Author
Gabi Stadulis, Leah Balagopal
Photographer
Photo courtesy Houdini
Photo courtesy Houdini
There’s something about wearing a dress that just pumps me full of unexpected confidence. And these days, that’s just around the house. Wear one outside in the sunshine, rollerskating around the park, or hiking on a favorite trail—yes, the hiking dress and hiking skirt is a thing—and that confidence—and comfort—goes through the roof.
The "adventure dress" isn't new. In fact, it's old. So old that its resurgence feels new again. This time, the renewed push centers both on comfort and practicality, and on empowering people to wear whatever the hell they want. Whether you choose to wear a skirt or dress as an act of defiance to those who view femme-presenting people in the context of outdoor sports as somehow less capable for their gender or outfit choices, or simply because you think it’s comfortable, having the option is the important thing.
Beyond how it makes you feel, the practical case for hiking dresses and running skirts in place of hiking pants is strong, too. They’re breathable, great for ventilation, encourage free movement, and of course, make backcountry bathroom breaks easier than ever. Case in point: In the thru-hiking community, rain skirts have become a functional item for backpackers of all genders and a common sight on the Appalachian Trail, PCT, etc. Dresses and skirts for outdoor activities just make sense, so we thought we’d share our favorites.
The following 11 items are our top picks for the best skirts and dresses for hiking, trail running, camping—you name it.
Field Mag's Top Picks
- Best Overall: Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress
- Best for Everyday: Houdini Route Shirt Dress
- Best for When Nature Calls: Backcountry Destination Dress
- Best Coverage: Kari Traa Vilde Dress
- Best Post-Ride Skirt: Wild Rye Estelle Skirt
- Best Lightweight Hiking Skirt: Houdini Stride Skirt
- Best Fit: Girlfriend Collective Plum Sport Skort
- Best High-Performance Skirt: Lululemon Pace Rival Skirt
- Best Sun Protection: Carve Designs Cody Dress
- Best for Travel: Patagonia Fleetwith Dress
- Best Pockets: Palante Packs Hiking Skirt
11 Best Hiking Skirts and Dresses for All Outdoorists in 2023
Best Overall: Outdoor Voices Exercise Dress
The very dress that inspired this list, the Exercise Dress is an Outdoor Voices staple, re-released seasonally with new patterns and colors. Form-fitting with built-in tights and flattering on any body type, this dress is your one-stop-shop for any warm weather activity—running, biking, hiking, and heck, maybe even bouldering. Perhaps not backpacking though, as the body suit design may make going to the bathroom a real ordeal.
Pockets: Phone pocket
Built-in Bra: Yes
Built-in Shorts: Yes
Price: $100
Best for Everyday: Houdini Route Shirt Dress
If you haven't tried a shirt dress yet, you're missing out on one seriously versatile layer. This unassuming performance piece is ultra lightweight and packable, with a soft, stretchy recycled polyester fabric that dries quickly. Throw it on with a pair of hiking leggings or over a swimsuit for easy coverage as a dress or top when you're going from trail to town for an instantly pulled-together look. At the end of its lifecycle, send it back to Houdini to be repurposed.
Pockets Yes
Built-In Bra No
Price $160
Best Dress for When Nature Calls: Backcountry Destination Dress
There's a lot to love about Backcountry's Destination Dress, like the fast-drying, stretchy material with built-in sun protection, stitched-in shorts, and a super flattering high-neck athletic silhouette. Yet, it's the clever split-back design that doesn't only look great, but provides a quick and easy way to heed the call of the wild when you're outside without having to fully drop your drawers. Genius.
Pockets: Yes
Built-In Shorts: Yes
Price: $99 $75
Best Coverage: Kari Traa Vilde Dress
The wide straps and high neckline in the Kari Traa Vilde Dress offer a bit more coverage and security up top for those who need it. However, the extra material doesn't get in the way of comfort and performance—on the back, a mesh panel provides plenty of breathability, while the swingy A-line cut allows for freedom of movement in a flattering yet functional active dress.
Pockets: No
Built-In Shorts No
Price: $80
Best Post-Ride Skirt: Wild Rye Estelle Skirt
From the hard-charging ladies at outdoor apparel brand, Wild Rye, the Estelle Skirt packs in all the performance features you need to keep going outside—abrasion-resistance, stretch, breathability—with a style-forward look that looks great layered over bike shorts or worn solo. Ideal for travel, hiking, and other active pursuits.
Pockets: Yes
Built-In Shorts: No
Price: $99
Best Lightweight Hiking Skirt: Houdini Stride Skirt
Lightweight and quick-drying with great breathability, this knee-length skirt from Sweden’s lesser known purveyor of design-driven, eco-friendly outdoors apparel is a truly versatile option to wear hiking, gardening, and elsewear. Made with 70% recycled polyester, the Stride is lightweight enough to stuff in the top of your pack to make for a quick changing station at camp. Large slits on the sides allow for a full range of motion, and zipper pockets ensure valuables stay safe.
Pockets: Yes
Built-in Shorts: No
Price: $100
Best Fit: Girlfriend Collective Plum Skort
High-rise and snug in all the right places, this skort is made from sweat wicking and sustainable materials, has hidden mesh pockets, and side slits for maximum movement and versatility. It also comes in a variety of tasteful colors that aren't explicitly outdoorsy.
Pockets: Yes
Built-in Shorts: Yes
Price: $62
Best High-Performance Skirt: Lululemon Pace Rival Mid-Rise Skirt
Whether you want to be ready to hit the tennis courts or go for a run, Lululemon’s Pace Rival Skirt has got you covered. Made from Lululemon's proprietary lightweight and quick-drying Luxtreme fabric, it will keep you cool even on the hottest days. In addition to the pockets integrated into the short liner, the Pace has a hidden media pocket with a cord exit so your tunes don’t have to stop when you’re on the go.
Pockets: Yes
Built-in Shorts: Yes
Price: $78
Best Sun Protection: Carve Designs Cody Sundress
This free-flowing dress is an ideal option to throw on over a bathing suit after a surf at the beach. It provides UPF 50+ sun protection and the drawstrings make it adjustable to the length that suits you. It's also made from 94% recycled materials and a touch of spandex for a flattering semi-fitted fit. This would be the perfect dress to slip into day one of a river trip—and never take off.
Pockets: No
Built-in Bra: No
Built-in Shorts: No
Price: $74
Best for Travel: Patagonia Fleetwith Dress
Part of Patagonia’s Fair Trade Certified sewn collection, the Fleetwith Dress is great for hiking, traveling and also the environment. It has an encased drawcord to customize the fit and it has a DWR treatment to wick away unwanted moisture. It's also versatile and functional, with not one, not two, but three pockets to stash any essentials you may need.
Pockets: Yes
Built-in Bra: No
Built-in Shorts: No
Price: $75
Best Pockets: Palante Packs Hiking Skirt
Designed with not one, but four (!) large pockets, Palante Packs scores major points for providing an abundance of on-the-go storage that includes one front zippered pocket, plus two back snap pockets to keep valuables safe. Made from a durable stretch woven fabric, this rugged unisex hiking skirt runs large to accommodate a wide range of body types, with an adjustable built-in belt to customize the fit.
Pockets: Yes
Built-in Shorts No
Price: $90
Other Great Hiking Skirts & Dresses
We also like Prana's Railay Skort, which includes a subtle elastic waistband, Mountain Hardwear's Dynama Skort, which is like a stretchy, UPF 50-rated, DWR-treated mini skirt, and Backcountry's Stansbury, which is an insulated skirt ideal for extra warmth for winter hiking.
Published 09-04-2023
