I tried Kate Middleton's favourite hiking brand - these are my 5 princess-approved pieces for autumn walks

As one of the most famous women in the world, Catherine, Princess of Wales, is no stranger to having her clothing choices scrutinised, even when she’s climbing mountains.

When the future Queen took on the National Three Peaks Challenge earlier in the summer, completing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) within 24 hours, it wasn’t just her impressive feat of endurance that caught the public’s attention. Her hiking wardrobe made headlines, too.

Along with her Scarpa walking shoes, North Face shorts, and Apple Watch 11, she chose clothing from Swedish outdoor label Fjällräven (pronounced ‘fyell-reh-ven’). It means ‘Arctic Fox’. During the challenge, Kate was photographed wearing several of its pieces, a particularly powerful endorsement for the brand.

Inspired by Kate, a fellow forty-something, I put five pieces that reflect the brand’s aesthetic and ethos through their paces. It’s not the cheapest outdoor brand on the market, so I pulled on my own favourite walking shoes and wore the pieces on pavements and paths to see whether they really justify the price tag. Here’s how they fared…

Fjällräven review

A good hiking backpack or hydration vest is a real essential, so I couldn’t test Fjällräven without trying its most iconic product first: the Kånken backpack. Launched in 1978 to help prevent back problems among Swedish schoolchildren, it has since become a global fashion and outdoor staple. You’ll see commuters, travellers and walkers wearing them, and there’s a rainbow of colours to choose from.

I tried the Blackberry version, a rich purple, which I thought would be a practical alternative to black. I worried it had scuffed early on, but the marks simply wiped away.

The bag feels robust without being heavy and has a pleasingly retro look. The design itself is simple but incredibly effective. The main zip opens the bag out almost flat, making it much easier to see what’s inside rather than rummaging around. There’s also a zipped front pocket, open pockets on either side, adjustable shoulder straps and short handles at the top, so you can carry it more like a handbag.

A seat pad sits tucked away at the back, providing an extra layer of comfort when wearing the bag. It can also be removed and used as a handy seat when you’re out and about. It’s a small but brilliantly useful detail.

There’s a reason this backpack remains so popular almost 50 years after its launch. It’s fuss-free, timeless and versatile. The shoulder straps are fairly basic, though, and I wouldn’t want to load it up with heavy hiking gear for a full day in the hills. For that, I’d choose a more technical pack with better back support and weight distribution.

For me, though, the Kånken really comes into its own as an everyday backpack. I used mine for country walks and trips into town, and it was the perfect size for my laptop when I headed to a café to work. If you’re looking for a serious hiking pack, this isn’t it. But for everyday adventures, shorter walks and commuting, it’s hard to beat, and its longevity makes the £85 price tag feel much more palatable.

I tend to reach for dark colours when I’m out walking, so the Retro T-Shirt was a welcome change. It comes in four colourways, all featuring the vintage-inspired Fjällräven logo on the chest. I tried the Chalk White and Flame Orange versions, with their contrasting orange binding around the neckline and sleeves and on the logo.

It has a traditional feel, but remains understated. It’s simple, cheerful and easy to wear - the sort of top you reach for every time and that puts a smile on your face.

It’s described as a slim fit, so as a size 14, I opted for an XL, which was just right; neither too fitted nor too loose.

Made from 100% organic cotton, it has the soft, comfortable feel you want from an everyday T-shirt. The downside is that it's not for strenuous hikes, as cotton tends to retain moisture when you're sweaty or get caught in the rain. This makes it a better option for layering and casual strolls where you'd leave the walking poles at home.

At £50, it feels good quality, as you’d hope, and its versatility helps justify the price. I wore mine with the Vardag Skirt, with shorts on an hour-long walk and with jeans while running errands. It won’t transform your hiking experience, but it will take you from a weekend walk to coffee afterwards without requiring an outfit change. It's also very comfortable.

For me, that makes it a good everyday buy rather than an essential piece of hiking kit. My sister has already got her eyes on it, though, so there’s a good chance it’ll have a new home imminently.

I’m always on the lookout for a hiking jacket, light for layering during the tricky transitional months. I was excited to try the High Coast Insulated Jacket. It’s part of the High Coast collection, inspired by Fjällräven’s home region around Örnsköldsvik on Sweden’s High Coast, and the range is deliberately lightweight and fast-drying.

I tried the Fossil colourway, one of two options alongside Black, in a Large, which was the perfect fit. I loved the short, boxy shape, popper fastenings and simple baseball-style collar.

It doesn’t immediately scream ‘hiking jacket’, and that’s no bad thing. It feels more like an everyday jacket with outdoor credentials, so I’d wear it just as readily in town as on a trail.

