Have You Tried Hiking In A Skirt?
- Jessica Lane
- Jun 1, 2022
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 6, 2023
I fell in love with hiking in a skirt along the Foothills Trail. Halfway through the trip, I swapped out my sweaty grimy walking clothes for a fresh clean pair. Goodbye grimy zip-off pants! With that new ensemble was a skirt. Nothing special, just something I picked up in the athletic department of Marshalls beforehand. It was life changing! Dramatic, right? But just a few miles into that day I found myself asking "HOW have I never tried this before?!" I'd like to share with you some of the benefits I've found to hiking in a skirt, how I layer my outfits, and my top skirt recommendations to try on the trail.
The following is completely unsponsored and contains no affiliate links. All links to products mentioned are included for the purpose of helping you easily find them, in the event that you would like to give them a try.
Skip to...
Why hike in a skirt?
I guess the better question to ask would be "Why choose a skirt over pants?" There are dozens of reasons, but I'll narrow it down to just three...
1. Mobility & Freedom: Pants can be pretty restricting. When wearing hiking pants, your stride is limited by the measure of the inseam. Since there's a limit to how high or wide you can step, climbing up and over obstacles on the trail is more of a challenge. (At least that's been my experience.) Yoga pants offer a lot more mobility, but the tightness and compression can become uncomfortable over time. They can also prevent sweat glands from draining leading to skin irritation and acne. Yoga pants still have their place in my hiking wardrobe, but they have a looser fit and are mostly reserved for colder months when I don't expect to do much sweating. Wearing a skirt, however, you have way more mobility and freedom. Maneuvering over obstacles and up inclines is just easier. Best of all, your legs can breathe! With a skirt, there are fewer barrier for built up sweat to get trapped under. Choosing the right shorts to wear underneath is an important factor when it comes to breathability, but we'll get to that a little later.
2. Coverage: A major concern many female hikers have when it comes to using the bathroom in the woods is modesty. Not exposing ourselves when doing what we have to do. Skirts can help mitigate that by offering coverage. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this but it's a lot easier to go when you're not on the alert and fumbling over a pair of pants. Changing on the trail is also easier thanks to skirts. If I find myself in a situation where I need to change, but don’t have adequate privacy the coverage of the skirt allows me to put on and take off layers as needed. I understand some hikers don't care all that much about modesty and coverage, but for those that do wearing a skirt eases the concern.
3. Versatility: Skirts offer a lot of versatility when worn in environments with frequently changing temperatures. I mentioned how breathable they are in warm weather, but they're good for cooler weather too. On trips with cold mornings I can start the day by putting on a pair of legging underneath. As it warms up throughout the day, I can take off the leggings with ease. No need to take off my outer garment to remove the base layer. There's also no discomfort from the two layers bunching up and sticking together as I walk.
What about skorts?
Skorts are great too, but they kind of defeat the whole purpose of coverage. Because the entire skirt under short ensemble is sewn together, there isn't an easy way to go to the bathroom or change without taking the garment partly or completely off. It also takes away some of the versatility. Trying to layer leggings over the sewn in shorts isn't very comfortable. Often times the seam where the shorts meet the skirt makes it so you have to either roll down or bunch up the waistband of the leggings.
Hiking in a skirt isn't without its setbacks. One major con to this decision is exposure to the elements below the knee. You're more likely to get cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. But that risk is the same when wearing shorts. I see cuts and scrapes as an inevitable part of the hiking experience. So for me, the benefits out weight those disadvantages. Bug bites can be helped a little by using some kind of spray whether that's DEET, picaridin, or a natural solution. I personally am not a fan of using DEET, so I typically use the other two.
Layering: Dress for Success
We've covered skirts vs. traditional hiking pants, yoga pants, and skorts. Here's how I layer my outfits when hiking in a skirt: Let me clarify, I DO wear shorts under my skirts. Which can be both a pro and a con. Having the right under shorts are key to maintaining breathability while preventing thigh chaffing. I like to wear athletic boxer briefs with a 9 inch inseam. I've tried lots of different athletic and compression shorts, but boxer briefs are the most comfortable and breathable. Ones with a 6 inch inseam work too, but in my experience 9 does a much better job at preventing chaffing. The best ones I've found in terms of breathability are boxer briefs made from merino wool. But if you can't afford the price tag that accompanies wool one specifically made for athletic activity like Hanes Men's X-Temp Stretch Mesh Boxer Briefs will do the trick too. Obliviously, if you go with these, there is the issue of a "barn door". They are designed for men after all. A quick fix for that is to pull the extra fabric in the front taut and sew the opening shut.
If you don't want to wear men's underwear another option is Woxers. These are boxer briefs specifically meant to fit women. I own several pairs of their "Biker length" (9" inseam) and really like them. However, I do have two minor complaints. First the price. One pair is around $20! Compare that to Hanes where you get 3 for $17. Second the fabric is a very soft jersey material, which is comfortable but starts to pill after just a few washes. I wear a size medium in Woxers. The elastic waistband for that size comes to hip level just below my belly button.
Having the wrong under shorts can cause a number of problems. There's the saying "cotton kills." This is usually meant in reference to hiking socks, but it applies to under shorts too! Cotton absorbs moisture like crazy removing a many of the benefits of hiking in a skirt such as ventilation and insulation. While synthetic fabrics are much better at wicking away moisture, they aren't without their faults either. Unlike their natural peer, wool, synthetics hold onto smells much easier. Some more than others. Finding out your only pair of polyester under shorts stink tremendously and you still have another 15 - 20 miles to go in them is an unfortunate scenario to be in. Be sure to test your synthetic under layer before heading out on a multi-day trek or pack a backup pair.
