Read on for our top picks of women's hiking underwear, researched by us for you. We've got you covered - literally!
The best hiking underwear for women needn't cost a fortune. Form meets function in this super affordable piece from Decathlon. They're made from merino wool, which we seriously rate (see buying guide find out why) and they won't break the bank. Soft, comfortable and lightweight, these Decathlon pants are the perfect hiking companion.
Material - Merino
Cut - hipster
Colours available - Purple, Black
Montane's Apex D-Fuse with POLYGIENE® is a game changer. It features in lots of their other base layers too, not just underwear. It has a dual layer construction, featuring a super soft sweat-proof knit next to the skin, and a smooth face. The POLYGIENE® aspect wicks sweat and provides permanent odour control. This is a piece of underwear that takes care of itself and makes you forget you're even wearing any. Perfect, right?
Material - Apex D-Fuse (Montane's own dual layer fabric) with POLYGIENE®
Cut - hipster
Colours available - Grey, Teal
Whilst they might cost a little more, these pants will see you through a whole host of adventures. Reinforced merino wool reduces abrasion and makes the fabric more durable over time, whilst flatlock seams make them super comfy and barely visible. What's more, they've even made the care label removable, because we all know how uncomfortable it can be when that itches!
Materials - 84% Merino, 4% Spandex, 12% Nylon
Cut - boy shorts
Colours available - Black, Asphalt, Rose, Tan
Responsibly sourced high quality merino feels like a sort of warm hug in the Smartwool 150 Bikini. Smartwool's lightweight jersey style merino with a nylon core is strong, durable and resistant to wear down, whilst maintaining the awesome wicking and odour free properties of merino.
Material - 87% Merino Wool, 13% Nylon
Cut - Bikini
Colours available - Grey, Black
Lululemon began as a yoga brand, so they know what they're doing when it comes to flexing those limbs and getting a sweat on. And sure, the best hiking underwear can also be great underwear for other activities such as yoga. And they certainly know what they're doing when it comes to women's underwear. This is a super snug yet breathable piece of underwear that will fit you like a glove and keep the sweat at bay. What's more, the feel of them is so silky soft that you'll be excited just to put them on in the morning.
Material - 88% Modal, 12% Lycra® elastane
Cut - Bikini (other cuts available)
Colours available - Baby Blue, Bronze, Pink , Silver, Black , Nude
The best hiking underwear should tick all the boxes, and we think the Ex Officio does a good job of that. If you're the type of person that really wants to feel good in their underwear, these are the ones for you. Style meets function with this pair, with striped mesh side panels that increase breathability and look great. They also feature antimicrobial treatment to keep you fresher for longer, especially in warm weather. What's more, the seams have been bonded to create a seam-free look, which not only looks great under leggings, but feels awesome too. They'll fit snug with the added spandex and hold their shape over time too, so worth spending a little extra. The Ex Officio Give n Go sport mesh bikini brief is also a great option.
Moisture-wicking HeiQ technology fabric with Fresh Tech keeps odours at bay and adjusts to your body temperature Bonded seams for a VPL-free look.
These could be your ideal partner for that backpacking trip!
Material - 82% Nylon, 18% Spandex
Cut - Bikini
Colours available - Black, Buff, Dry Rose, Ink
This is a seriously figure-hugging pair of underwear. They'll regulate your body temperature whatever climate you're in and stay warm and dry no matter what, thanks to their wicking and quick drying materials. They fit so well in fact that they'll feel like a natural extension to your body and allow a totally free range of movement.
As hiking underwear for women goes, these are well worth considering.
Material - 69% Polyamide, 26% Polyester, 5% Elastane
Cut - Bikini
Colours available - Black, White
Super soft merino in a range of beautiful colours meets unrivalled comfort in the Icebreaker Merino Siren Hipkini. Durable, high quality merino makes this an expensive but worthwhile investment into your hygiene and comfort whilst adventuring.
