BEST Hiking Clothes for Women (Hiking Outfit Ideas)

At the top of my list of best hiking clothes for women are the Kebs. Both Cameron and I have Fjallraven’s well-known Keb pants. Fjallraven’s Keb pants are a mountaineering staple, but they are heavyweight and not excellent for quick dry properties yet extremely durable. I’ve been asked numerous times on Instagram and in person what brand my pants are, and I feel confident recommending them to anyone. They are seriously SO GOOD.

They keep me warm throughout most of my hikes and are windproof, and for their durability look great as a hiking outfit women. When I am too hot at the base of the mountain, I can unzip the sides for airflow. These are, without a doubt, my favorite women’s pants to hike within the mountains.

OR makes some of the best hiking clothes for women. If it’s not a strenuous hike, I like to wear Outdoor Research pants. The pants are really lightweight but similar to a softshell pants with great water resistance and windbreaking capabilities. 

With that in mind, they keep you warm in cool weather, but the breathability of the pants keeps you cool in hot weather. They also have a lot of water resistance and are more comfortable than a pair of rain pants.

I just went hiking with them in the Rockies last week and got poured on, but my legs were completely dry! See more of my favorite hiking pants here.

A hiking outfit for women isn’t complete without leggings. Leggings are among some of my favorite hiking clothes for women. When I’m not in my traditional hiking pants, you can find me in trekking leggings.

I wear yoga pants when I know the hike isn’t that demanding and I trust the weather enough that it won’t rain. I don’t usually wear yoga pants on overnight trips.

My favorite yoga pants are made from Handful; their signature leggings are durable enough for hiking and light enough for a yoga sesh. (Use code TWP15 for 15% off!)

prAna makes awesome and durable womens outdoor clothing. If you’re looking for women’s summer hiking clothes, you have to consider shorts. Honestly, I rarely hike in shorts. The weather is too unpredictable in the Rockies and always a little chilly. Plus, if I fall in shorts, a cut is likely on a sharp rock.

I know it’s not like that everywhere, and I definitely see the need for shorts in hot weather. Shorts are great hiking clothes for women. I have the Halle Shorts and they are just as comfortable as the Kebs! See the other best hiking shorts here.

I don’t travel without a shell jacket, and I don’t hike without a shell jacket – they are an essential hiking outfit for women. They are so easy and light to pack up there is no reason not to have one in your day bag. You should always be prepared for a chance of rain when you are hiking. Getting wet and rained on while on a mountain sucks, and it can also be hazardous in cold temperatures.

My hiking rain jacket has come in handy so many times. Many places where it wasn’t supposed to rain and completely unexpected. The Arc’teryx Beta and Zeta are waterproof, windproof, and breathable and made with Goretex Pro. It’s not just good for traveling and rainstorms, but is a protective shell against all levels of weather. I can even wear it in the winter as a waterproof shell over my down jacket.

A mid-layer is essential on any hike in the mountains and is essential for a fall hiking outfit. A mid-layer serves as the layer between your base and your jacket. It’s there if you need it in cool temperatures but can easily be removed when you get hot.

I prefer a mid-layer with a hood, but it’s not completely necessary. My main mid-layer in the summer is from Outdoor Research. Their Hybrid Jackets are extremely comfortable, Water-Resistant, Wind-Resistant, Lightweight, quick-drying, and breathable.

I usually hike with my Patagonia down fleece mid-layer in the winter as it’s a bit warmer, and it’s one of my favorite fleece jackets.

I ALWAYS have a women’s down jacket with me on every single hike I go on. It’s a just-in-case jacket that I usually end up wearing when I reach the summit, and it gets cold and windy.

Down jackets pack up light and small, so there is no reason NOT to have one in your bag. Seriously it could save your life in a bad situation. We wrote a whole post on our favorites.

My favorite jacket is my Arc’teryx Cerium Down Jacket. It’s super lightweight, comfortable, and warm. If you need a warm jacket, it’s impossible to do better in terms of weight vs. warmth than the jacket.

If you’re camping on your hike you may want some thermals to keep warm at night. Kora makes great camping clothes for women.

We’ve tried a few different brands, but recently settled on Kora as our favorite pair of thermals. It may be best for us as we need something technical when we snowboard or climb mountains to wick away moisture from our bodies.

Kora makes high-performance technical clothing out of quality Yak Wool from the Himalayas — warning they are high priced. However, their technical abilities have far outpassed traditional wool or synthetic materials we’ve used. Some slightly cheaper options are made by Smartwool!

