the sun’s rays. Obviously you need to find a way to address both issues. The Infant Sunsprout hat is made from 100% recycled materials and is UPF50+, the highest sun protection available. It’s designed with babies in mind, with a neck protector, a quick-release chinstrap and comfortable stretch fit. It is also completely crushable, making it easy to pack.

Royal Robbins Hemp travel socks
royalrobbins.com
Expect to pay TBC
Founded in 1968 by climbers, Royal and Liz Robbins, Royal Robbins is a leading US outdoor and travel clothing manufacturer and retailer renowned for its commitment to sustainability. Its clothing for men and women is now available in the UK, and the 2020 range includes a brand-new collection of hemp travel socks – combining performance with sustainability. With its odour-resistant, temperature regulating and hard-wearing qualities, hemp is an inherently suitable material for travel socks, with the added advantage of being highly sustainable to produce. The new range is 51% hemp, with added spandex and yak wool, and will come in a variety of styles, including the comfy Travel Crew sock.

Kidunk Suit
kidunk.com
Expect to pay £59.98 (top and trousers)
Kidunk is a new children’s outdoor clothing brand inspired by 30 years of childcare and designed by a leading product designer and mother. The Kidunk children’s suit has a patented zip design at the waist that connects the top and trousers, allowing them to be worn separately and interchangeably with other designs. The new ‘All Seasons’ hooded top version of the suit keeps kids warm and dry with excellent all-weather protection. The suits are water and stain resistant but are 100% breathable so can be worn instead of, or over the top of everyday clothes.

Jack Wolfskin Lakeside kids’ shirt
jack-wolfskin.co.uk
Expect to pay £35
Camping in the height of summer is great, but it can have some dangers, especially for young people. Whether you’re at home or abroad, the risk of insect bites and sun damage to the skin is ever-present, so it’s important to keep children protected. The Lakeside shirt for kids, by Jack Wolfskin, is made using chemical-free, anti-mosquito technology. The dense weaving technique used makes it impossible for the bugs to bite through the shirt and get at the skin. In addition, the shirt features UV Shield, which has a UPF of 40+ and is designed to protect sensitive skin from the sun’s harmful rays. The Lakeside shirt is part of a wider range of gear designed to let youngsters get on with enjoying the outdoors without worrying about the risks.

Rab Kaon jacket
rab.equipment/uk
Expect to pay TBC
UK-based outdoor specialist Rab is popular the world over, particularly for its down jackets. The latest addition to the range, the Kaon, is a synthetic/goose down hybrid that mixes the weather resistance of synthetic fill with the insulating properties of goose down. Rab calls it “intelligent zoning” - the natural material is found down the centre of the jacket with synthetic Stratus insulation along the shoulders, cuffs, and hips.

Darn Tough Sobo Micro Crew socks
darntough.com
Expect to pay TBC
Socks aren’t exactly the most glamorous item of clothing you’ll pack for your walking trips, but they could turn out to be the most important. A good pair can make the difference between a great experience on the hills and a miserable day, ruined by cold and blistered feet. Darn Tough’s new jazzily-designed Sobo hiking socks feature targeted cushioning for comfort and durability and use a special knitting technique to ensure a smooth fit under your boot. The use of merino wool is designed to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter, wicking moisture away from the skin. It’s also naturally antimicrobial so no nasty niffs after one day.

Tilley T1 hat
tilley.com
Expect to pay £70
Tilley’s reassuringly expensive hats have a loyal band of enthusiasts around the world. And for good reason. They’re comfortable, functional and made with high-quality materials. So high, in fact, that they come with a lifetime guarantee. This is the hat that started it all. Now made with durable cotton duck fabric, the classic bucket-style T1 has been given a 2020 reboot for improved performance. Features include UPF 50+ sun repellency, a water-repellent finish, a sweatband to wick sweat away and of course the secret pocket  for stashing valuables.

Keela Shetland jacket
keela.co.uk
Expect to pay TBC
Keela makes clothing that is used by the military and emergency services so you know it’s going to be reliable. With its traditional look, the new Shetland jacket is a smart winter coat but it also uses Keela’s award-winning System Dual Protection technology, designed to protect you from the elements in wet and cold conditions as well as reducing inner condensation by wicking sweat away from the body. The idea is that you’ll be able to wear the jacket and stay comfortable for longer, regardless of the conditions. Alongside the technical stuff, this is a really good jacket, with a soft finish inside, eight pockets, a hood and a ‘heritage’ caper green colour scheme.  

Fjällräven Vidda Pro jacket
fjallraven.co.uk
Expect to pay £260
The Vidda Pro is a versatile, all-year-round trekking jacket from Scandinavian outdoor expert Fjällräven. With its robust features and hard-wearing G-1000 Eco material, it is perfect for the likes of trekking through the woods, bushcraft, and other demanding outdoor activities. It has an adjustable hood and no fewer than eight pockets. Smart gear loops in the front pockets let you attach a bushcraft knife, gloves or other equipment and it’s smart enough to wear to the pub.