A few years ago, I joked about getting outfitted before my first trip to Vail. Now, we’re not talking snowbunny outfitted, no. It was Spring. The things I lacked included: anything not made of cotton, meant for slow strolls down a New Jersey boardwalk. At least I owned cross-trainers. (Which I subsequently used to climb an alpine trail, knee deep in snow. While wearing shorts.)

Since Bean has started hiking, I’ve wanted to round out (re: create from scratch) my hiking uniform. With a little one underfoot and trying desperately to fling herself off cliffsides, into creeks, and over waterfalls, my concentration ends up completely on her. I’m too busy to notice mud puddles, raised roots, and mossy embankments. I want to scramble right up muddy hillsides right along with her, I don’t want to worry about getting my own shoes wet as I help her cross streams. Nope, I want to be fully engaged, completely unaware of what I’m wearing or how it’s withstanding the toddler-led hike. I also want to remain dry, warm, and intact. Basically, I needed real outdoor clothes.

Now, the catch is that outdoor gear tends to be extremely expensive. Like, shockingly expensive ohmygodwhatamipayingforthesearen’tevenformflattering. I insisted on only buying pieces that were going to last, because this is not an expenditure I ever want to see again. Style had to take a back seat to function, although some of this stuff is cute, in an outdoorsy girl kind of way.

Here’s my outdoor gear starter kit: basically everything I need to take me from warm sandy hikes to drenched redwood strolls to snowy mountain hikes.

How insanely practical does this all look.

1. Marmot Tamarack Waterproof Jacket. (It’s been discontinued, but Amazon still has it, now on a nice discount ($188) and in plain black or maroonish purple.) — This jacket is so functional and perfect, I can look past the Grimace purple. The fabric is much sturdier than a regular windbreaker or rain jacket (like Marmot’s popular Precip jacket), and has a nice soft lining. It can be used for skiing, with the addition of a down or fleece jacket. Speaking of, it has an internal zipper in case you want to zip a down or fleece jacket into it, and also has a snow skirt, which I hear is important. I like all the zippers, pockets, and the high collar. It’s very toasty when it needs to be, but can also be as light as a windbreaker.

2. Patagonia Better Sweater — This jacket has taken over San Francisco. I see it everywhere. The inner fleece/outer sweater construction does make it more attractive than a typical fleece, and it is so darn SOFT and COZY. I’ve even found myself justify wearing it when I’m not hiking. It’s kind of insanely perfect for cold, damp, foggy mornings. (Says the lady who’s never owned a fleece before.) On dry hikes, I wear this alone. On freezing cold hikes, I layer it under the Marmot jacket for a ton of warmth.

3. prAna Halle Pant — These are awesome hiking pants. The material is slightly rigid but also breathable and also very stretchy, so you barely even notice them and they move with you no matter what scampering you’re trying to do. (Women who are much more hard core than I am — let’s be honest, it doesn’t take much — swear these are the perfect rock climbing pants.) They’re also water-resistant, and the bagginess lets me wear fleece leggings underneath on cold hikes. Dirt just shakes off them. They also roll into shorts, if that’s a thing you see yourself doing.

4. Salomon Ellipse GTX Waterproof Trail Shoe — So, with hiking shoes, I’ve learned you either go GORE-TEX or you don’t go GORE-TEX. Either your feet stay dry or they get wet. GORE-TEX is a waterproof membrane that seals the shoe like a sock, so the shoe is totally waterproof. This hiking shoe is rugged enough that I never slip, but the cut-out ankle means that my foot/ankle/leg can flex in whatever direction without feeling constrained, nearly like a running shoe. Perfect when I’m trampling over who-knows-what trying to keep a toddler from harming herself. I also like the tight fit around my arch. (I wear mine with Darn Tough socks, which are a must. This shoe doesn’t feel soft and squishy on.)

So far, this has been a fairly versatile combination, with absolutely no noticeable wear. Do you have any outdoor pieces you swear by?