Hiking Gear For Petite Women | A Helpful Shopping Guide
Being a petite woman makes shopping so much harder! That’s why, in this post, I’ll be going over some tips to shop for hiking gear for petite women that will get you through all your upcoming hikes.
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I also share a few hiking gear items that I bought and used. If you’re looking for hiking gear as a petite woman, this is the place for you! Let’s dive in.
Petite-Friendly Clothing for Hikes
As a petite and curvy woman, it can be hard to find hiking clothing that is comfortable, cute, and functional straight off the rack. When I first went shopping for hiking clothing, I ended the shopping session with no purchases and a crying session in my car.
Hiking Pants for Petite Women
Before my second shopping session, I took time to research different brands and clothing options. As I pored over different websites and blog posts, I realized that a pant inseam measurement was key to finding the right fit as a petite person. By knowing my pant inseam, I could now look up the measurements of pants online and know if it would be too long.
Shopping Tip:
@theyasmindiaries
Know your inseam!
It’ll make finding hiking pants so much easier!
It was also helpful to note my hip and waist measurements to pick the right number or letter size of the hiking pants. If in doubt, I always suggest going with the next size up and then tailoring if needed.
Before heading to the in-store, I looked up about five potential pants and screenshotted them to look them up in-store. Some of them worked, some of them didn’t.
When I went back out to the clothing racks, I made sure to have my phone ready. Before taking any hiking pant off the clothing rack, I searched the item on the store website and looked at the inseam measurement to make sure it was the right length. Only then would I try on the item in the fitting room!
If you’re a petite woman looking for hiking clothes, check out the blog posts below for even more tips!
Hiking Shirts for Curvy Women
coming soon!
In the meantime, shop my hiking shirts here:
Backpacks for Petite Women
Hiking backpacks can be too long for petite women, with uncomfortable shoulder straps and complicated set-ups. When my husband and I first went shopping, we lucked out with a helpful REI associate who guided us through several backpacks before we found a comfortable one that worked for both my tall husband and my petite height.
Shopping Tip:
@theyasmindiaries
Look for a backpack with adjustable straps to extend or shorten the torso length. This is usually found at the top of the backpack.
Then, a few months later, we found my Gregory backpack at an REI Re/Supply event. The best part about them is that the main backpack straps are adjustable at the top of the backpack (just like Kyle’s backpack). I’m able to get a super “custom” fit with all the adjustable straps.
YASMIN’S HIKING BACKPACK:
Gregory Maya 22L Backpack
This Gregory backpack has a hydration pocket, a main pocket, a small front pocket, and a stretchy outside section. There are also multiple side and waist pockets.
It also has a chest and waist strap to ensure your backpack stays secure. As a petite gal, these straps are super helpful in creating a more custom fit. The best part about this backpack is that the top part of the backpack is adjustable! You can basically raise or lower the main backpack straps for the best fit.
Smaller Hydration Backpacks
If you’re wondering what’s the difference between the following backpacks and the earlier options, it’s mostly the reservoir size. These hydration backpacks carry less water for shorter day hikes, which means less weight while hiking. These day packs also have a smaller bag space to hold only the essentials, like sunscreen, a phone, and a smaller emergency pack.
Remember to overestimate your water needs; it’s better to throw out extra water after your hike is over than run out of water during your hike.
Osprey Salida 12
Hydration Backpack
Osprey Kitsuma 1.5
Hydration Backpack
Whether you are looking for hiking pants or backpacks, this post features links to petite-tested hiking gear. The best game-changer when shopping is knowing your pant inseam (and other body measurements)!
Knowing your various measurements helps to quickly narrow down products until you find one that will work for you.
I can’t wait to see you out on the trails, rocking your petite-friendly gear!
This is a hiking post about
Hiking Gear for Petite Women.
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