7 Pieces of Urban Outdoor Gear That Work in Both Worlds

Introduction

Most of us keep two separate gear wardrobes: technical kit for the outdoors and something entirely different for the city or office. Combining the two means less gear to buy, store, and carry, fewer decisions about what to pack, and ultimately more use out of everything you own. Better stuff, but less of it.

The gear below was all tested in the Lake District, an area of varied terrain and famously changeable weather, which makes it a great proving ground for kit that also has to look the part in town. Seven items stood out.

GrapheneX Gran Midlayer Jacket

The Gran Midlayer from GrapheneX has been tested for around three months in a range of conditions and has become a genuine go-to jacket, whether nipping into town, heading to the pub, or serving as a mid layer on a serious hike. Unlike many outdoor jackets, it does not look out of place at work.

Graphene, the strongest, thinnest, and toughest material yet discovered, is integrated into the insulation alongside recycled polyester fibres to improve the warmth-to-weight ratio. It has proven effective in sub-zero temperatures, keeps insulating when wet, dries quickly, and carries a water-repellent coating for light rain.

Feature highlights include 20D nylon 66 shell and lining, YKK zips throughout, a two-way main zip, a chest pocket the jacket packs into for travel, zipped side pockets, a large hidden rear zip pocket, an interior map pocket, a stowable hood built into the collar, and stretch cuffs and waist that keep the design visually clean. It weighs just 490g.

One sizing note: the fit runs large. A small fits a 38-inch chest that would normally take a medium. At around $190 or pounds, with a lifetime guarantee, this is an easy recommendation.

GrapheneX Alpha Series 2 Jacket

The Alpha Series 2 is arguably the flagship of the GrapheneX range: a super tough, fully waterproof yet breathable outer layer. Graphene is integrated into the shell face for extreme abrasion resistance, exceeding the military standard abrasion test by a factor of five. Beneath it sit a waterproof PU layer and a polyester layer, combined into what feels like a single fabric.

It is windproof, fully waterproof, breathable, and lightweight at around 750g. Features include a hood with cinch cords at the back and sides, taped and sealed stitching, an AquaGuard internal pocket, YKK zips, a chest pocket, a waterproof sleeve pocket well placed for a ski pass or wallet, Velcro cuffs, large double-ended pit zips for ventilation, and a hem cinch cord.

A standout detail: the hand pockets have internal zips that let you reach into the pockets of a mid layer worn underneath, keeping hands warm without opening the jacket. Worn over the Gran Midlayer, which it zips into, the pair forms a tough, windproof, breathable, warm, and dry combination that still would not look out of place in the city. Around $380 or pounds, guaranteed for life. Sizing also runs large; a small fits a usual medium, but avoid bulky layers when combining the two jackets.

Wingback 21L Everyday Backpack

Wingback is a London-based maker of quality handmade carry goods, and its first backpack follows the same buy less, buy better philosophy. The 21L Everyday Pack is handmade in England from 100 percent organic, double-layered, weatherproofed waxed cotton produced in Scotland by a maker with over 150 years of fabric heritage.

It holds its shape well, has a neat flat profile on the back, and offers grab handles on top and sides. Zips are YKK throughout with titanium pulls (brass or black steel available). The front features a large vertical pocket split into three compartments, a padded laptop pocket, and a flat back pocket against the pack that is ideal for a wallet or passport. The main compartment opens fully via a heavy-duty double zip, with a lining available in five colours, plus a rear flat sleeve and a gusseted pocket inside the flap. Oosti Alpin Cobra buckles are among the best available.

At 1.25kg it is neither heavy nor light, and the handmade approach is reflected in the price of around £350 or close to $400. Comfort was fine over a full day, though some back sweat built up when working hard, and there is no dedicated water bottle pocket. This is a pack designed to wear in rather than wear out, and Wingback will repair it for the first 30 years.

Able Carry Daybreaker 2

The Daybreaker 2 from Able Carry is a 25L pack that leans more towards the outdoors than the Wingback, built from lightweight technical materials with practicality front and centre. The headline surprise is the weight: just 660g, roughly half the Wingback, though it lacks structure and can get slightly floppy in use.

The main material is 210D ripstop nylon with a waterproof coating. It sits high on the back and carried comfortably on an all-day trek, with grab handles top and sides, generous reinforced stitching, an external water bottle pocket with an elasticated top and drain vent that takes up to a 1L bottle, and waterproof AquaGuard zips with Hypalon pulls throughout.

Inside, the rear elasticated pocket could hold a laptop in a case but is better suited to a hydration bladder, and there are additional stretch and gusseted pockets plus a side dump pocket with a key clip, the only external pocket. Padded wide straps, a back panel with an air channel, an adjustable magnetic chest strap, and strap keepers round out the design.

The lack of a dedicated laptop sleeve ruled it out for general work use, but as a packable, super-lightweight daypack for travel, treks, city breaks, or the gym, it is excellent. At around $130 or pounds, it is very respectable value.

Lark PureVis Bottle Cap

Tap water is not always advisable when travelling, and bottled water adds expense, inconvenience, and plastic waste. The PureVis bottle cap from Lark solves this with UVC light. A push of the button irradiates the bottle contents, killing biocontaminants such as E. coli and Salmonella, and the light automatically fires every couple of hours to self-clean the bottle, so there is no used-bottle odour even after days unwashed.

For water from outdoor sources such as rivers or streams, a double press activates Adventure Mode, delivering three minutes of UVC radiation to kill microorganisms. The cap is battery powered, charges via USB, lasts around 30 days per charge, and can be locked with a five-second press for transit.

Lark Filtered Bottle Cap

If the water is already chemically treated, the filtered cap is the more interesting option. Its nano filtration removes chlorine, lead from old pipework, heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics as you drink, improving both health benefits and taste.

The replaceable filter handles around 40 gallons, roughly 300 bottles of water, before needing a change. Because the caps are interchangeable and sold separately, you can use both technologies: PureVis for safer drinking and filtered for longer-term health and taste.

The bottle itself comes in two constructions: a double-walled version that keeps contents cool up to 24 hours in 500ml and 740ml sizes, and an ultralight single-walled version in 710ml and 950ml that weighs about half as much for the same volume.

SealSkinz Waterproof All-Weather Glove

Bulky ski gloves keep hands warm, but they are too big for pockets, look wrong around town, block touchscreen use, and make small tasks impossible. The SealSkinz waterproof all-weather glove solves all of that while being genuinely waterproof: hands stayed fully dry even when fully submerged retrieving rocks from a stream.

The fingers work with a smartphone screen, the materials are hardwearing and flexible, and Velcro wrist closures create a snug fit that keeps the weather out. The glove is also windproof and breathable, and the lining is bonded to the outer so it does not pull out when removing your hand.

These are not ski-glove warm, and in near-zero temperatures you may want something heavier. But for hiking, biking, dog walking, travel, or shopping, at around £40 or $40 they are great value and SealSkinz’s bestselling close-fitting glove.

Buying Advice

If you want one jacket for everything, the Gran Midlayer is the easiest pick. For serious weather over it, the Alpha Series 2 completes the system. Choose the Wingback if craftsmanship and city style matter most, or the Daybreaker 2 if weight and packability win. For water, pick PureVis for questionable sources, the filtered cap for treated water, or both. The SealSkinz gloves are the simplest add-on of the lot and one of the best value items here.

Conclusion

Each of these seven pieces earns its place by working in both worlds: capable outdoors, presentable in town. Fewer compromises, less waste, and gear you actually use every day. That is what good design should do.