Vintage Hiking and Camping Clothes – 1920s to1950s

Now that I have a vintage camping trailer, I thought it would be fun to wear some vintage camping clothes. Taking a look back on 1920s to 1950s hiking and camping clothes, I have a choice from long skirts, to knickers, to pants, and even dresses. What decade would you most like to camp in?

Follow the links within for shopping suggestions and more history of each type of clothing.

1920s Hiking, Camping Clothes

By the 1920s, women were free from long skirts. Choices were now knit skirts, tops and cardigans, or knickers. Shoes were either lace up boots or Oxfords with a short walking heel.

The sport togs outfit of the 1900s-1910s continued to be worn in the 1920s. Some ladies wore an everyday skirt and blouse pairing, but most women wore togs. Cross-dressing in menswear or men’s inspired clothing was trendy with teenagers and practical for women who took hiking and camping seriously.

In the 1920s, there was a greater variety of shirts and neckties, jackets, sweaters, and cardigans to choose from.  They paired well with a pair of breeches (aka knicker pants), tall golf socks, and lace up boots or low heel oxford shoes.  1920s outdoor hats could be bucket hats, wide brim western hats, safari hats, soft cloche hats, and flat caps (golf caps).  All inspired by men’s workwear and casual clothing.

These sport outfits were used for all kind of outdoor sports and activities as well as some female occupations such as driver,  filmmaker, and farmer.

Shop women’s breeches/workwear style clothing.

1921 Women hikers in Santa Cruz, Ca (a beach town near mountains of redwood trees.) These gals must be part of a hiking club. My grandma was a hiking member of the Sierra Club.

1924 – More ladies in plaid skirts and sporting togs. Hiking and camping were adventures young women loved to participate in.

Hikers/Explorers Wearing Sport Togs

For men’s clothing  look at Men’s 1920s Camping, Hiking, Hunting Clothes.

1930s Hiking, Camping Clothes

The sport togs hiking outfit was also worn throughout the 1930s. With a little more variety in styles of breeches, knickers, plus fours (men’s golf pants) as well as long riding jodhpurs, women could choose a unique hiking or camping outfit.

Hiking in Riding Jodhpurs. (Duke University. See more hiking photos)

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Knit shirts such as the polo shirt replaced many button down shirts, and casual sport jackets replaced the Norfolk style sport coat.

1933 Hiking in Breeches, a Polo Shirt, and a Light Sport Jacket

I used the above photo to inspired my 1930s hiking outfit: green felt hat (1950s), scarf (vintage), black polo shirt (1970s), belt, corduroy jodhpurs, and lace up boots.

My 1930s hiking outfit

Shorts were the newest contribution to hiking clothes in the 1930s.  Some women simply cut pants and made long walking shorts that looked like knickers/plus fours, pairing them with long socks or boots.  Or in the later 1930s, they took long pants and rolled them up to the knee.

Most women, however, purchased sport shorts (or gym shorts) to wear on casual hikes and camping trips. Girls and teens flocked to summer camps where a pair of shorts or a playsuit (romper) was the required uniform.

A rare view of 1930s hikers in shorts and sandals. They must be girl scouts or similar camp leaders.

Late 1930s New Zeeland Hiking Poster

Long pants and overalls became more common later in the 1930s. These casual outfits turned into appropriate hiking and camping clothes when made of durable denim or heavy cotton twill. Learn more about women’s 1930s pants and overalls styles.

1938 Casual Denim Overalls and Pant Outfits Could be Worn Camping

1940s Hiking, Camping Clothes

The biggest trend in hiking and camping clothes in the 1940s were long pants and denim jeans (also overalls). Women took long pants and rolled them up to calf or knee for a trendy new look inspired by the teenager’s fashion trend for wearing men’s jeans.

Pairing jeans with a men’s style button down shirt created the typical hiking, camping, and workwear look for most of the 1940s (and 1950s).

Westernwear, too, was frequently worn for outdoor activities.

Two Hikers Featuring Rolled Denim Jeans and Long Sleeved Button-Down Shirts – A Signature Look of the 1940s and 1950s

1948- A fashion ad for women who hike. Rolled wool pants and knit top with matching jacket. Classy and functional! About 1940s style women’s pants.

Note the Men and Women’s Outfits are Almost Identical

1950s Hiking and Camping Clothes

The rolled denim pants of the ’40s were still popular, but now the 1950s introduced cropped capri pants and pedal pushers. Denim was best for rugged hiking and camping, but lighter weight cottons were fine for camping.  There was little distinction between “camping clothes” and general casual fashions.

Long sleeve plaid button down shirts, sleeveless cotton shirts, knit T-shirts, and sweaters were all fashionable tops to pair with pants and jeans.

1959 Long Pants and a Chambray Shirt

Denim culottes, skirts, dresses, and shorts were also ideal for the outdoors.

Camping in Shorts

Not all camping had to be rustic. Glamping started in the 1950s, when many women still wore dresses while camping. Modern tents, camp stoves, and trailers made camping cleaner, while an abundance of new, paved, trailer parks and campsites literally paved the way to glamorous camping.

