This is getting a bit concerning. We’re now one week into June and have had significantly more rain than sunshine – we should be applying SPF, but instead we’re wearing GTX. Summer is meant to be here, but at the minute we feel like some poor child who’s worn a raincoat to prom and subsequently been stood up by his date.
But with the less-than-ideal meteorological behaviour continuing, the one saving grace is that it gives us a chance to keep banging on about outerwear without a shred of guilt. So in this month’s Proper Picks, expect optimistically placed summer essentials sandwiched between coats, trousers and knitwear. Because who knows what ‘summertime’ has in store for us this year.
DAIWA GORE-TEX Windstopper Flight Parka
It’s totally the wrong season (or at least it’s meant to be) to be talking about outerwear, but this DAIWA jacket is absolutely fantastic. Just look at that hood & face covering. Big Stone Island Sniper Jacket energy.
J.Press Defender Intarsia Cotton Knit Sweater
Too sensible for a vintage Land Rover Defender? This J.Press knit delivers the look for a fraction of the cost – and none of the mechanical faults
Timex x J.Crew MK1 Field Watch
The kind of watch your cool Geography teacher wore to parents’ evening, subtly proving he catches more fish than your dad.
Presta94 – the Instagram account best known for its grainy scans of people riding bikes in the ’90s – has just released a range of Nalgene bottles that look every bit as retro as the images it shares.
If you needed proof that Nike ACG is back at its best, look no further than the adjacent Smith Jacket.
Heavyweight. Roomy. Nautical inspired. This beautiful striped Rugby Shirt is a prime example of why J.Crew remains the undisputed king of prep.
The sort of graphic tee you’d see Meadow wearing in one of the early Soprano episodes.
Hanwag & Eye_C has become one of our favourite footwear affairs as of late, and looking at this beautiful deep blue colourway with contrasting yellow laces, it should be obvious why. Wonder if they drew any inspiration from the Ikea logo?
Passenger Boondocker Tide 26L Backpack
This Passenger backpack looks absolutely bulletproof, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, there isn’t actually any Kevlar in its composition, but to make up for it, they’ve included loads of storage and even more pockets.
The plaid on this Khakis Shirt looks like it was taken straight from an ’80s picnic blanket.
Quaker Marine Supply Linen Swordfish Cap
To pull off this style of longbill cap, you’ve either got to be incredibly stylish or of an age where you get a free bus pass.
Snow Peak Varsity Logo L/S T-Shirt
Pretty sure this exact Snow Peak tee (or an iteration thereof) was in the last edition of Proper Picks. But I don’t care – it’s too nice.
Never thought we’d be featuring a fanny pack in Proper Picks, but here we are. Montbell won us over with this particularly excellent shade of green. Perfect for stashing Haribos, inhalers and Gaviscon – all the real trail essentials.
Timberland x BEAMS Nylon Zip-Up Convertible Jacket
There’s something distinctly ‘American family on a camping holiday in the ’80s’ about the new Timberland x BEAMS collaboration, and this jacket is the clearest expression of it.
Hikerdelic x Elliker Cautley Flap Over Backpack
Hikerdelic & Elliker are back for round two, this time conjuring up another beautiful range of trail-appropriate haulage systems – including this fetching Spiderman colourway.
We’re partial to a bit of spice in the Proper office, and lately it’s been coming courtesy of this Bonkers Buffalo Sauce from Oh My Glaze.
One of these days, the rain will stop. And the sun will come back out. Probably. And when it does, you’ll want a pair of frames as good as these Oscar Deens.
Snow Peak Standard Utility Vest
When it’s too hot to feasibly talk about jackets, we have to make do with talking about the next best thing – jackets without arms. Also known as vests, gilets or bodywarmers.
Salomon x Pas Normal Studios GRVL Concept
Not only has Pas Normal Studios x Salomon quashed the age-old beef between runners and cyclists – it’s also produced one of the nicest collaboration trainers we’ve seen in a hot minute.
Converse Chuck 70 Vintage Canvas
There’s something about this colour on a Chuck 70 that calls to mind an old, weathered Land Rover.
Nothing worse than getting sand on your arse, is there? Prevent that from happening by packing this Helinox Beach Chair for your next trip to the coast.
Farah exploiting our love of contrast stitching and overshirts to full effect here.
Sealson x Rayon Vert P1 Rigid Bottle
A handy water bottle with an infographic that shows your hydration level based on the colour of your piss. Spoiler: if it’s brown or orange, you should probably get that checked out.
If somehow you’re not already acquainted with the legendary 1977 Dope Lake incident in Yosemite, you can read all about it on the back of this Hikerdelic essay tee.
ST95’s latest yachting collection delivers some seriously summer-ready tees, including this beautifully washed blue piece.
Galibier have produced one of the best approach silhouettes on the market in their Super Varappe Low. The only bad news? This delectable colourway is only available for women. Or men with small feet.
Yeesh, these are nice. Personally, we’d swap the white laces for forest green ones – beef and broccoli is arguably the greatest colour combination in existence, especially on footwear.
District Vision Takeyoshi Altitude Master
Eyewear rarely looks so simultaneously futuristic and elegant as it does with District Vision’s Takeyoshi model.
