A Quick Guide to the Different Hiking Gear for Women
As an avid female hiker, there are some items that are specific to women that I use when hiking, that make life so much easier. In this article, I will be talking about the different hiking gear for women that men do not need. Also, I’ll talk about fun websites that have better “patterns” and clothing/gear options for women. I will also talk about different brands that have better footwear, hiking boots, and more, specifically for women.
I have hiked a lot in the northeastern part of the US, mainly New York and New England. I am an Adk 46er and am on my way to becoming a New Hampshire 48er. So, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to gear. I know what works, what lasts, and what doesn’t.
In this article, you will read about hiking gear for women summer, hiking gear for women winter, hiking boots for women, hiking clothes for women, hiking accessories for women, menstrual hiking gear, waterproof hiking gear for women, best hiking gear for women, and a hiking equipment list.
This article is all about hiking gear for women.
Hiking Gear for Women:
Hiking Clothes for Women & Menstrual Hiking Gear
I think the most important piece of equipment to have when hiking and backpacking for women, is proper menstrual products. Apart from that, all the equipment is pretty unisex or the same. We all wear some sort of pants/shorts, shirts, jackets, and boots/trail runners, regardless of gender. However, the main difference, for men and women when it comes to gear, is proper menstrual products. I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a menstrual cup and or re-usable period pads. In addition, for going to the bathroom, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a re-usable pee cloth.
All of the products above I have linked. I think all three of these products are a must when hiking on your period and hiking in general. Especially the menstrual cup and re-usable pee cloth. If you prefer pads, then I would use the re-usable period pads. However, if you’re going on a long hike (more than 5 hours) or backpacking, you might experience chafing and irritation from these products. This is why I HIGHLY recommend you use the menstrual cup instead. They come in a couple different sizes, based on your flow level and if you’ve had children and what not.
Personally, I have pretty light periods that last about 5 days and I use the smallest size and have never experienced any leakage. I’ve worn my menstrual cup all night (9 hours) and again, I’ve never experienced any leakage. Also, I’ve been using the Lunette Cup for about 5 years now. I’ve worn this hiking, skiing, running, sleeping, and I’ve never had any issues with this product. I can’t recommend this enough, especially, when being active. This product is very similar to a tampon but re-usable. The Lunette website will give you more information on how to insert, remove, and clean the product.
More Sanitary Hiking Products
Similarly, the Kula, re-usable pee cloth is great! Again, it’s re-usable, so you can wash it and re-use it. The only downside is you can’t use the pee cloth for number two. For number two, I bring toilet paper inside a plastic bag. Sometimes, I will use the re-usable period pads instead because it’s more space efficient. Before my hike, I will place a couple re-usable pads into a ziplock bag. Then, when I have to go number two, I will use my poop shovel, to dig a hole that’s about 6-8 inches. Then, I will squat and do my business. Lastly, I will take a re-usable pad out of my ziplock and wipe. Finally, I will put the used pad into my ziplock then get back on the trail. Also, I will spray some hand sanitizer on my hands. When I get back home I will rinse the pads out then put them in the washer.
I have found this to be the easiest and most space-effect way to carry bathroom supplies when hiking. When hiking I’m always trying to save space and I find this really helps. And it’s environmentally conscious. But, you can always bring a plastic bag with some toilet paper (about a ⅓ of the roll) to use instead for either number one or two. Just make sure whatever toilet paper you use, goes back inside your zip-lock bag. Then you can throw away everything in the garbage when you get home. This way you are following the “Leave No Trace” rules.
Now, for winter gear it’s a little different, since the ground is frozen, you can’t really dig a hole and plus the snow is in the way. So, there are “poop bags,” that you can bring to throw out after your hike. Disposable wipes are also a good idea to bring for wiping and throwing away after your hike is finished.
Hiking Clothes for Women & Favorite Brands
Okay, some of my favorite overall brands for hiking are Salomon, Darn Tough (good for skiing too), Osprey (expensive but lasts), Patagonia (expensive but lasts), REI (expensive but lasts) and Black Diamond (expensive but lasts). Now, as far as clothing goes, I almost never wear shorts and if I do, they are some sort of biker shorts. I always wear leggings with pockets when hiking.
