Any outdoor/activewear/technical clothing you can recommend?

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As someone who likes to cycle and go camping, I'm happiest in cotton t-shirts and cargo shorts, until it rains. Most of the technical gear that I've tried is over-specced for what I want and feels sweaty quite quickly. I haven't found any modern clothing that's perfect in terms of form and function. Do you buy a dedicated kit or do you just bung on a pair of jeans and an old fleece to do your thing?

I don't like shopping for clothes, and don't have much cash to spare for them, so I usually make do with whatever I'm comfortable wearing. My one "luxury" (ha ha), are those trousers that convert to shorts by zipping off the legs - they're great for when the weather is variable or if I might be out late when the temperature cools off, and the zipped off bits fold up really small and fit into pocket. Even on long distance hikes, I never wear proper hiking boots, as I find them far too heavy and can't feel the ground beneath my feet properly - I find those "heavy duty trainers" with a deeply cleated sole much more comfortable. No jeans, though! They really do soak up the water, get heavy, and take ages to dry.

One thing that can be useful from the outdoor shop are those waterproofing treatments that you can either spray on or wash clothes in. I use it on a couple of pairs of zip-off trousers, which I find much less cumbersome than proper waterproof over-trousers. No good for an absolute deluge, but it saves getting too damp just from a summer shower.

Having said that, I am extremely tolerant of getting a bit cold or soaking wet - I think I got used to it from my years caving. I walk just about everywhere in all weathers and all terrains (e.g. 4 miles cross country in all weathers just to get to my last job every day) and it amuses me a lot to see people wearing really expensive outdoor gear just to go drive somewhere for a Sunday stroll.

I took a pair of those trousers on a trip to France and the zips went so I ended up with just shorts. I used an oil-based insect repellant on that trip and my skin fried. The sleeping bag I took with me was too light for June and so I was up, cold at 5:40 am every morning and cycling for 2 or 3 hours before being able to get some breakfast. Haha, I'll get it right one day.
I just got hold of a load of mountaineering kit from a charity shop but it has its drawbacks. Expensive gear needs looking after and most of the time a cotton top and a jumper is a better option. I spent a lot of my last trip feeling salty and found myself stopping all the time to take layers on and off. I've had good use from felt shirts, donkey jackets, and German para boots but it's all a bit heavy for cycling trips.

Depending on the temperature, wool or wool and silk for the rain. You may get wet but you'll stay warm. You can get it cheap at a thrift shop and it's biodegradable. I like linen when it's hot. I think it breathes the best and still moves pretty well when it's wet.
I make a real effort to avoid synthetic materials.

I would definitely not recommend wearing jeans.
They're heavy and cold when wet, chafe the skin, and take ages to dry.
I'm not really into nylon clothing either, but hiking and cycling is the one instance when I do use some technical gear.
I have a zip up nylon map vest and light rain jacket to slip on over my cottons in wet or cold weather.
I find if my torso is warm, I'm pretty much warm all over, but I do have some sports type performance gear for wearing under my regular clothing if the weather turns really bleak.
I find this kind of gear really light and compact, which is great when the weight of your pack is a consideration.

I don't wear jeans either, I found some green hiking trousers with stretchy knee pads which say "Bear Grylls" on the pocket, I've obliterated his name and reinforced some of the stitching and they are Ideal. I'm too tight to spend proper money on the right gear and it's not as much fun as buying things cheap in charity shops so, for now, I'm amassing piles of winter clothes which live in my car and I'll buy all my summer clothes next winter.

What shoes do you all wear people? I like the idea of owning a pair of Merrel or North Face Walking shoes but again, I'd rather grab something cheap when it comes along.