Yes, the best hiking clothes for women involve socks. We’ve learned to love our feet with a good pair of merino wool hiking socks. You will want to keep your feet nice and dry while you walk around. Most importantly, wool socks stay fresh for several days as they have natural antimicrobial properties.

We travel with a couple of Darn Tough Merino socks, and our feet have never felt cold or wet. As a bonus, they’re produced in Vermont! See our other favorite hiking socks here!

A good sports bra is pretty much essential hiking gear for women. Of course, it’s completely up to you, but you’ll want something light, nonconstricting, moisture-wicking, and will hold your boobs in when you’re hiking. Handful makes my favorite sports bras.

The real key to a sports bra is the right fit. I love to shop Handful as I always know it’s going to fit me well. Their sports bras are heavy-duty and durable, just what you need for hiking. They are made out of quality material, are chafe-free, quick-drying, and even come with stash pockets. Use code TWP15 for 15% off. See my other favorite hiking sports bras here!

If I’m being honest I rarely hike in a hiking dress, as it’s not a usual hiking outfit womens staple for me. I have very muscular quads and definitely do not have a thigh gap, meaning that I chafe a lot if there is not some sort of fabric in between my legs. However I know that some women really like getting out in a hiking dress, and I can’t deny that they look great in mountain photos.

REI makes the best hiking dresses that I have been able to find. They also make stylish skorts so that you look like you’re in a skirt but have a sneaky pair of shorts underneath!

Good underwear is a women’s hiking apparel staple. Women have specific hygiene needs in the backcountry. To prevent bacterial infections, it’s important to avoid wearing cotton underwear. In general, you have two options synthetic or wool. I’ve recently bit the bullet and switched to wool undies even though they cost a bit more.

Icebreaker makes their Siren series of wool underwear that are amazing for their moisture management and antimicrobial properties. You have the option of a thong and bikini, which really depends on the type of pants or shorts you’re wearing. I own both, but the bikini obviously offers a bit more protection. I’m wearing the Siren underwear in this photo. After a 25 km hike, I jumped in a glacial lake to cool off; my underwear was dry in 30 minutes!

These shirts make great summer hiking clothes for women. I have six Outdoor Research Echo hiking shirts and rotate them on all my hikes. They are lightweight and moisture-wicking and great camping clothes for women.

Seriously, you don’t want to be stuck with a cotton shirt while hiking. Cotton traps all your sweat, and then when you get cold, it becomes a problem.

Outdoor Research shirts provide full coverage with their long sleeve collections, but you won’t get hot under the sun. These shirts are built with UPF sun protection, AirVent moisture management, and ActiveFresh™ odor control technology.

These are my favorite hiking boots, not only because they provide ankle support but because they are so darn cute for photos. The only problem is they are expensive, but I expect them to last for years! (They have already lasted me three years of SOLID use) I love wearing them around the Canadian Rockies.

If you’re on long multi-day hikes where you will need strong hiking boots to carry your backpacking load, these are great. Just keep in mind they are heavy, so not ideal for long day hikes climbing tall mountains, but if you’re looking for cute hiking outfits, these really make the cut. See all the best lightweight hiking boots.

After trying on close to 30 pairs of different shoes, the Moab Ventilator shoe is what I wanted as hiking and walking shoe.

These shoes are built tough, built to last, and are just generally good women’s travel shoes. I have probably put over 500 miles, and they got me through a year of bushwalking in Africa – I still haven’t thrown them out. They are well-padded, extremely comfortable, and for about $20 difference, you can get the Gortex version (waterproof).

I also have wide feet and a slew of other foot problems, and I can easily walk all day in these shoes through all different terrains. Seriously Moab Ventilator, you are some of the best women’s walking shoes for ladies that love the outdoors. They come in a high ankle version and low ankle version and require little to no break-in time. The last hiking trip I did with them was 70 km, and they were so comfortable!

In all honestly, I wear trail runners on about 85% of my hikes, and they are a staple of my women’s hiking outfit. I like how lightweight they are and that I have the option to start running on a trail when I want. Out of all the trail runners I’ve tried, the Salomons are my favorite.

Often voted one of the top trail running shoes on the market, these are built with only the rocky trail in mind. Salomon has strong name recognition, and there is a good reason for that.

