Hiking Gear for Women: What to Pack for a Day Hike
Post Summary: Hiking gear list that includes everything you will need to pack for a day hike.
Ready to hit the trail, and wondering what hiking gear you should bring? As a woman, it can be challenging to know which day hiking essentials are best for you. If you don’t know what to pack or how to be prepared in the wilderness as a female hiker, then continue reading!
In this blog post, we will discuss some of our favorite hiking essentials for women and provide tips on how they can help make your next hike more enjoyable. These are honest, real recommendations for women’s hiking gear that I regularly use.
I also included a few things you should definitely have if you are hiking with a dog. Whether you are a new dog owner, or you are new to hiking with a dog, rest assured, I’ve got you covered.
This post contains affiliate links to women’s hiking gear I own and recommend. If you click these links and make purchases, I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) to help keep my website running.
What to Bring Day Hiking
If you are looking for a quick checklist of essentials, we recommend bringing:
- Hat + Sunscreen: All hikes are outside and you will be exposed to the sun (even on a cloud covered day). Make sure you bring a hat and sunscreen to protect your skin.
- Backpack: Carry a backpack to bring everything on this list.
- Water bottle: We love to bring a 1 liter Nalgene on every hiking adventure.
- Hiking Boots: Comfortable hiking boots are a must! We love Oboz!
- Layers: The weather can change quickly during a hike, bring extra layers if it starts to rain.
- Camera: Be sure to document the incredible scenery on every one of you hikes.
Keep reading for our detailed list of day hiking essentials for women.
Day Hiking Backpack for Women
Necessary for carrying all of your day hiking gear. Make sure it has an adjustable, padded shoulder straps and that its comfortable on your back. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just something you like that fits well. Here are a few great options:
Hiking GPS Device
may want to consider buying a tracking/SOS device such as the Garmin InResearch Explorer+ which has preloaded topo maps, satellite capabilities and can trigger an interactive SOS to the 24/7 search and rescue monitoring center.
Water Hydration Reservoir For Hiking
This water bladder by Osprey is by far the best hydration pack and most essential piece of hiking gear for women I’ve ever used on my day hikes. It has some pretty awesome features. I purchased the 2L Osprey Hydration reservoir and let me tell you, it is far superior than any other hydration pack in many, many ways. I’ll just name a few for you. As you can see the way you fill it up is much different than anything I’ve seen; it’s like a ziplock on steroids. The bladder doesn’t leak at all unlike bladders with screw-on lids which makes filling water easy. It’s also easy to completely disassemble for cleaning. Plus, it has a magnetic clip that attaches to the reservoir hose and pairs with the included sternum strap magnet that you attach to your backpack shoulder straps for easy water access. All parts are BPA-free, phthalate-free, lead-free, guaranteed. All materials are certified food safe according to FDA and EU regulations.
Womens Rain Jacket for Hiking
Extra layers should be carried even during summer hikes and is a very essential piece of hiking gear for women. My North Face rain jacket is one of my favorite pieces of gear. Besides keeping you dry and providing some warmth, a rain jacket can also protect against bugs, sun, and wind.
Hiking Boots For Women
I’ve been hiking since I was 14 years old when I summited my first 12,000ft mountain with my dad. So I’ve worn a lot of hiking shoes. Let me tell you a little secret-Well fitted shoes make a world of a difference in your hike. And after all those years, I can honestly say I have finally found a hiking shoe that I love– Oboz. This is my third pair and I don’t think I will ever love another hiking shoe the way I love these. We recently bought a pair for Jake who blows through shoes every couple of months, and I am happy to report that these have held together.
Best Hiking Hat for Women
I honestly don’t go to many places without my hat. Living tiny means I spend a lot of time outdoors and I don’t want to cause any unnecessary sun damage to my face. Especially when hiking, that’s when it’s most important. Even if you wear SPF, it can easily wear off from sweat which leaves you vulnerable to getting a sunburn. And if you are hiking at high altitude, that makes you even more exposed. My favorite hat I got at a local store at Estes Park but here’s a hat I’ve had my eyes on for a while now.
First Aid Kit For Hiking
Having a First Aid Kit will have you prepared for any potential emergency on the trail. First aid supplies are ideal to treat small accidents. I like this All Purpose Mini First Aid Kit because it comes with Antiseptic wipes, sting relief wipes, antibiotic ointment, and latex-free bandages that are provided in a compact first aid kit made of metal tin for crush-resistant storage. Or you could simply make your own if you have supplies and a little bag storage bag.
Lightweight Sunscreen For Hiking
I can’t tell you how many times I have asked Jake if he needs sunscreen and he says “nah I’m good” and ends up with a gnarly sunburn and a goofy looking farmers tan that lasts the entire summer. Even on a cloudy day, UV rays can penetrate clouds and reach your skin. That’s why I wear sunscreen on my face every day and on any exposed body part when I am on a hike. This is the brand I use and trust. (Especially since I have oily, acne-prone skin).
Best Snacks For Hikes
I almost always bring a fresh apple with me on a hike. Its crisp and refreshing after a long hike and then bring a few snack bars. The idea is to be prepared in case your hike takes longer than expected, so after I pack what I plan to eat on my hike, I make sure to have a little extra. For me, that often means tossing in an extra Cliff Bar or two. (Blueberry Crisp and Chocolate Brownie are my favorite). They are filling, keep well, and don’t look too much different after a long day being squished in the bottom of your pack.
