It’s the morning of your hike and you’re staring at your closet wondering what to wear. Sure, you could go for the cut-off jorts and cotton tee combo and channel trail days from the '70s and '80s. Or maybe just toss on your go-to leggings and call it a day. Nobody's saying you can't wear that for a hike, but women's hiking clothes have come a long way in recent years, and when it comes to long-lasting, chafe-free comfort, a little more strategy and preparation can keep you happily trekking for miles on your next backcountry trip.
Even if the technical jargon and staggering amount of options say otherwise, nailing down your most functional and comfortable kit for everything from day hikes to backpacking doesn’t have to be overly-complicated.
No matter your experience or skill level, keep things simple by sticking to a few golden rules when picking out the best hiking apparel and you’ll wear the right thing everytime. Read on for a breakdown of said rules, or skip to our top picks for the best women's hiking clothes further down.
How to Choose Hiking Clothes
Layer Up
Wearing the best hiking clothes comes down to wearing the right layers, and luckily, there’s a really simple formula to follow: