It is finally summer here in the North Cascades so it feels right to share my list of the best summer hiking gear for women. Similar to the list of cold weather gear I shared, this covers all of my favorite gear for hiking that I fully recommend. Everything in this post is something I own, use, and swear by! I hope you find it helpful and inspiring this summer.
My Full List of Recommendations for the Best Summer Hiking Gear for Women
Just like when I shared my list of winter gear, I want to stress the importance of layering when it comes to dressing for outdoor adventures like camping and hiking. For example, just because it’s blazingly hot at the trail head, doesn’t mean it will be hot at the summit. Often, it’s significantly cooler and windier! Because of this, I recommend being prepared to layer a few items so that you can remove and add based on your needs and the temperature. It’s always good to be prepared and most of the technical clothing I’m recommending is lightweight enough that it won’t impact your pack weight for a day hike.
Going camping, too? Check out my ultimate guide to our camping essentials (including everything I use to cook)!
Summer Activewear for Hiking, Rock Climbing and Camping
Tops and Outerwear:
- Outdoor Research Echo Tank Top: An awesome lightweight, basic top that breathes.
- Prana Everyday Support Tank Top: great for climbing trips, too
- Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Rain Shell: the best shell I’ve ever owned. I love that the arms are long enough for me, the length covers my butt, and the hood is big enough so I don’t get water in my eyes. It is lightweight enough to be perfect for summer rains, too.
- Patagonia R1 fleece full zip hoody: This is the most recent addition to my gear wardrobe. Sean swears by the R1 series for insulating and I agree. I love that it has a fitted hood and very deep pockets. Great for layering, but also cozy when you’re lounging around the fire after a hike.
- Prana Momento Bra: a cute bra that can double as a swimsuit top in a pinch
Bottoms:
- High-rise, long length bike short: I am beyond obsessed with these shorts. The fabric is superb. It’s super smooth, soft, and has exactly the amount of stretch and compression I want.
- Columbia Sandy River Short: Affordable, available in a million colors, and baggie enough for my giant quads. I have one pair, but definitely want at least 2-3 more!
- North Face Women’s Aphrodite 2.0 Pant: Lightweight, basic, and easy
- Prana Halle pants: these are my favorite pants to wear for rock climbing. If you roll up and cuff them, they actually stay up! Plus, they have the perfect amount of stretch.
Accessories and Shoes:
- Salomon Wildcross Trail Running Shoe: I don’t like hiking boots because they can be heavy and too warm. This is my second or third pair of these and they are always exactly what I want. Highly recommend!
- Chacos: if you’re going for more of a walk than a hike or plan on swimming, definitely bring a pair of sandals. They’re pretty heavy though, just a heads up.
- Smartwool lighter wool socks
- Exped Torrent 30 backpack: I absolutely love this pack. Sean’s had his for years and years, so I recently got my own finally. Not only does it double as a dry bag, but it can be adjusted to as small or as large as you need it to be.
- Outdoor Research Papyrus Brim Sun Hat
- Nalgene HDPE BPA-Free Water Bottle + Wide Mouth Splash Guard
- CamelBak Water Reservoir
- Black Diamond Storm Headlamp: Always bring a headlamp, just in case!
- Garmin InReach mini GPS — we use this beacon every time we go out to the mountains, especially if there isn’t phone service. A friend with a lot of outdoor knowledge recommended it and it’s been awesome so far. You can create pre-loaded messages and then also do custom ones, plus type them from your phone so it’s easier.
I really tried to make sure I got everything in this post… so hopefully I did! If I think of anything or we change any gear, I will update this list of my favorite summer hiking gear for women. I hope you find this list helpful and I can’t wait to see what adventures you go on… be sure to tag me!