These shoes support me through every trail hike, from their waterproof but breathable design down to their grippy and rugged bottom soles. The reason the Ultra 3 stands out in the line-up is their Advanced Chassis surrounded by foam that will have your feet forgetting you’re walking in the wilderness at all!

Hiking sandals can be so incredibly nice for freeing your feet. Whether it’s an easy hike or you’re just walking around camp it’s great to walk around in a pair of Teva’s or Chacos.

They can also complete any cute camping outfits! There’s nothing better than getting to camp, popping off the hiking boots, and switching to a pair of sandals!

Unless I am hiking in leggings, I need a belt to secure my pants. The newest one I just got is a Jelt Belt. Jelt is a women-owned social enterprise that produces belts made from 100% recycled plastic bottles with an innovative patented flat buckle that won’t show a bump under tops or tees.

I have a pair of gloves in my hiking pack at all times. They are great for when you are scrambling, and I always end up using them at some point in the Rocky Mountains when I am on jagged terrain. I never want to come back with bloody hands, and they protect against that.

Though I know not everywhere is like the Rockies, and you’ll have to access if you think you’ll be using your hands a lot while hiking where you are at, or alternatively, if it gets cold enough for gloves.

Okay, not exactly the best hiking clothes for women, but still very important for a hiking outfit womens. I always have a baseball cap in my bag if the sun gets too intense; it’s one of the most underrated pieces of hiking gear for women.

I’ve been out too many times without one, and my forehead gets too toasty for my liking – even with sunscreen. A hiking hat protects against that, and I highly recommend having one in your bag.

Make sure to protect your eyes from the sun since you’ll likely spend a lot of time hiking in the sun at elevation. There are a lot of options for sunglasses, and everyone should own at least a pair. It’s best to make sure they do have UV protection for the health of your eyes. Sunglasses are essential if you plan to visit any glaciers or high alpine passes as sun reflection from the snow damages your eyes.

We made our first investment in quality polarized sunglasses with a pair of SMITH Optics Lowdown 2 and now rarely leave the house without them. See my favorite hiking sunglasses.

I bring a Buff on every trip if my ears get cold, or I want to have one to cover my face, which happens more often than you may think. We have a collection of buff headbands and bring them everywhere. They’re great for many reasons, such as sun/wind protection, a scarf, headband, or an ear warmer.

We always have one in our suitcase or backpack no matter the destination and consider it one top travel and hiking accessory. I imagine most people have one or two of these by now, but if you don’t, it’s time to invest in at least one good one.

If you’re not on a long hike, a large multiple-day hiking backpack may not be necessary. Expect still to carry several pounds of gear on your pack, so it’s important to have a backpack that sits well on your back with good suspension. However, you don’t need a 50L+ backpack. Instead, opt for a size around 20-30L that should be enough to carry all of your necessities for the day.

We personally like to use a 20L pack from Camelbak for most day hikes in the mountains as it allows us to carry everything we could need. Plus, we carry cameras, but you may not need this large pack, so make sure to pick what’s best for you. Our other favorite hiking backpack brand is Osprey!

If you have plans to take part in a long day or multi-day hikes, a pair of hiking poles are a great way to save your knees and prevent injuries. If you’re on a full day of hiking in the mountains, you’ll gain and descend a lot of elevation. So, it’s easy for your legs to get tired, and a pair of hiking poles will pay off.

Although I don’t always need hiking poles, they are always in my pack. I almost ALWAYS end up using it at least once while I’m descending a mountain.

I personally use the Black Diamond FLZ Hiking Poles. “Z” poles are fantastic as they’re lightweight and can be stashed inside a backpack should you not need them.

Pack some high-calorie snacks for your hike on the trail. Popular options are energy gels, bars, balls, jerky, nuts, or even Snickers. Hiking at elevation can burn a lot of calories so it’s important to maintain your glucose levels.

It’s advised to eat as much as 200-300 calories per hour of exercise. If it’s a long day on the mountain you can always bring a packed lunch with a sandwich and high calories like dried fruits. (I’m pretty much a kid and still love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich).

If you’re on a long multiday hike where you are carrying everything on your back you will need to bring lightweight food with you.

Mountain House makes high-quality, freeze-dried meals that actually taste good. You just add water and you’ll have a quick hot mail for the trail.

They also come in great in an emergency situation. A few bags of this could save your life!

Speaking of eating, it might be a good idea to bring a small mat to sit on during breaks if you’re in the mountains. The stone and ground can often be much colder than the air, so it conducts heat and will make you cold.