Below are two examples of a typical hiking outfit for me. Nothing special just a sports bra, tank top, skirt, and under shorts for warmer weather. For cooler weather, all the same with the addition of wool leggings and a fleece or wool pullover. In the shoulder seasons, my legs don't get very cold without leggings while I'm on the move. As long as my core is insulted, I stay comfortable. For this reason, I try to keep the pullover stuffed in the front pocket of my pack. I can easily access it and take on and off as needed throughout the day. When paired with base layer leggings, a skirt can also help shield you in windier conditions. Sort of like a windbreaker for the legs. This depends on the material and cut of the skirt though.
Tried and True
In the interest of time, I won't be giving a full review of each recommendation. Just the basics like sizing/fit, things I like, things I dislikes, and any other anecdotal info that may help you decide if that particular skirt is right for you.
This is my #1 pick. Both the original Dynama and Dynama/2 are fantastic skirts, but version 2 improved all the things I disliked about the original. For example, they did away with the weird draw cord around the base of the skirt. They also removed the pleats on either side of the waistband, and added two more pockets. One in the back on the right side and a zip-up pocket in the front on the left side. The material is described on the website as a "Stretch Plain Weave." On the tag this translates to: nylon, polyester, and elastane. The fabric has plenty of stretch while still retaining its shape. I've found it to be really durable and fast drying too. The front pockets are about 6 inches deep, and the back pocket is about 5 inches deep. Plenty of room to fit a phone, camera, or handful of snacks. Another thing to love about the Dynama/2 is the cut. This skirt isn’t going to fly up on you in windy conditions. In fact, when layered with base layer leggings it does a pretty good jobs cutting through wind and helping me stay warm. In the picture above, I'm wearing a size medium. I could wear a small, but medium allows me to have a looser, more comfortable fit. I also prefer to wear the waistband on my hips rather than my waist, and the medium is perfect for this.
Pricing and purchasing options:
You can find this skirt on the Mountain Hardwear website for $60. Sometimes they run a promotion and you can get it for $45. This skirt can also be found on gear retailer sites like REI, Moosejaw, Mountain Steals, Backcountry, and Sierra Trading Post. Prices vary from site to site. Amazon is another place you can find it and usually get a good deal. I believe the original Dynama skirt has been discontinued since the release of the Dynama/2. However, you can still find it on sites like Poshmark or Mercari used or new without tags (NWOT.) Sometimes for as low as $25.
Other Recommendations
Athleta Whatever Skort
This is my second runner up. It is a skort not a skirt. However, I modified mine by cutting the shorts out of it. For one, this is so I can wear a separate pair of shorts/boxers underneath. For two, the original shorts have an odd fit. They're made of the same material as the skirt making them very loose and baggy. In my opinion, removing them was a major improvement. The material is a polyester spandex mix and doesn't have much stretch. However, due to the wide A-line cut, it doesn't really need to. If you want a more flowy fit than the Dynama/2, this is a great option. Unfortunately it isn't going to do a very good job of cutting through wind, and will probably blow up on you from time to time. In the picture above I'm wearing a size 8. I could probably wear a smaller size (6) but for a looser fit and the ability to wear the waistband on my hips, I chose an 8. A major downside to this skort is, there's no front pockets. There are two 4.5 inch deep pockets on the back on either side, but they're a bit too shallow to actually be useful.
Pricing and purchasing options:
This skort may be harder to find since it has been discontinued. BUT you can still find it on Poshmark, Mercari and Ebay. I purchased all three of mine from Poshmark gently used for at lowest as $25 and highest $45. It may be possible to find it NWT or NWOT, but you will have to do some hunting.
*A very similar skirt in terms of fit and A-line cut is Lightheart Gear's Hiking Skirt with Pockets. I personally have not tried this one, but I've met numerous ladies on the trail wearing it. All of which had great things to say. You can purchase it on the Lightheart Gear website for $98.
The Macabi traveler skirt has been around for a while. Originally marketed as a long skirt you can convert into pants via snaps. It's a pretty unique concept. While I haven't tried the long version, I have tried the knee length version. It's made from nylon with an elastic waist band and thick draw cord on the inside. I'll be honest, I'm really not a fan of this one, but I'm including it on the list because there's a chance it may be a good fit for you. Let's start with the positives. Massive front pockets! With almost 9 inch deep pockets you could fit a phone, camera, snacks, and then some. While the fabric has no stretch, it is incredibly durable and fast drying. I wore it on a trip over the Summer where I encountered frequent thunderstorms. The trail was also very over grown. Between rain and fighting through brush, this skirt was put through the wringer. And it held up! There were no signs of damage and by the time the rain cleared off and I reached camp it was completely dry! Now for the negatives. The fit is baggy and not at all flattering. The waistband is also very tight. The way the fabric is bunched up and sewn around the band creates these pointy little folds that scratch against the skin. In the picture above I'm wearing a medium. Maybe you don’t mind the over all cut and appearance of this skirt, and maybe you value utility over comfort. If that's the case, then this might be a good option for you.
Pricing and purchasing options:
The Macabi website is currently the only place to purchase it besides second hand sites. Last I checked, the knee length skirt is $65. The original long skirt is $90. Thankfully if you don't love your Macabi skirt you do have 30 days to return it.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Hopefully you found this post about hiking in a skirt helpful and / or informative today.
Comments