The best hiking clothes for women along with cute hiking outfits to inspire your next adventure!
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What to wear on a hike and still look cute? I had the hardest time finding gear as I prepared for two hiking trips this year. It was important to find quality items to keep me comfortable while also looking fashionable! I spent so much time researching so I could learn what would be comfortable, the best brands, and other gear I may need. That’s why I decided to put together this guide so you can find all of the answers in one place.
I’m sharing the best hiking leggings, my favorite boots, coats, and more. If you are looking for something specific, use the links below to hop to a certain section.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Good Hiking Outfit
Let’s start with what makes a good hiking outfit. Number one, you want to have lots of layers! The temperature can change often when you are climbing a mountain or working up a sweat. Layers are crucial to ensure you are always comfortable.
Which brings me to the next point, you want to be comfortable so you can enjoy the hike. You should look for materials that wick sweat and don’t irritate your skin for long hikes. Cotton and merino wool are always great choices. Today, so many brands make great materials that wick sweat so always look for that on the labels!
Best Hiking and Outdoor Clothing Brands
First, a few brands and stores that are great for hiking clothes for women and outdoor wear.
- Backcountry
- REI
- Athleta
- lululemon
- Fjallraven
- The North Face
- Patagonia
- Outdoor Voices
- Smartwool
- Marmot
- Arc’teryx
- Columbia
- Danner
- 66° North
- Icebreaker
- Columbia
- Outdoor Research
- Amazon Basics
- Salomon
Best Hiking Clothes for Women
Now, let’s move onto all of the individual pieces you should plan to have for a hike.
Best Hiking Leggings, Pants and Shorts
I personally prefer to wear a leggings hiking outfit because 1. It is flattering and 2. I don’t want to buy hiking pants because I don’t hike THAT often.
Hiking Leggings for Summer, Spring, or Fall
In the summer, if it is a light hike, you can go with something like these lightweight leggings. If it’s more intense, you may want to invest in a more durable pair. The last thing you want is to snag your lululemons on a tree or if you sit on the ground. Here are the best breathable leggings for summer.
Find a great deal here: Shop lululemon’s We Made Too Much (Women’s)
Hiking Leggings for Winter (insulated options)
In the winter, your thin leggings are not going to cut it. I searched high and low to find a cute pair of thicker leggings. I ended up finding thin fleece-lined leggings that kept me super warm as we hiked through Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia. Highly recommend these, but definitely size down one.
These are also a great option that come in many colors.
Hiking Shorts for Summer
I’m a big fan of the biker short trend. It is super comfortable in my opinion and makes a great summer hiking outfit.
I also love these free people shorts. The high waist is very flattering and they are nice and loose with built in liners.
Cute Hiking Pants
If you want to go the pants route, these waterproof ones are what I would get to still look cute!
Love these light blue joggers too – they come in several colorways.
Best Hiking Coats & Insulated Jackets
You will need a couple different coats depending on the season and where you are exploring.
Insulated Puffer Jackets
First up, you should have a heavy down jacket in your wardrobe. I love my North Face jacket because it cinches at the waist and works well on/off the trails.
This is a similar option below that I tried. It is so warm and cozy! It comes in a longer knee length version so I have my eye on that instead.
My husband splurged and got an Arc’teryx down jacket and it is amazing. I am a little jealous that I didn’t get one. They come in several vibrant colors and neutrals.
Lightweight Jackets
I also love this lighter jacket that my husband and I actually both have. I wear this all the time because it’s warm, but also lightweight. It’s great to layer under heavier jackets if necessary.
This is a super affordable option and has great reviews. I really wanted a red coat, but didn’t want to spend a ton of money on one so almost purchased this. ONLY $43!
Also loving this lightweight coat for fall this year!
One more for good measure….this shirt jacket could be your coat or a mid-layer depending on the season.