I don’t bring this on all my hikes, but it is surely appreciated when I do. A pad can serve many purposes like a back rest, pillow, cooking surface, or a place to change your clothes. They are light, though, so make sure they don’t blow away. It’s best to keep them inside your pack instead of outside on a windy day.

You shouldn’t hike without a headlamp, even on a day hike. We rarely do sunrise hikes, but a headlamp is always in our bag just in case we get caught on the mountain after dark. They are small and light so there is no reason not to have one in your pack. This is another hiking accessory that could save your life.

We have several headlamps, but one of our new favorites is the Biolite. It took several recommendations online before settling on this one because of its affordable price and durability. It delivers 200 lumens, costs $50, and will likely last a decade or longer sweet deal if you like to spend time outdoors.

While I like having a water bottle on my hikes, I like having a water bladder even more. A bladder keeps me regularly drinking since I never have to stop hiking and take out my bottle. It’s always readily available for when you need it.

You should consume at least two liters of water a day while hiking in the mountains; often this means you either carry two bottles of water. The better option for carrying that much water on your treks is to carry a water bladder.

Most hiking backpacks and even daypacks designed for hiking have a sleeve for carrying your extra water.

If a water bladder is not your thing, at the very least, get a good water bottle. Don’t go hiking with a plastic water bottle! This is a waste of money and plastic.

I love the design of this water bottle! Like the Lifestraw Go, the Grayl bottle also features a filter. However, the filter design is entirely different than the Lifestraw. Most important is that this water bottle system purifies water vs. filters which removes viruses and virtually removes all threat of waterborne illnesses.

This is where preparation for spending a night out in the wilderness comes into effect. If you’re on a short loop around town, it’s probably not necessary, but any significant hike in a national park or wilderness area presents the risk of spending the night outside.

When temperatures drop at night, it presents the perilous threat of hypothermia or frostbite. An emergency blanket is a light and small item to keep in your pack.

Gregory has been building bags for a long time to know how to make a quality pack. This hiking backpack for women is a workhorse designed to be used and abused. The Deva is designed to carry a heavy load without breaking your back on the trail. It has a superior suspension system with plush padding and great organization. If you’ll be on extended thru-hike trips and don’t mind sacrificing a pound or two, this is your ideal hiking backpack.

A comfortable mesh backpack makes for excellent ventilation. It has attractive features like a built-in rain-fly, a water bottle holder that offers easy access on a hike, and hydration compatibility. It’s my favorite multi-day hiking backpack I’ve ever owned!

You’ll need a tent if you’re camping in the wilderness. We have our MSR Hubba Hubba backpacking 2 person tent for comfort when backpacking and doing multi day hikes.

The Hubba Hubba is a top seller for MSR. It’s ultralight and has a super-fast setup system. This tent is waterproof and ultra-durable for any mountain adventure. It’s a great size for two people, and there is even extra space to move around.

You’ll want a sleeping pad under you while you sleep. Not only is it more comfortable, but it provides insolation that you’ll need to stay warm. It can get very cold when camping at night, and without a sleeping pad under you, your body will take in all that cold.

We travel with the new NeoAir Lite. It’s good for backpacking since it only weighs 8oz, and you can blow it up in under two minutes.

A pillow is essential for a good night’s sleep in the mountains. Therm-A-Rest makes durable pillows from upcycled foam. These pillows are soft and expand large enough for a comfortable rest.

Don’t go into the mountains without a sleeping bag if you’re staying overnight. Even in the summer, it gets cold at night and you’ll need a proper sleeping bag to provide you with the warmth you need.

We personally have the new Vesper 20F/-6C Quilt. This is an awesome comfortable sleeping bag featuring 900-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down. It’s ultra-light and good for overnight backpacking trips. It’s important to match your sleeping bag to your climate; in the Rockies, we often see temps below freezing even in the summer.

This is the latest burner from MSR who has been designing these burners for ages, and the Deluxe is their best one yet. It’s not the lightest burner on the market, but at only three ounces, it’s pretty close. It’s a significant update to the old RocketPocket 2 with new recessed burner holes, a regulator, a piezoelectric lighter, and pot supports.

In use, the burner is exceptional, and it’s easy to deliver a consistent temperature, whether boiling water or simmering to cook food on a pan. Altogether, it’s likely the best backpacking stove, and I love to use it when we’re hiking in the mountains as it handles wind surprisingly well.