Kate Middleton’s Hiking Outfit Proves You Don’t Need Expensive Gear

I’m not above believing I need the perfect piece of gear for every outdoor excursion; to some extent, it’s part of my job as the gear director at Outside. When it’s lightly drizzling during a dog walk, I’m busting out a shell with a three-layer waterproof, breathable membrane. If I need to trudge through snow during a quiet winter hike, I’m lacing up boots with PrimaLoft Gold insulation, felt-lined footbeds, and chunky lugs. Somewhere along the way, I’ve convinced myself that expensive gear is the only solution when I’m “battling the elements” outdoors—even if the only elements I’m battling are a light breeze and nearly dead AirPods.

It was refreshing, then, to watch Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, conquer the U.K.’s National Three Peaks Challenge in a basic pair of running shorts.

What the Princess Wore

The princesses I grew up watching in cartoons and reading about in the tabloids wore bedazzled ball gowns, eye-popping revenge dresses, glittering tiaras, and occasionally, a mermaid tail. No matter the occasion, princesses had the right outfit for it—and that outfit had been tailored within an inch of its life. Money was no object. After all, who could put a price tag on the perfect look?

With that mindset, I fully expected to click into the Instagram carousel announcing Princess Kate’s milestone (requiring her to climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales within 24 hours) and immediately recognize a $500 jacket, a $400 pair of hiking boots, and a $600 heavy-duty pack. If anyone would have a primo hiking ensemble, it would be the Princess of Wales.

To my surprise, I saw clothes that I could conceivably have in my closet. A Fjällräven baseball cap. A plain navy short-sleeved top. Solid, unremarkable hiking boots. An Apple Watch. And a bright red pair of The North Face running shorts.

Sure, the Apple Watch isn’t exactly a budget pick. But otherwise, Kate’s kit is pretty basic: functional, reasonably priced, and (probably) not altered by a professional seamstress.

When Good Enough Is Good Enough

If not having the perfect gear is what’s stopping you from taking that hike or trying trail running for the first time, ask yourself: What’s the most basic version of this thing I actually need to keep me safe, prepared, and comfortable? Not the best version. Not the version a dedicated gear junkie would have in their shed. The minimum viable product with exactly what you need—no frills, no fancy features, no splurgey add-ons. Kind of like wearing a standard pair of running shorts to hike 23 miles across three countries.

If you’re climbing Everest or running Western States, good gear still matters—a lot. But for most of us normies, the gap between “best in class” and “will get you to the finish line” is smaller than you might think. At the end of the day, Kate’s gear isn’t what got her to that final peak; it was her determination and her dedication to the cause.

I’m visiting my dad this week, staying in my childhood bedroom—which, as any millennial adult child knows, means I’m wearing a weird mishmash of old sports uniforms and college T-shirts. This morning, I picked up a pair of turquoise Umbros from circa 2006 for my morning run. No mesh liners. No adjustable waist or tiny pouch for my key. Sweat stains showing in every fabric crease. I had to carry my phone in my hand like a heathen.

But you know what? The run was exactly as enjoyable as it would have been in a brand-new pair of technical running shorts. Honestly, Umbro’s due for a comeback anyway.

3 Just-Good-Enough Hiking Basics We Recommend

• Hiking Shoes: Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 Trail-Running Shoes, from $116 (Shop Men’s | Shop Women’s)
• Day Hiking Pack: The North Face Trail Lite 12L Backpack, $110 (Shop)
• Trekking Poles: Retrospec Solstice Hiking Poles, $30 (Shop)