Again, this is typically different from men. Also, most women wear sports bras. I don’t wear anything particular, just one that is supportive enough for me to be active and comfortable to wear for an extended period of time. I like New Balance sports bras, or any place you typically buy your sports bras. For example, I would buy something that doesn’t have a ton of padding, so it’s more comfortable for 5 hours or more wear. A good discount store that re-sells Dick’s Sporting Goods clothes is Going Going Gone. You can find some good deals here and Sierra. Sierra is basically the TJ Maxx for outdoor clothing.
For t-shirts I like wearing dry-fit stuff, no cotton. I also like wearing tank tops that have built in bras, so I don’t have to wear a sports bra. For pants, as I said, I always wear leggings. There’s also a lot of good dry-fit pants that are great waterproof/water-resistant items to wear.
For a complete gear list, this article will tell you exactly what I bring and wear for summer hiking.
Hiking Gear for Women Summer & Hiking Boots for Women
When hiking in the summer, I try to wear as much dry-fit and breathable clothing as possible. As said above, I either wear a tank top with a built in bra or a dry-fit t-shirt with leggings. If it’s really hot out, I will wear biker shorts. Also, I will bring extra shirts and or sports bras in my hiking bag to change at the summit from all the sweat. Again, stay away from cotton. Usually, I bring some sort of waterproof hiking gear for women as well. Such as, a rain jacket, wind-breaker and or puffy depending on the temperature. Depending on what mountain you are hiking, the summit is anywhere from 10-30 ℉ colder than the base. When buying clothes and gear that are waterproof/water-resistant you want to make sure the clothes are made with Gore-TEX and no cotton.
Now for shoes, there are a lot of great hiking boots and trail runners out there to wear when hiking. I prefer hiking boots but I know a lot of people that prefer trail runners because they are more breathable and dry-faster from water. I really like Salomons, Keen Footwear, Iowa, Oboz, Merrell, and anything that REI recommends.
For socks my go to are always Darn Tough and merino wool. I use the same type of socks, made out of merino wool, that Darn Tough also produces. REI and SmartWool also make great hiking socks made out of merino wool too.
Hiking Gear for Women Winter
For winter hiking, it’s all about layers and packing multiple. I always start with base layers. Then I will wear snow pants for my legs and merino wool skiing socks. I will always pack extra socks. Then for my top, I will wear a breathable fleece/soft-shell, then a jacket outer shell for my last layer. I wear my ski mittens and or gloves, a hat, gaiter, and sometimes ski goggles for really cold and windy days. However, sometimes you will need sunglasses instead.
Also, I only use hiking poles for winter hiking. However, if you have joint pain, having trekking poles for the way down is a great option to take the pressure off your legs. Also, you will need snowshoes if the snow is more than 6-8 inches deep and micro spikes for anything less than 8 inches.
Other great winter gear websites are Spyder, Helly Hanson (expensive but lasts), Dakine, REI, and Backcountry. For a complete gear list, this article will tell you exactly what I bring and wear for winter hiking.
Hiking Accessories for Women
Lastly, some fun accessories for hiking are buffs that I use either as headbands or sweat rags. Again, sunglasses are always a good idea to protect your eyes, along with sunscreen. A small med kit, headlamp with batteries, whistle, knife, bear spray, Spot device, emergency bivy, baseball cap, chapstick, and or GoPro/Camera. Finally, again, here is a hiking equipment list for summer and another one for winter.
Now, you’re probably wondering how and where to pack all these things. I love Osprey hiking bags. They are expensive but they last a long time. I’ve had my current bag for almost 5 years and I’m just now thinking about getting a new one. And I hike A LOT, basically every weekend in the summer and every other weekend in the winter. My bag has been through a lot and has done its job with holding up really well.
And that wraps up our article about hiking gear for women. This was a very quick, and basic guide with the bare minimum essentials. If you want a more in depth equipment list, you can find one here for summer/fall hiking, and another here for winter hiking. Thank you so much for reading and I hope this article was helpful and you learned something new. Thank you so much and have a ton of fun on all your next adventures!
