With the exception of Scotsmen in kilts, skirts tend to stoke controversy in the outdoors. The first women mountaineers—like Henriette d’Angeville, who, in 1838, became the second woman to ever successfully climb Mount Blanc—didn’t have much of a choice but to hike in a skirt or dress, given the gendered fashion norms of the nineteenth century. But in the 1900s, as women became more free to wear trousers, skirts quickly fell out of fashion in mountain terrain—and it’s easy to see why. One rain shower and the soaked, thick wool could weigh up to the equivalent of a small child.
Over the next century, technology advanced exponentially, and hems shortened by a good few feet. These days, skirts do still appear in some active contexts—almost every major outdoor retailer sells some version of the garment, whether it’s a stretchy skort made for summer hiking or an insulated piece for layering over leggings in the cold. And some folks still go long: famously, Bolivia’s Cholita Escaladora mountaineers continue to hike the high peaks of the Andes in their traditional apparel—characterized by long, colorful skirts—even amid sheer cliffs and glacial ice.
But recently a new type of skirt has gained traction in the outdoor fashion world, and this time, it’s marketed toward everyone. Enter: the rain skirt.
This gender-fluid rain layer has captured the attention of both core outdoor enthusiasts and high-fashion designers, as so many gorpcore pieces do. While niche ultralight backpacking blogs rave about how easy it is to slip into or out of a lightweight Gore-Tex rain skirt instead of cumbersome rain pants, nearly identical garments have appeared on the runway at Fashion Week.
In 2020, men’s-specific skirts exploded on the scene, appearing on runways from designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Malcolm McLaren. In the spring of 2024, the number of skirts almost tripled on menswear runways compared to the previous fall, and many of them have the same features and fabric that you might find on a Patagonia shell.
Take the Snoskirt, from London-based trail-meets-runway brand Maharishi. The minimalist skirt is made from quick-dry, water-repellent fabric and comes equipped with stash pockets and drawstings at the waist and side seams.
While many technical outdoor companies, like Zpacks or Arc’Teryx, carry unisex rain skirts made specifically for hiking and backpacking, more mainstream brands are picking up on the trend. Houdini recently released The Square, a unisex wraparound style made with 70 percent recycled polyester and 30 percent polyester face fabric and treated with a DWR finish.
There’s a definite appeal in hiking in a mid-length, lightweight, waterproof skirt: It’s more breathable between the legs than rain pants, and it’s easy to slip on and off in variable conditions. While some argue that gorpcore is over, the rain skirt might just prove that it’s here to stay. So, don’t be surprised if you see fashionistas wearing metallic, waterproof midi skirts on the streets of Brooklyn this summer—or if you feel compelled to join them.
This piece first appeared in the summer 2025 print issue of Outside Magazine. Subscribe now for early access to our most captivating storytelling, stunning photography, and deeply reported features on the biggest issues facing the outdoor world.
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