As a casual hiker, I can comfortably say I often feel uncomfortable in the outdoors gear available for women. Too much is cut too tight, or just a scaled down version of a men's piece. Or it comes in colors I would never wear in day-to-day life. I feel like a completely different person in a full exercise outfit from top to bottom, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, it creates an underlying feeling of unease. And isn't among nature where we are supposed to feel most comfortable?
New York-based Hikerkind seeks to relieve this exact feeling for women on the trail. Combining backgrounds in the fashion industry and a shared love of hiking, co-founders Allison Levy and Chelsea Rizzo create consciously-made hiking apparel designed for comfortable, confident self-expression on and off the trail.
The duo launched Hikerkind with a handsome midlayer in June 2021, and followed it up with a matching pant in January 2022, laying the initial framework for a future line of apparel far from the aforementioned "hiker costume.”
With the release of their first full collection of minimalist, performance-driven apparel this month, Hikerkind has established itself as one of the most refreshing and relevant brands to emerge within the outdoors industry in recent years.