The Best Hiking Gear for Women
We've talked a lot about exercise and workouts over the years, but we've never done a post specifically on hiking — so today we're rounding up the best hiking gear for women.
Although I sometimes work out outdoors, the last time I went on a “real” hike was, uh, years ago (at Great Falls — loved it there!), so I reached out to Sigita Baskyte, co-founder and editor at Leisure Hiking, for some tips and recommendations.
She says, “My biggest advice for beginners is to invest in proper footwear and make sure you have a warm and moisture-wicking shirt closest to your skin.” Check out her picks below, along with other hiking gear worth checking out!
Hiker readers, experienced or otherwise, what is your favorite hiking gear for women? Any lessons you've learned about what NOT to use/wear/buy? Where are your favorite places to hike?
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“My biggest pet peeve is hiking footwear,” Baskyte says. “Too many women — and men — take to the mountains wearing casual footwear or a pair of Nikes. If you are planning anything longer than a short stroll along a pathway in the forest, you want to invest in proper footwear!
“There is a big debate on hiking shoes vs hiking boots,” she added. “Personally, I have both, since I hike a lot. But for day-hikes, I will typically wear a pair of hiking shoes (or even trail runners), but if I go hiking for a few days, or in very rugged terrain, I will wear hiking boots. For most beginners, a pair of hiking shoes (or trail runners) will do.”
“I am a huge fan of any shoes, boots, or trail runners by Salomon; however, Keen, Merrell, and Columbia have some quality footwear too.”
The hiking shoe pictured is from Salomon — and it's also suitable for trail running. This is the X Ultra 3 GTX (not a specific pick from Baskyte, but highly recommended elsewhere), and it's available at Amazon in a (very wide) price range of $136–$277.
“There are some great outfits for the active woman which we can use on the trails,” Baskyte says. “But be mindful and wear outfits that are wicking to ensure optimum moisture transfer away from the skin. I prefer merino wool shirts as the base layer, but there are some great synthetic options, too.”
This merino wool base layer from Smartwool is highly rated at Amazon and is $94 and up — but there are lots of more affordable options at Amazon, too. This top comes in sizes XS–XL in several colors. Athleta's Foresthill Merino Wool Ascent Turtleneck (a wool/nylon blend) is available for $79 in a wider size range of XXS–2X and has several colorways.
Here's the #1 pick from Wirecutter's roundup of the best hiking socks — Darn Tough's Light Hiker Micro Crew Socks. They praised these as “The best mix of comfort, durability, and cushioning in a versatile height.” They're $21 at REI and come in S, M, and L.
While I don't use them for hiking (just brisk walks and working out), I love my socks from Feetures. I think they'd work well for short, easy hikes. They're very comfortable, and they wear extremely well. While they're labeled as machine washable, I just toss them in with my other workout clothes in the hand wash cycle with Woolite and no fabric softener (since it's not good for moisture-wicking fabrics.) These highly-rated Feetures socks at Amazon come in S–XL and are $15.99.
{related: lifting for women}
Outside's Best Women's Hiking Gear of 2021 featured Icebreaker's Sprite Racerback Bra, which is currently on sale for $27–$60 at Backcountry (unfortunately sold out at Amazon for now). It's available in five colors in sizes XS–XL. It's not a “hiking bra,” per se, but it's designed for low to moderate impact sports, is machine washable, and is made from 83% merino wool (yes, wool!), 12% nylon, and 5% Lycra.
My favorite sports bra right now is from Outdoor Voices — their Doing Things Sports Bra is $58 at Nordstrom, where it's available in three colors in XS–XL. (I love mine because it's polka dot!) This bra is comfortable and supportive, and it holds up very well. I wash it in a lingerie wash bag on the hand wash cycle with Woolite. I wouldn't know what bra to recommend for a serious, multi-day hike, but for a couple of hours on a light hike in the park, this would be a good fit (no pun intended).
Psst: looking for a great sports bra for larger bust sizes? As of 2024, readers love Freya, Panache, Shock Absorber, Title Nine, Athleta, and Enell for higher impact. Looking for something wire-free and comfier for lower impact workouts? Check out Glamorise or Syrokan (and consider wearing a breast support band to make any bra better for higher impact workouts.)
If you're hiking where you don't need a tough fabric on your legs to protect you from brush, thorns, etc. — and the weather is cold — try fleece-lined leggings (and other warm options). The pictured leggings are from Baeleaf, which is a reader-favorite brand — this style has 15,000 reviews (!). I have these myself, and they're warm and comfortable — they also have two large pockets! (These are too long for me, but then I'm only 5′.) The leggings come in a ton of colors and are $23.79–$27.99 at Amazon.
Also check out these styles that are higher quality options: Nike Therma-FIT (XXS–XXL), Nike Hyperwarm (lucky sizes only), and Under Armour ColdGear (short, regular, and tall up to XXL).
Kat's written about Road ID before — it's an easy way to carry ID when you don't have your driver's license on you. It's a great item to have for solo hikes! She likes the silicone wrist band ($24.99), but there are other types — I bought this kind (also $24.99) for my husband to put on his running shoes. The engraving on the stainless steel tags is guaranteed for life! (They make pet IDs, too!)
While they're not designed specifically for hiking, one of these personal safety apps we recommended before could make you feel safer when you're on your own. For more, here's a blog post from Explorer Chick on everything to know about women's hiking safety.
Readers, do tell! What is your favorite hiking gear?
Psst: Long underwear can be great for both super cold hikes and windy office days with unlined pants — these are some of our favorites.
