Last year, we declared our love for Outerknown’s latest range of gear. A year later, after a lot of wear and a lot of washing, our verdict hasn’t budged. They’re still our number one, and they still sit at the top of our surf brands page. Here’s why, and here’s the 2026 gear we’ve been living in to prove it.
Our friends at Outerknown sent us a selection of their latest 2026 gear to try. The words and opinions here are all ours. Some links below are affiliate links, so if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps keep Surfd running.
Why Outerknown is still our number one
The simplest reason: the gear is built to last. Brad has Outerknown tees from years ago that still look as good as the day he bought them, with no stretched-out, wrinkled necklines and no fading into a sad version of themselves. Even pieces from the very early Outerknown ranges have held up, which says a lot about the brand’s minimal, classic styling. Nothing here chases a trend, so nothing here goes out of date.
It all survives real life, too. These clothes go through the wash and come out looking the same, whether you line dry them or put them through the tumble dryer (not that we would ever do that to our precious Outerknown gear).
Then there’s the part that matters just as much as the clothes. Outerknown was founded in 2015 by 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and designer John Moore, and it was built on sustainability from day one. The brand is a member of the Fair Labor Association, partners with Fair Trade Certified factories, and runs on a published Fair Compensation Commitment, so the people making the clothes are looked after. Around 95% of its fabrics are recycled, organic, or regenerative, including recycled nylon spun from old fishing nets and Regenerative Organic Certified cotton. Its SEA jeans even come with a lifetime guarantee.
Yes, some people balk at the price. But you’re not just buying a garment. You’re buying something designed to last for years, made by people working in fairer conditions, with a fraction of the usual environmental cost, and backed by the credibility of the most decorated surfer in history. For us, that’s an easy trade.
Men’s: The Kelly Collection 2026
The All-Terrain Shorts
Brad wears size 31 in Dusty Marsh
These have turned into Brad’s grab-and-go shorts for travel and warm days. The fit dials in perfectly thanks to a drawcord as well as the button, so he gets the waist exactly right, and he’s a real fan of the secure zip pockets (especially when he goes running with a phone or keys). The fabric is genuinely lightweight. The proper test came when he got caught in a thunderstorm halfway through a walk: by the time he made it home, the shorts were already dry. That’s exactly what you want from a NetPlus recycled-nylon short with a water-repellent DWR finish. Built from repurposed fishing nets with a touch of stretch, they’re comfortable, capable, and a little kinder to the ocean than most.
Discover the All-Terrain Shorts
The All-Terrain Pants
Brad wears size 31 in Dusty Marsh
Same fabric, full length, and a bigger surprise. Brad didn’t expect much warmth from something this light, but he took them out on a crisp winter morning and they genuinely broke the wind. They leave you feeling protected without the bulk or stiffness of jeans, which is exactly the point. They work for a winter trail walk, and with the right shoes you could almost get away with wearing them into a business meeting. That’s the whole all-terrain idea: city or trail, they keep up. A cinch at the ankle lets you adjust the fit depending on what you’re doing, looser for comfort or tightened up when you’re moving around.
Discover the All-Terrain Pants
OK KS Pocket Tee
Brad wears size M in Charcoal
Brad is a long-time fan of Outerknown’s pocket tees and owns several. This one is part of Kelly Slater’s signature collection, and he loves the small OK KS Portal detail embroidered in ocean blue on the chest pocket. Cut from Regenerative Organic Certified cotton, it’s soft and breathable from the first wear, with that relaxed everyday fit that isn’t too tight or too oversized. He calls these his Saturday-afternoon, expensive-casual tees: the ones he actually looks after in the wardrobe because he values them that much.
Discover the OK KS Pocket Tee
Women’s: New for 2026
Horizon Sweater
Geniya wears size XS in Sea and Sand Stripe
This one became my cold-weather go-to almost instantly. It’s incredibly cozy, and the real test for me is the wash: it went through and came out perfect, with no shrinking, no pilling, and no loss of shape. It’s made from a soft 5-gauge jersey using a space-dyed wool blend yarn from Italy, with ribbed cuffs, collar, and hem that keep it structured even though it feels relaxed. The Sea and Sand stripe has a faded, golden-hour, California-sunset feel to it, and the slightly cropped crewneck makes it easy to wear with everything. I’ve been throwing it on with jeans, skirts, and track pants without a second thought.
Discover the Horizon Sweater
The Scout Straight Jean
Geniya wears size 26 in True Blue
These are soft, beautifully made, and fit me perfectly straight out of the box. No adjustments, no breaking in, no surprises. They sit mid-rise with a fitted top block through the hips before falling into a clean straight leg with a subtle taper. The denim is 13.75oz organic cotton with a touch of comfort stretch, so it has that real-denim feel while still moving with me. And like everything else from Outerknown, they go through the wash and come out looking exactly the same. They’re finished with the signature SEA Jeans details: chainstitch embroidery on the front pocket, copper hardware, and a classic zip fly.
Discover the Scout Straight Jean
Sojourn Ribbed Tank
Geniya wears size XS in Oatmeal Heather
I own a lot of tank tops from a lot of brands, and this is the softest I’ve ever had. I honestly can’t imagine buying another one now. It’s cut from ultra-soft regenerative organic cotton with just enough stretch to sit close without feeling tight, and the ribbed texture gives it a structure that holds even after plenty of wear. The scoop neck with rib binding and wider straps means it actually works for bra coverage while still looking clean and minimal. It’s a warm-weather staple on its own, but it layers just as well under a knit or jacket when it cools down.
Discover the Sojourn Ribbed Tank
The verdict
A year on, Outerknown is still the brand we reach for most, and still the one we recommend first. The gear lasts, it looks the same after countless washes, it’s made in fairer conditions, and it carries a sense of purpose that most labels only talk about. Whether it’s Brad’s all-terrain shorts surviving a thunderstorm or Geniya’s tank becoming the most-worn thing in her drawer, every piece in this year’s range has earned its place. That’s why Outerknown is our favorite surf brand for 2026.
[Internal link placeholder: see our full surf brands ranking, and why we named Outerknown our favorite brand of 2025.]
