Women’s Specific Gear
Wearing my tried and true Deuter daypack.
As we do a lot more hiking, paddling and camping — outdoor activities in general — I find myself seeking out specialty gear and clothing designed for women, usually by women, for the outdoors. Things like backpacks that better fit a woman’s body. And amenities that enable us to more comfortably pee outdoors. Here are a few of my favorite items and online shops.
I’m starting with the subject of peeing outdoors since it’s something we all deal with. There are two key issues - cleanliness and modesty.
Kula Cloth
Kula Cloth: Game changer. I first heard about this from serious backpackers and thru-hikers, but it’s really great for any women who spend long stretches outdoors, whether it’s cycling, paddling, camping, or just going for a day hike. Basically it’s an antimicrobial silver infused cloth to wipe with after you pee. One side is waterproof and used to hold the cloth and the other side is for wiping. It folds and snaps to your backpack to air out after use, and then wash when you get home (or at camp at night). There are knock-offs on Amazon, but it’s great to support the women who invented this concept and run Kula Cloth. The best selection of cute prints is on their website, or you can find them on Garage Grown Gear and other outdoor retailers.
SheFly Apparel: Okay, these may not be for everyone, but I love mine. SheFly makes hiking pants (and soon shorts) that have a second zipper. There’s the normal zipper to take your pants on and off. And a second zipper to use when you need to pee or poo and don’t want to pull your pants all the way down to your knees. That’s right, you don’t need to moon everyone on the trail. Just use the second zipper, pull your panties over to the side and you’re good to go. Literally. I was a little nervous about how these would look, and whether everyone would be able see the second zipper from behind when walking around. Luckily it’s very discrete and my husband assures me he wouldn’t have known it was there if I didn’t point it out. These are also sized for all body types, ranging from size 0 to 22. And I also like the stretch fabric with durable water repellent (DWR) coating. They’re having a super sale now, and new spring products are on the way. Check there website to buy.
PStyle: If you’re not into the Kula Cloth and SheFly pants, you might consider a “personal urination device” that allows women to pee standing up. There are two main makers. PStyle is a US company and SheeWee is a UK company that also sells on Amazon. I haven’t tried these, but have heard that you may need to try both brands to find the most comfortable fit. Learn more about PStyle on their website.
There are a lot of brands that make outdoor clothing for women, but here are a few that I think go above and beyond.
WoolX: This little company, which makes both men’s and women’s clothes, is founded and run by a father/daughter team in upstate New York, so we gotta support them! Plus, merino wool is my hands-down favorite material for hiking since it wicks sweat and minimizes odors naturally. I have multiple short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts in various weights of merino wool. This company makes awesome shirts as well as leggings in sizes ranging from petite/short to tall, and my favorite sports bra! You’ve gotta check them out and shop their website.
Youer: This women-owned business makes fun clothing with great retro prints and recycled fabrics. I think their skort and dresses are especially awesome. Wide range of sizes from XX-Small to XX-Large. Shop their website.
Balabusta Gear: Hiking skirts and dresses, when done right, can make peeing in the woods a little easier and more discrete. Balabusta is a tiny little company that makes nothing but hiking skirts, dresses and hoodies for women. The best place to shop for Balabusta clothes is on Garage Grown Gear.
Kinsa: Formerly known as Alpine Curves, this online retailer specializes in outdoor clothing for plus sizes. They carry lots of different brands, but only plus sizes.
Oboz: Footwear is very specific to the person and lots of women prefer using trail runners. Personally, I like hiking boots that protect my ankles and have a wide toe box that allow plenty of room for foot expansion when I’ve been hiking all day. I see a lot of women wearing Oboz, and maybe it’s that wide toe box that’s popular. You can see their styles on the website, but it’s best to try them on in person. It’s worth noting that Oboz is run by a women who’s president of the company.
I did a lot of research before buying a backpacking backpack, but not enough research. I loved the pack I ordered, but ended up having to return it because it didn’t fit right. After getting measured and talking to experts, I realized I needed a women’s backpack. Not just because they’re sized for a shorter torso, but also because the way the shoulder straps are cut and the width of the shoulder straps. Anyway, long story short, there’s certain gear that is best when designed specifically for women.
ZPacks: For a serious ultralight backpack for multi-day backpacking trips, I ended up buying a 60 liter ZPacks Women’s Arc Haul. They’re one of the few ultralight brands with a women’s specific design. Not only is the pack sized for women with a smaller frame, but it has shorter, slimmer shoulder straps to fit narrower shoulders. Highly recommend.
Deuter: My 25 liter day pack is a Deuter and has held up very well through years of use. These aren’t as lightweight as ZPacks, but very durable and functional. Definitely a more traditional style pack, but made to fit women.
Osprey: This is one of the biggest brands in backpacks and they’re easy to find at REI and other retailers. I’ve never owned an Osprey pack, but have tried on a few. They make women-specific packs that are designed to fit women.
Black Diamond: Trekking poles are another gear item that I think makes sense to seek out a women’s specific construction. Women’s poles come in shorter lengths, the grips are made to fit women’s smaller hands, and they’re generally lighter weight. My poles are made by Black Diamond and have held up very well for many, many hikes.