Hiking Boots Through the Decades

The turn of the century saw women taking to the out-of-doors in droves. Their need for sturdy boots was a growing industry. Abercrombie was one such company who is still around today. Their hiking boots were over the calf high with long laces and hooks for maximum flexibility. Paired with tall socks, hiking boots remained unchanged from the 1910s to the 1940s. Shop boots.

1913 Abercrombie Hiking Outfit – Tall Lace-Up Boots

1920s Hikers Wearing Tall Lace-Up Hiking Boots

1930s “For the out-of-doors lover. The Ranch woman or hiker.”

1940s Hiking Boots

Once hiking and camping became less serious and more casual, so did footwear.

• Frye Boots – Tall lace up Veronica boots are $$$ but worth it.
• Royal Vintage also has Bessie boots based on the 1930s pair of hiking boots.
• Redwing Heritage boots are the best quality for short lace up boots.

Loafers and moccasins were casual shoes worn in the 1940s and 1950s. With a flexible sole they made good light walking and hiking shoes.  Shop 1940s shoes and 1950s shoes.

1948, Going on a Picnic Wearing Loafers

1943 Penny Loafers

1940 flexible sole, moccasin vamp lace up shoes

Canvas sport sneakers such as classic Keds “Champion” or Converse style hi- and lo-top shoes were worn from the 1930s onward, but especially in the 1950s and 1960s. They came in a lot of bright fun colors, with thick rubber soles. Shop sneakers.

1955 Canvas Sneakers

Outdoor Hats

Hats were an essential part of hiking outfits in the mid century.  Starting in the late teens and early twenties, sporty hats were soft felt or straw bucket hats with a rolled brim. Hat colors coordinated with outfits: yellow-gold, white, lilac purple, jade green, hunter green, and gas blue.

Zelda Fitzgerald Models Hiking Boots and wide rolled hat, 1922

1924 rolled brim sport hats in felt or straw

The rolled brim bucket hats turned into cloche hats with a narrow brim and tighter fit. Many sport hats had a versatile brim that could be flipped up or down, side to side. Colors were sand, dark brown, rose pink, bright red, black and green.

1929 cloche style sport hat

The cloche hat remained popular in the 1930s, being replaced by small felt hats with a round crown and flip-able roll brim. Sears clothing company called them Gadabout hats.  They were not too unlike the 1920s version but much smaller overall.  Hat colors were navy blue, tan, pink-rose, royal blue and white.

1939 sport Gadabout hat

Late 1930s and 1940s sport hats took on the look of menswear hats such as the fedora. They also looked a bit like Robin Hood hats with a pinch front, soft brim, and plain hat band.  Common colors were green, brown and grey.

1940 felt sporty casual hat

By the 1950s the need for sport hats had dwindled. Women looking at casual clothes as a chance to be hatless.  Women who did wear hats had the choice of a cotton baseball cap or the traditional felt or cotton round hat with flip rolled brim.

1952 baseball cap and sport hat

Repro Brands for Outdoor Clothes

What hiking outfits are you planning to wear? These new and reproduction clothing brands can help create a quality outdoor friendly outfit.

Old Field Clothing – Knickers, trousers, shirts and knitwear in durable countryside friendly fabrics.

Cathcart London– Sometimes carried rugged 1930s repro clothes for women and a 1930s polo shirt is always in rotation.

House of Foxy –  Breeches and shorts in the 1930s-1940s styles.

Freddies of Pinewood (UK) – 1940s and 1950s jeans and overalls for women. VivienofHolloway also has good 40s and 50s jeans and jackets that are quite durable.  Lady K Loves– is well knot for vintage denim jeans, shorts and coordinating tops.

BluecityShop– Is where I bought my light corduroy breeches/riding pants. Similar shops on etsy and ebay imported from India. Photos are not always accurate.

Pendleton – Since the 1950s this classic brand has wool shirts, knitwear, pants and coats that are timeless. The 49er jacket is must have!

Emmy Design – Creates high quality tweed pants, coats and knitwear in the fall/winter season. In summer, the shorts and blouses would be nice.

Bloody Edith – Casual 1930s-1950s clothing, mostly in summer weight fabrics. Good for Resort, Riviera, and Tropical looks.

Vercona Vintage– Excellent trousers, knickers and suits in tweed/wool fabrics.

Palava Quirky prints and colors. Casual, colorful pants, knitwear and tops.

Dehen 1920  A small selection of casual jackets, chore coats, and heavy shirts.

Schott NYC – Mostly leather jackets, some suede jackets, sweaters and boots. Excellent quality.

Many women wore men’s clothes which were easier to find and less expensive. That may be a good choice for you too. See the list of men’s brands under “workwear/casual.”

Read More

• 1900s-1910s Edwardian Hiking and Sport Clothes for Women
• Vintage Trailer Camping 101
• Vintage Overalls History – 1910s to 1950s
• 1920s Men’s Workwear and Casual Clothes
• 1930s-1950s Westernwear History