Gear For going to the Bathroom on a Hike
As a female, when we need to use the restroom, we have to go the extra mile and pull down our panties and show our bum in the woods. It’s a pain, I know. But I’ve got a few pieces of gear that will make your bathroom experience in the woods more enjoyable. The first are wipes. Now, I personally don’t mind drip drying when I’m in the woods, but just in case you have to go number two, these wipes are perfect for the job. The second is a menstrual cup. The cup is both worry-free and eco-friendly. It allows you to hike for hours without having to worry about bleeding through your tampon. I switched a few years ago and will never go back.
Hiking Headlamp
I have a small but powerful Black Diamond LED headlamp that I keep in my daypack at all times. If you get lost or have to be out past dark, having something hands free to illuminate your path is a must. I’ve liked this headlamp because it has a dimming function, a flashing mode, a red night vision mode, and it is waterproof. It’s a lightweight and compact headlamp that fits perfectly in any backpack and is an essential piece of hiking gear for women.
Emergency Hiking Gear: Fire Starter, Matches & Lighter
I like to bring a lighter, matches and a fire starter pack. In an emergency situation, starting a fire to keep warm or cook food is essential, so I feel it is worthwhile to have a few different fire starting methods. I carry a standard BIC lighter as well as a book of matches. The fire starter pack is extremely helpful for getting a fire started, especially in wet conditions.
Safety Hiking Whistle
A whistle is a great emergency tool for hiking. The sound carries further than your voice and is much less tiresome than yelling. It works great in an emergency situation to call for help as well as to locate the rest of your group if you were to accidentally get separated. I always have a whistle attached to my keychain so I know where it is.
Bug Spray
I could get away with a few spritz of bug spray and be good all day. But, if you are a percentage of the population that gets eaten alive by bugs, a hiking trip is not the time to be unprepared. I prefer unscented bug spray. I always carry a bottle of Ben’s 30 Insect Repellent Spray in my backpack. This brand is awesome because it is completely fragrance free, has 30% DEET (which is the minimum percentage recommended to guard against diseases transmitted by insects), plus it is a water-based formula, so it stays on your skin’s surface rather than being absorbed. My husband also likes to wear these bug bracelets.
Best Pocket Knife for Hikes
There are plenty of reasons you would want to have a knife on you when you are out on a hike. Knives are useful to cut cords, help start fires, process firewood, cook, as well as a variety of other tasks. Knives are versatile tools that can help in many situations.
This is the best hiking small pocket-sized knife for women to carry on their hikes. You really just never know what you might need it for.
Bear Spray for Hiking
This might be optional if you are hiking in an area where you can guarantee there are no black or grizzly bears. But I always bring a canister with me no matter what. It helps me have peace of mind when I am out in the woods. I went with Frontiersman Bear Spray because this canister rapidly deploys a heavy fog, creating a massive barrier of protection between you and the charging bear. Bears, beware.
Yes, you can fit all of this essential hiking gear for women in your daypack and you should. The majority of the gear you pack are things that you will hopefully never need to be used. However, it is important to be prepared in case of unforeseen circumstances that may result in being in the wilderness for longer than initially planned. Serious weather conditions, injury, and navigational mistakes are examples of problems that can make you unsafe when unprepared for the situation.
Hiking Gear for your Furry Friends
The last four items are specifically for your furry friend. So if you don’t have a dog, you can skip this part.
Dog Leashes
Some trails require you to have your dogs on the leash so I wanted to recommend my favorite hiking leash that I use for everything. We actually bought extras because we enjoy using them that much. These leashes have an adjustable waist belt and an elastic bungee leash. They are made from high-quality anti-tear nylon with a durable belt buckle and stainless-steel rings. I truly feel that these are the best leashes and keeping your dog safe from any harm.
Collapsible Dog Water Bowl
We always pack with us this collapsible water bowl by Ruffwear for the dogs. It’s an easy and convenient way for us to give the dogs water from our water bladders when we are on hikes without a river, stream or lake.
Dog Harness
Some dogs do better on hikes with a harness. I prefer to have our 3-year-old husky with a harness because she is by nature, a sled dog. Which means she loves to pull. These dog harnesses from Top Paw are comfortable and have a handle to quickly grab your pup away from danger.
Poop Bags
Sometimes I wonder if my younger self would’ve ever imagined writing poo bag reviews- yet here I am. These ones are awesome. Just get them. Your dog will poo on the trail. Leave No Trace principles aren’t just for people, you are responsible for ensuring that your dog is respectful of the trail and ecosystems you visit. Do your best to keep your dog on the trail and out of sensitive or delicate areas. Leave No Trace also means picking up after your dog when nature calls.
Warning: Do not under any circumstances leave bags of poop next to the trail! We see this on almost every hike and it infuriates me. No it DOES NOT biodegrade on the trail in a poop bag.
Pack it in, pack it out.
Please remember to pack out everything you pack in! Leave No Trace when you’re exploring the great outdoors.
Hiking Gear List Final Thoughts
Hiking can take you to some of the world’s most beautiful places. And if you are prepared and equipped with the right and gear, you will have the confidence to let your two feet take you to some pretty extraordinary places. Check out my Hiking Safety Guide for Beginners next so you can get out on the trail and know exactly what to expect.
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Safe and Happy Hiking!
