So you’re going on a hiking trip. Amazing! When I was younger I wouldn’t have believed hiking would be something I’d be interested in, but now that I’m in my twenties and usually confined to a desk chair, staring at my laptop screen, I love nothing more than getting outdoors, being active and feeling the fresh air on my skin.
I don’t get the chance to do as much hiking as I’d like, but in the past year I’ve been hiking in Austria’s Vorarlberg region and in a few spots around the UK. I had no idea what to pack for a hiking trip, especially because I like to look fashionable when I travel, but I think I’ve got it down to a fine art now. I’ve put together this packing guide for women going on a hiking trip, and included my recommendations for the best female rucksacks for hiking, hiking boots for women and a surprisingly stylish waterproof jacket.
There’s a certain exhilaration that comes with hiking. I find it both meditative and energising, and if you’re planning your first hiking holiday, I envy you!
Girls, here’s everything you need to pack for a hiking trip
The best female rucksack for hiking
Osprey Sirrus 24 in blue – £90.20 
This 24 litre women’s backpack measures up at 48.3 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm; meaning you can use it as a carry-on bag on most airlines to save on checked bag fees. It’s lightweight too, at just 1.2kg. The padded waist belt eases the strain on your shoulders, and the stretchy mesh side pockets are perfect for storing day passes etc, so you don’t have the hassle of taking your bag off to rummage for small items. This female rucksack is great for day-hikes and I actually used it as my luggage for an entire four day trip! There’s an integrated rain cover, a trekking pole attachment, an internal hydration reservoir sleeve and front panel storage pocket. Most importantly for me, the bag has an adjustable torso length. I’m too short for a lot of rucksacks!
This extremely lightweight rucksack is great because it rolls up into a tiny, compact self-contained bag. The zip on the front becomes a pouch for the bag itself!
Read my guide on packing only a carry-on
Read my guide to finding the best women’s backpack
The best women’s hiking boots
These Salomon X Ultra Mid 3 GTX women’s hiking boots – £105.90 – £176.43 are an absolute godsend. They’re nice and sturdy, they don’t rub and give you blisters and they come in this fab electric blue shade. I can’t believe I used to hike in Converse – since getting these boots, I’ve realised how important decent hiking boots are.
These boots weigh 450 grams and I felt they needed a bit more breaking in than my Osprey pair, but they have a reliable grip and are great for less strenuous walks or hikes. I also love the grey and pink design.
The best waterproof hiking jacket for women
I was gifted this recently and I absolutely love it. I like that it ticks my boxes for both fashion and function, with a lovely deep purple colour in an insulated, waterproof material. The hood isn’t one of those annoying ones that falls down all the time and the length makes moving around easy.
What else to pack for a hiking trip
Clothing
- Shorts (depending on the weather)
- Leggings or tracksuit bottoms
- Thermal leggings
- Tops – I usually just stock up in Primark’s sportswear section.
- 1000 Mile ankle socks to prevent blisters
- Comfy underwear – I’ve been travelling with cheap sports bras from H&M but they don’t really do the job so I’m going to invest in an Adidas CMMTTD Chill Bra before my next trip because it has excellent reviews.
- A warm hat – My cream hat is from Regatta and cost £5.99. It’s super cosy, if you’re off on a cold weather hiking trip.
Top picks
Hiking accessories
Sunglasses – I quickly found out in Vorarlberg that my ‘nice’ sunglasses aren’t suitable for hiking. To stay comfortable and keep your eyes protected, you’ll need polarised lenses and a comfortable fit.
Refillable water bottle – this one is BPA-free.
Hiking poles – these lightweight aluminium anti-shock poles are specially made for women and come in purple or teal (which would totes match the hiking boots, jacket and bags I’ve mentioned).
Fitbit – to track your progress.
Top picks
Toiletries & medicine
- Roll-on deodorant
- A good cleanser to wash the day off – I love Bare Minerals
- High SPF face moisturiser – I always pack Soap & Glory’s Feel Good Factor BB Cream. It’s cheap and has an SPF of 25, plus it gives my skin that luminosity that being outdoors should give it.
- Plasters
- Germolene or Sudacrem for any cuts or scrapes
- Lip balm
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Lush solid shampoo, conditioner and body wash – they take up less space in your bag, are environmentally friendly, smell delicious and don’t count as liquids if you aren’t checking in a bag at the airport!
Electronics
Camera – I have an Olympus Pen E-PL7 and it’s super compact and portable, as well as a GoPro Hero 6 for adventure trips!
Selfie stick – Juust because…
Power pack – I never go on a trip with out a portable battery charger. I used to buy them from Primark but found they don’t last. This one gives your iPhone seven charges!
I also always pack snack bars, even if I’m not going on an ‘adventure’ type trip. I’m the hungriest girl ever and there’s nothing worse than being starving when nobody else wants to eat, so I have to keep a secret stash of cereal bars in my bag – otherwise I get hangry.
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