Raincoat/Wind Breaker
If you are hiking in extreme weather, you will need to have one of these in your backpack. It is super windy and can rain out of nowhere in Patagonia. I have had this raincoat for years and is what I used on my trip to Chile.
Best Hiking Midlayers
I love a midlayer. You can never have too many and it’s a great way to add color to your outfits so your expensive pieces can be neutral and timeless. Midlayers are great to take on and off throughout the day if you need to adjust.
Best Hiking Shirts & Baselayers
This is where you really want to think about moisture wicking materials since it will be closest to your body. Go for merino wool and cotton materials here. I loves the long and short sleeve options to keep you dry. Even hiking in Patagonia where it was very cold, I still unknowingly worked up a sweat and found my shirt was quite wet later on.
Best Sports Bras
So the sports bras will be the absolute closest things to your body. This item really needs to be a good material and fit you well. Make sure its supportive, but not too tight otherwise it will drive you crazy by the end of the day!
My Favorite Hiking Boots for Women
I recently had to purchase some hiking boots to wear in Patagonia, Chile and the Faroe Islands. I did tons of research and decided to go with these Columbia brand boots. They are waterproof, supportive, comfortable, and don’t require a break in period. I wore them for the very first time as I hiked 8 hours on the iconic trail to the base of the towers in Torres del Paine. Not smart, but I never even had a blister!
I think these boots are so cute with the red laces, but they come in several other colors too!
More colors!
If I was going to splurge, it was going to be for these ones. They are similar in style and color, but more expensive. Since I don’t hike that often, it was not worth the cost. However, if I get more into hiking or lived somewhere mountainous, I would try these out! It’s a well-loved brand by outdoor enthusiasts.
This is a wildly popular brand for hiking footwear. These boots have a rubber sole, are waterproof with durable GORE-TEX material, and are great for hiking or trail running. They are lightweight giving it more flexibility to serve as a running shoe too!
Wool Hiking Socks
These wool socks are great to keep your feet warm, but also help prevent blisters from forming.
Hiking Dress + Skirts
I absolutely LOVE my exercise dress. It is so comfortable and cute! It would be a great option for shorter hikes on more flat trails during the spring and summer months.
this one comes with detached shorts!
Must Have Hiking Gear and Accessories
A few items that will make your life much easier hiking.
Water Bottle
This water bottle is well worth the cost because it keeps you drinks cold or your coffees or soups warm!
Hats and Beanies
I love this beanie because it is fleece lined and will keep you super warm.
This is a great athletic hat that is lightweight, dry-fit material.
Backpack
You will definitely want a comfortable backpack that you can wear to carry your snacks and extra layers.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are crucial to protect your eyes. I have worn these ray-bans for over a decade and absolutely love them.
These are cute too!
Sunscreen
You will need to wear sunscreen especially during the summertime, but the UV rays are strong in the winter too – you just don’t feel the heat. Always wear sunscreen to protect yourself from signs of aging like sun damage and wrinkles!
I wear this on my face everyday and it will not cause breakouts! 🙌
And use this or this otherwise for my body.
Neck Buff
For those cooler days to keep your face warm. Love that you can pull this over your nose and breathe into it to generate heat.
Gloves
A good lightweight glove that comes in many neutral colors.
Handwarmers
In case it’s really cold, I love to throw these in my pockets. I actually prefer doing that to wear gloves.
Blister Prevention for hiking
just in case!
Cute Hiking Outfits for Ladies
Sharing cute outfit sets for every season to help you pull together your trekking outfits!
Hiking Outfit for Summer
The perfect trendy hike outfit for summer.
Hiking Outfit for Spring
Spring brings along some of the best hiking clothes for women with beautiful prints and pastel colors. I love all of the options for a spring hiking outfit. You could do set, shorts, or even dresses!
Hiking Outfit for Fall
Fall colors are the best and will look amazing on the hiking trails.
Hiking Outfit for Winter
Bundle up in your warmest coats with these winter hiking outfits.
And that is all of my favorite hiking clothes for women! See you out there!
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