High Performance Clothing with a Casual Flair

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There are times when you could use some high performance features in your clothing, but when you also really don’t want to look super nerdy by wearing a techy outfit in a casual or urban setting. Thankfully, for these occasions, we can turn to some of my favorite activewear clothing brands including Patagonia, Prana, Icebreaker, Kuhl, and Marmot. All of these manufacturers have created high performance summer clothing with a casual flair.

Group of people hiking down a trail

High Performance Shorts with a Casual Flair

Oh Prana, thank you. Your men’s Bronson shorts are not only great looking at the cafe or bar, but also are made of a durable stretch canvas that resists abrasion and moves flexibly so you can climb and hike in comfort. Prana calls them ‘an all-purpose adventurer’s dream come true,’ and wearers rave about the good looks of these men’s shorts and their invincible feel for active pursuits.

“Look good, feel good,
smell good? Yes please.”

For women, the Patagonia Happy Hike Shorts are both completely adorable, and quite comfortable to move in. Made with a stretchy material that is abrasion resistant and dries quickly, these women’s hiking shorts look great around town as well as in the mountains.

The Marmot Lexi Shorts are another great option for women. With a gusseted center seam for unhindered mobility, and a hidden mesh ventilation back panel for natural air conditioning, they are ready to hike, and their khaki style is a summer classic.

Hiker walks away, down a hiking trail in a Utah forest

High Performance Shirts with a Casual Flair

The Icebreaker Harmony Women’s V-neck Short Sleeve Shirt is a great looking basic that can be easily dressed up or dressed down. And beyond that cliché, the material is naturally moisture wicking and odor resistant to keep you from getting sticky and smelly in hot, humid conditions. Perfect for travel or everyday casual wear, the Harmony Women’s V-neck will keep you looking and smelling sweet.

For men looking to comfortably rock a classic short sleeve collared shirt in the heat of the summer, the Marmot Waldron and the Kuhl Spyke shirts both offer moisture wicking, quick drying performance and odor resistance, as well as added sun protection. Depending on your priorities, you may appreciate the wrinkle resistance of the Spyke for travel, or the abrasion resistance of the Waldron for climbing.

Another high performance shirt is the RV Dirtbag technical men’s t-shirt from Outdoor Research. It lets you look like you don’t have a care in the world – while wicking perspiration away from your skin, drying quickly, and preventing smelliness with its FreshGuard odor neutralization technology.

High Performance Dresses with a Casual Flair

I think most women will agree that the ultimate easy summer outfit is a sundress. You only have to put on one piece of clothing, no matching required. Summer gets even better when you have sundresses that offer extra performance for enhanced comfort. The Icebreaker Crush Stripe Dress has a great beachside feel, and its merino wool fabric is soft, naturally moisture wicking, breathable, and odor resistant.

“There are times when you could use some high performance features [and] don’t want to look super nerdy…”

Another option is the Ex-Officio Go-To Dress, which is appropriately named. This little black dress is made with DriRelease fabric, so it wicks perspiration away from your skin and dries quickly, and it has FreshGuard odor protection. Look good, feel good, smell good? Yes please.

With so many great performance clothing options for summer, you no longer have to choose between comfort and style. You can have it all.

Kendall Fischer, Content Writer