The Ultimate Women’s Outdoor Gear Guide
Its been nearly a decade since I went on my first hike. I wore hot pink Nike Free running shoes, the shortest shorts I could find and missed the memo on a backpack of any kind. No water, no food, nothing. I scrambled up a mountain in the Canadian Rockies and fell in love… with both the boy I was up there trying to impress and with hiking.
Since then I have immersed myself in the community. I watch documentaries, read blogs and even build a (relatively) successful business that both relies on and allows me to spend as much time as humanly possible going up and down mountains. And with nearly 1,000 nights spent in a tent over the past decade I have honed in on some really great gear. And don’t worry - I also made a lot of (very expensive) mistakes so that you don’t need to!
I walked through my gear closet and called in help from a few women who were built a little differently then I am and compiled this list. The place I wish I had to start my research rabbit hole a decade ago.
And if you ever have any questions or anything you love that you think needs to be added to this list - leave a comment below or send me an email!
The Ten Essentials are fully outlined here in my Ten Essentials Blog Post. They are also noted with a small asterisk (*) on the below packing list - all ten should, in some capacity, be with you on every hike and backcountry camping trip.
Daypack
Backpack
If you have a little
Tent
MSR Hubba Hubba 1 Tent (for solo trips)
Bivy and Tarps
Sleeping Bag
Liner
Sleeping Quilt
Sleeping Pad
Camp Pillow
Headlamp
Lantern
Hiking Poles
Map + Compass
Satellite Phone + Subscription
Drybags
Insect Repellant
Bug Net
Bear Spray
Bear Bin
Knife
Sunscreen
Lipchap with SPF
Sunglasses
First Aid Kit
I attached a few to get you started below. However, building your own is always better - that way you know what is in it and can buy higher quality products. The band aids in the first aid kits for instance tend to be small and plastic and dry out within about a year and should be replaced often and with larger, cloth, bandages. Also check drug expiration dates!
I keep a small medical kit that I have doctored up as well as a blister kit in my backpacking bag. Some suggestions for this include:
Tweezers – pulling splinters, thorns or ticks
1 sheet or roll of moleskin – most common hiking injuries are blisters.
Afterbite dressing - bug bites are another common hiking injury
Pill capsule containing Painkillers, Allergy, Pepto, ASA (for heart attacks).
Duct tape – don’t bring the whole roll, wrap duct tape around a small cylinder such as tent pole.
Quick Clotting Gauze – hemostatic gauze for large trauma (you can actually use women’s menstrual pads for this - a tip from a firefighter)
March Battle Wrap - high performance compression wrap for large trauma used by the military.
Large 3” bandage – for minor deep cuts.
Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner (plus enough for one extra day)
Snacks
Energy bars, energy gels, beef jerky, sour patch kids (any candy really), mixed nuts, olives, chocolate bars (on day one before they melt), dried fruit and hard cheese are some of my current go-to trail snacks.
Verb Energy Bars - You can use my code “vagabondhearts” for 30% off of your first order, Patagonia Organic Chile Mango, Patagonia Lightly Smoked Venison Links, Patagonia Spicy Buffalo Jerky, Vital Proteins Collagen Protein Powder
Electrolytes
Water Filtration
Water Bottle
I like to use Nalgene bottles. In colder temperatures they can be filled with hot water and double as a hot water bottle - and the smaller (16oz) is perfect for electrolytes.
Water Bladder
For summer use only, the hose will freeze in colder temperatures. I also really like the Camelback bladders however, they only attach to Camelback branded backpacks. The Osprey is a more universal attachment.
Camp Stove + Fuel
Utensils
Bowl, Plate & Pot
Coffee Cup
Insulated Stainless Steel Mug (heavier but will keep your coffee hot)
Titanium Single Wall 300 Mug you may also want these to protect your lips as the mug gets really hot.
Coffee Maker
I will go with either the Aeropress (and bring pre-ground coffee) or you can check out my full Instant Coffee blog - they tend to be a little pricier but there are some really great (and uber lightweight) options when it comes to coffee. In all honesty - without being able to control water temperature and weights the instant will generally turn out better than any of the below brew methods. I like Rosso Coffee Roaster’s Turning Point Instant Coffee
Waterproof/Rain Jacket
Wind Jacket
Waterproof/Rain Pants
Down or Synthetic Jacket
Mid layer, Fleece or Sweater
Hiking Pants and Tights
Athleta Trekkie North Jogger Pants (really great for curvier body types)
Long Sleeve Tops
Short sleeve Tops and Tanks
Hiking Shorts
Base layer Top
Smartwool Intraknit Thermal Merino Pattern Crew Base Layer Top
Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Long-Sleeve Top
Base layer Bottoms
Bras and Underwear
Clothes to Sleep In
I bring an entirely separate outfit when camping - it keeps my sleeping bag clean (the dirt, oils and sunscreen on our bodies can damage your gear), some schools of thought beleive it will keep food smells low when camping in bear territory and also makes me feel better. For me it will be either a secondary base layer set or a pair of tights and a tank top depending on the weather. I keep this in its own little pouch in my backpack.
Swimsuit
Hiking Boots
Hiking Shoes
Trail Runners
Camp Sandals or Slippers
Teva Original Universal Sandals - these are amazing socks and sandals camp shoes. super lightweight.
Chaco Z/Cloud 2 Sandals - these are better for if you have a lot of river crossings, you can also wear it with or without the toe strap.
Socks
Sleep Socks
What you will need in this respect varies quite a bit depending on where you are going and the facilities provided - some drive up campgrounds offer full bathrooms with heated showers - no need for a trowel or wag bag. However, in some remote alpine and desert areas you are not legally able to leave human waste and will need to carry out your no.2’s. This can be intimidating at first but with a little preparation it is nothing to worry about. I wrote a blog going into more details that you can check out via the link below.
Hand Sanatizer
Toilet Paper + Plastic Bag to carry out in
There is also a product called Dude Wipes if you are looking for a little backcountry luxury.
Trowel or Wag Bags
Toothbrush + Toothpaste
Toiletries
I am a big fan of the Ursa Major Face Wipes and have turned a handful of my male hiking friends onto them. After a long day of sweating and sunscreen it feels nice to go to sleep with a clean face.
Medicine
Advil, Aleve, muscle relaxants in these containers
Microfiber Towel
Charging cords and power bank
Cards, book, journal, tablet, headphones, etc.
Not a necessity. I personally will download a few podcasts and listen to them when I am camping and then bring along a deck of cards (I like this one) and the game Pass the Pigs. But know a lot of people who enjoy reading when camping.
Sports Watch
Toque/Beanie
Ball Cap
I like these from Keep Nature Wild - I have a small head
The Outer Sunset - great for larger heads
Gloves
Waterproof Matches*
Printed Permit (if required)
Ear Plugs
Repair kit for gear*
ID, cash, keys & cellphone
Seat pad or camp chair
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission on any purchase made - at no additional cost to you. As always, all ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Thank you for your support!