I found it warm enough to take the chill off without making me feel swamped, while the shorter shape makes it easy to wear with jeans or trousers. It’s also light enough to pack away without taking up much room.

I particularly liked it as a layering piece. The two hand pockets are useful for keeping your phone and other essentials close by, although you can’t close them. The windproof, moisture-resistant and breathable fabric gives it enough outdoor credentials for walks without making it feel overly technical.

At £160, you need to consider how much wear you’ll get from it, but I can see myself reaching for this repeatedly. It delivers the practical benefits of outdoor clothing without making you look as though you’re about to tackle a mountain every time you leave the house.

I’ve been hiking for several years now, and I’ve never worn a skirt out in the hills. It has always felt a little too open to the elements for my liking. In fact, I rarely wear skirts or dresses these days, full stop.

But then I spotted the Vardag Skirt, from the brand’s Vardag collection, which means ‘everyday life’ in Swedish, and thought it’s time to step outside my comfort zone and give my beloved black hiking trousers a rest.

One of Fjällräven’s newer products, it's a mid-length A-line skirt that comes in green and fossil (a beige), which is the one I tried. As a size 14, I opted for a Large, which fitted well, sitting around my calves at 5ft 5in. There’s also an elasticated waistband with an internal drawcord for a more cinched-in fit.

I’ll be honest, I initially thought it looked a little ‘frumpy’, but I was pleasantly surprised when I put it on. Although I am aware it won’t be to everyone’s taste.

The skirt is made from G-1000 Lite, a lighter version of Fjällräven’s signature fabric, which is wind- and water-resistant. It feels crisp and starchy to the touch, so there is little chance of it blowing up and you accidentally flashing fellow hikers on your travels. It’s probably not one for when you are likely to be clambering over boulders, though. I also liked the two deep pockets. Both have hidden pockets inside them.

At £120, this isn’t an impulse buy, so you need to consider how much wear you’ll get from it. For me, though, this is where Fjällräven gets the balance right between outdoor practicality and everyday style. I wore it on the hills with a gym top and hiking boots, with sandals and a vest top to the supermarket, and plan to wear it with trainers, tights and a knit come autumn. It’s a refreshing change from my usual hiking uniform and feels like a piece I’ll genuinely wear beyond the trail.

I haven’t worn dungarees since I was three, and I’m not usually one for straying too far from my tried-and-tested hiking trousers. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I pulled the Vardag Dungarees on, but I was pleasantly surprised by how they looked and how wearable they are.

They have the relaxed look of traditional dungarees, but with the practical details you’d expect from outdoor clothing, like water resistance and a double layer of fabric over the knees for durability when kneeling outdoors. There are four colourways, including Green, Desert Brown and Dusty Rose, but I stuck with the more practical Black.

As a size 14, I opted for a Large and found there was plenty of room to move without them feeling too baggy. They’re easy to get on and off thanks to the buttons at the sides. I did need to adjust the shoulder straps considerably to get the right length, so petite wearers may want to take this into account.

The G-1000 Stretch fabric allows for plenty of movement, which I appreciated when walking, bending down and clambering around while putting a tent up. It’s not particularly soft, but the stretch means you don’t feel restricted, as you can with more rigid outdoor fabrics. There’s a large front pocket, as well as hand and rear pockets, so you don’t have to keep reaching for your rucksack.

I wore them on walks, while volunteering on a farm and to the shops, and they didn’t feel out of place in any of those settings. They’re particularly suited to that late-summer-to-autumn period when you want something practical but don’t necessarily want to look like you’re dressed for a hike.

At £185, though, these are expensive dungarees. They’re also, let’s face it, a love-them-or-leave-them purchase, so the deciding factor is really cost per wear. If you know you’ll live in them for years, for everything from dog and coffee walks to gardening, the investment makes more sense. If there is a danger that dungarees are a passing fashion phase for you, I’d think twice.

The w&h verdict

These five pieces are only a snapshot of the brand, and there’s much more technical kit if serious hiking is your priority, but Fjällräven does a good job of bridging the gap between genuine outdoor kit and clothes you’ll actually want to wear afterwards.

What I like most about Fjällräven is that it makes outdoor clothing feel accessible, not intimidating. You don’t have to be a seasoned hiker or mountaineer to find something that works for you. Whether you’re camping, walking the dog, heading into the hills or simply going about your day, there’s enough variety to make the brand appealing well beyond the traditional outdoor crowd.

You are paying a premium for the brand name, but I found substance behind the style with durable designs and recycled and organic materials. You get what you pay for here.

You just need to be selective and think about cost per wear. For me, the sweet spot is clothing that performs outdoors but looks just as good once the walking boots come off, and something you’ll be excited to wear for years to come.

Also included in Kate's hiking wardrobe