🏔️👔 Layers and wardrobe: office during the day — trail in the evening

If your day consists of phone calls and keyboard work, and your evening is spent on a trail by the water or a short hike, you need a wardrobe that can be ‘switched’ in 5 minutes: office on the outside, hiking on the inside. Below, we'll show you how to put together a capsule wardrobe for all seasons in the fjord climate, fit it into an EDC backpack, and not forget about visibility and care.

🔀 The three-layer principle — base, insulation, shell

👕 Base layer: moisture and odour management

Purpose: wicks sweat away from the skin, dries quickly, is appropriate for the office.

Materials: merino wool 150–200 g/m² for all seasons, 200–250 g/m² for winter; alternatives — synthetics with antimicrobial treatment.

Styles: polo shirt/long-sleeved shirt without prominent logos; plain T-shirts to wear under a cardigan/jacket.

Life hack: keep a ‘fresh base layer’ in a compression bag in your desk drawer: change in the evening and head out without that ‘office smell’.

🧣 Insulating layer: warmth on demand

Thin fleece (microfleece) — office-friendly, looks like a regular sweater.

Down/synthetic — vest or thin jacket for wind, evening walks and stops to ‘admire the view.’

Mix: fleece is enough for mid-season; for winter — fleece + light down.

🌧️ Outer shell: protection from wind and rain

Membrane jacket (hardshell) and light rain pants — in a bag in your backpack.

For every day: a city softshell jacket protects against wind and light rain; for heavy rain, a membrane jacket.

Fit and colour: moderate length, calm colours (black/blue/olive) — looks good both in the office and in the woods.

🎭 Capsule wardrobe for all seasons — one rail, different scenarios

Spring/autumn (rain and wind)

• Base layer: merino wool 150–200 g/m².
• Insulation: thin fleece/vest.
• Outer layer: membrane + rain trousers.
• Accessories: buff/lightweight hat, waterproof backpack cover.

Summer (changeable)

• Base layer: T-shirt/polo shirt + thin shirt made from a wool/synthetic blend.
• Insulation: ultra-light fleece half-zip.
• Shell: packable windbreaker; membrane trousers depending on the forecast.
• Accessories: cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, light gloves for wind on the waterfront.

Winter (dark and slippery)

• Base layer: merino 200–250 g/m² (long sleeve).
• Insulation: medium-weight fleece + down vest/light jacket.
• Shell: membrane set.
• Accessories: hat, buff, glove liners + warm gloves, headlamp for twilight, reflectors (CE EN17353).

👔 Dress code and office compatibility — don't wear ‘extreme’ clothing to meetings

• Silhouette: straight or slightly fitted, without ‘tourist’ patches.
• Colour palette: basic solid colours: dark blue, graphite, grey melange; technical fabrics in calm colours.
• Combinations: shirt + fleece cardigan + softshell; chino trousers/smart joggers that go well with track cross shoes.
• ‘Change in 90 minutes’: in the morning, leave your membrane and rain pants in your locker; in the evening, throw on a shell, change your base layer, add a buff/hat — and you're out the door.

👟 Footwear: one pair, two worlds

City + trail

• Waterproof trainers (membrane ‘lifestyle’ or track trainers) — you can walk all day in them, and they don't look like hiking boots.
• Tread: moderate, so as not to ‘clatter’ on marble in the office and to grip gravel/forest floors.
• Insoles: anatomical for a whole day of standing/walking.

Winter and slippery conditions

• Anti-slip pads (brodder) — in a bag in your backpack, put on at the entrance/in front of stairs.
• Socks: medium/thick merino wool; a spare pair is a must.

🎒 EDC backpack 18–22 l — your ‘office → hike’ commuter bag

What's inside (all year round)

• Backpack cover, microfibre cloths/wipes, bag for wet items.
• Bottle/thermos, mini-snack (nuts/bar), salts/electrolytes for hot weather.
• Mini first aid kit: plasters, bandage, sling/duct tape, antiseptic, personal medication.
• Electronics: power bank 10–20 thousand mAh, cables, offline maps/GPX.
• Safety: headlamp (preferably with red mode), CE EN17353 reflectors for jacket/backpack, whistle/ID card.

Depending on the season

• Spring/autumn: lightweight rain pants, buff/hat.
• Summer: sun protection, thin gloves for wind protection near water.
• Winter: glove liners + warm gloves, brodder, chemical hand warmers.

🗺️ Route ‘office → trail’ — 90 minutes, no more

How to choose a quick ‘loop’

• Close to home/station: so you don't waste time travelling.
• 60–90 minute loop: plan a loop rather than a ‘there and back’ route — it's easier to turn back if the weather deteriorates.
• Public transport links: a ‘cut-off’ point if it starts raining or getting dark earlier than expected.
• Evening light: assess the twilight; take a headlamp with you ‘just in case’.

🌬️ In rain/wind

• Save long windy sections for the beginning of your route, with the wind at your back on the way back.
• Shelter: arches, bus stops, bridges — mark them on your map in advance.

🧼 Care: things last longer if they are washed regularly

• Membranes: wash with a specialised detergent without fabric softener, restore the DWR treatment (spray/impregnation) as the fabric gets wet.
• Merino wool: air out, wash less often and gently, dry horizontally.
• Fleece/down: follow the temperature instructions; down should be tumble dried with tennis balls (if permitted by the manufacturer).
• Footwear: dry at room temperature (no heaters), insoles separately; remove dirt with a soft brush.

✅ Quick checklist for leaving the office

Weather and light: check precipitation/wind/twilight → headlamp in pocket.

Layers: change of base layer, fleece, shell, rain pants depending on the forecast.

Backpack: cover, water/thermos, snacks, power bank, first aid kit.

Safety: reflectors/whistle/ID, brodder in winter.

Route: 60–90 minute loop + spare ‘shortcut’ to transport.

The ‘office → trail’ capsule is a base layer, one or two warm layers and a light shell in an EDC backpack. Add visibility and care — and you can end any workday with a short loop on the trail without unnecessary packing.