We always recommend silk long johns to layer beneath unlined suit pants in winter, both for warmth and comfort. Some of our 2024 favorites include silk ones from Lands' End, L.L. Bean, and Terramar, as well as the budget friendly Heattech from Uniqlo.
Stock photo at top via Stencil.
My best hiking purchase is the Injinji Liner socks. I went on a 10-day hiking trip and didn’t get a single blister. I don’t know how they work, but it’s amazing.
I am looking for hiking shoe/boot recommendations for my small (6), wide feet. I have high insteps and high arches. I have been wearing Merrell, but I think I could use something up a step. I am hiking about 1000 miles per year, hilly, rocky, roots, streams, etc. and waterproof matters for my early morning hikes. Please share your experience, both good and bad.
I have high insteps / high arches and swear by my Keens.
That’s a lot of miles! Good for you.
We are not the same size, but I have high arches and high insteps and I love my Solomon boots.
I have wide feet and love my OBO shoes.
This review leaves out the best part of the Darn Tough socks, which is their warranty. They really do take any pair of socks back for credit towards a new pair. I’ll never buy any other socks again.
I work for a park district, so I have a lot of clothes that can perform in the field but also look good(ish) in the office or when meeting out on site. I really like my alder apparel pants, and I recently got a few of the “tech chambray” shirts from Orvis. The latter are collared, UPF-rated button ups in a range of colors.
I really trust OutdoorGearLab or a similar site more than anecdotal reviews for this kind of stuff. Fit for technical gear is going to be so dependent on each body.
Thanks to whomever it was here who recommended the Homemade Wanderlust videos on You Tube. She is great and I have learned a lot by listening to her and reading the comments on the videos. I’m just a hiker but getting into camping and did one backpacking overnight. Baby steps!
Yay! I think that was me! I love Dixie and her videos, and I have learned so much from her.
For this post, the one thing I’d recommend again and again (after wool, wool, wool) is Altra shoes. The Lone Peak range is so, so great (Homemade Wanderlust is where I picked those up a year ago).
Darn Tough is great. I also strongly recommend hiking with trekking poles, especially on rocky terrain or anywhere with a creek crossing. For anyone getting into backpacking, get the lightest pack you can afford that has the features you want.
Yes to trekking poles!
How does Baeleaf really run? I’ve got generous hips (40ish inches), so I’m thinking XL per the size chart. Is that right? Some brands’ fleece leggings have no stretch, so maybe XL is right.
Yes I am same and this is my size.
Hiking poles! I’ve got IT band issues on my left and poles are lifesavers at preventing knee pain on a hike with any sort of downhill. I have some Leki women’s, don’t remember the particular model.
I live in the southeast, and my running clothes are my hiking clothes. There’s no need for a separate wardrobe or even shoes in most places. The main criteria is able to get wet (sweat or actual water) and dry to damp reasonably quickly. If I’m carrying a backpack, I prefer a sleeved shirt; generally an old race t-shirt.
Before buying new stuff, wear the stuff you have on some walks (with pack if you’re going to carry a pack) in your neighborhood and get a feel for what works and what doesn’t.
I love my Sea to Summit sleeping bag liner. It’s my “sleeping bag” in the summer and in the winter is the difference between chilly and comfortable.
My favorite hiking gear (not apparel) is the Big Agnes mountain light in white. It is light enough to bring in backcountry hikes, and bright enough to read by. It can be both a lantern and a string light. I’ve used it in 4 countries and countless backcountry trips and it holds up incredibly well.
I always hike with a Buffs (https://www.buffusa.com/) and/or a cotton bandana — wicks sweat, keeps hair out of your face, can be used as a handkerchief, towel, etc. If hiking by myself, I try to wear an inexpensive safety whistle around my neck (I wear The Howler but love the look of this one: TI-EDC Titanium Emergency Whistle, Loud Portable Keychain Necklace Whistle for Emergency Survival, Life Saving, Hiking, Camping, and Pet Training https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HF4H624/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1QYWN7VKB7YPNQA3RMH0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1). I have yet to find a sports bra that dries faster and better than a regular lace bra, but they can cut into your shoulders if you have a heavy overnight backpack. I wear silk boy shorts for undies for the same reason (RIP Mary Green silks. Does anyone have a favorite silk boy short??) I always have a lightweight hat like a Skida (https://skida.com/collections/nordic-hat). These Old Navy shorts with side pockets are great and so affordable: https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=579238. I have more than one pair. In hunting season, I wear a Carhartt knit hat (https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/carhartt-adult-acrylic-watch-hat-15cttmcrylcwtchcpapa/15cttmcrylcwtchcpapa) and sometimes a cheap orange hoodie from Walmart, depending on where I’m going (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Athletic-Works-Men-s-and-Big-Men-s-Fleece-Pullover-Hoodie-Sweatshirt-up-to-Size-3XL/786842089). A vest is so versatile! A lightweight puffy one weighs nothing and doesn’t take up much room in a backpack (https://www.rei.com/product/102354/patagonia-nano-puff-vest-womens). Happy hiking!
I recently purchased the new Gregory Maven 65 backpack and LOVE it! Its weight distribution is fantastic. I did a 30 mile backpacking trip out west over 3 days with tons of elevation and did not feel any discomfort in my back or shoulders at any point. My mind was blown. The weight was going straight to my hips, which is good, and there was some soreness on the first day, but that would be expected as I hadn’t gone on a backpacking trip with that much weight in a year.
I also second the recommendation to search for reviews by Outdoor Gear Lab. I’ve never been disappointed by following their recommendations and find their analysis to be thorough and accurate.