Material - 83% Merino, 12% Nylon, 5% Elastane
Cut - Hipkini
Colours available - Black, Metro Heather, Midnight Navy, Suede, Gravel, Serene Blue
You know how they say self-care isn't all bubble baths and candlelit cups of herbal tea, but is instead about the boring things like managing your finances and instilling a morning routine? Well, hiking underwear is a bit like that. It's not the glamorous and exotic stuff we usually talk about, but the nitty-gritty important stuff often isn't. We know that getting the right hiking underwear for women matters, and if you've ventured out in the wrong stuff, you'll know what we're talking about.
So we've compiled a list of (in our humble opinion) our top picks of women's hiking underwear out there. Underwear that'll stay put, keep the moisture at bay and keep you comfy and moving. So you can go and do all that glamorous and exotic stuff. Spoiler alert, it's the Decathlon Women's Merino Wool Mountain Trekking Pants that take the crown for us - other hiking underwear just doesn't come close. Read on to find out why.
Men - we've got you covered too!
You wouldn't think it, but there's a lot to consider when it comes to women's hiking underwear. Here's a quick rundown on what we think is most important to consider on your hunt for the best hiking underwear for your hiking adventures.
You've probably never given a lot of thought to what material your hiking underwear is made of, but you probably have noticed that certain clothes don't fare well in bad weather. Cotton is a prime example. It absorbs water very easily, meaning it gets heavy and takes forever to dry, none of which is ideal if you're sweating it up the hills. The mark of good hiking underwear for women should be that you can't even feel you're wearing it. It should be made from soft fabric, comfortable, light, breathable, moisture wicking and non-toxic to your body.
So, what's the best material for the job? Well, merino wool is definitely up there. Don't worry, we're not talking chunky knit wool, merino wool if you're not familiar already is a natural wool fibre that is super thin and soft, and it feels like a slightly silkier and lighter version of cotton. Its insulating fibres help to regulate body temperature, wick moisture away from the skin and minimise odour. Isn't nature great?!
Since we're waxing lyrical anyway, it's worth knowing that merino wool is also biodegradable, fire-resistant and completely non-toxic. Sadly however, being natural, merino wool isn't known for being the most durable. It can wear down fairly quickly with abrasion and is more expensive, so you'll probably be buying for slightly more, and slightly more often with this option.
Some companies have dedicated themselves to using equally efficient synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon and spandex. These tend to be super fast-drying, stretchy, less expensive and very durable, all of which are things you should be looking for when buying your best hiking underwear yet. However, synthetic underwear tends to hold onto odours instead of fighting them, so they can get stinky pretty quickly. They're also industrially produced using non-renewable energy from fossil fuels which doesn't sit well with everyone (including us), but they are cheaper and more readily available.
Only you know which fit works best for you so this isn't really something we can advise on too much, the bottom line is whatever you feel most comfortable in, wear that. Whether that's hipster briefs, bikini, boy shorts or thong style, we're all different and we've tried to include a range. Most of the hiking underwear we've listed however are available in different styles too.
There are two reasons this is important: comfort and style. I mentioned before that the best hiking underwear will be so comfortable you won't even be able to feel you're wearing it. Quite often us women will wear leggings or tighter fitting trousers and shorts to hike in, and nobody feels great with a VPL (Visible Panty Line). Undies with flat lock stitching or no seams at all will be your best bet. You won't be able to feel you're wearing them and best of all, they won't be visible!
If considering the wash care of your new hiking underwear doesn't fall into the category of self-care we discussed at the start, I don't know what does. Merino wool, for example, should be washed on a lower heat with less spin to avoid shrinkage, and shouldn't go in the tumble dryer as the heat tends to wear the fibre out. If you're worried about ruining your new merino underwear, you can always hand wash it.
For some, that is simply too much thought to have to put into washing underwear. Synthetics are generally safer to just chuck in with the rest of your clothes, so it's worth considering before you buy.
Look, we're not here to tell anyone what to do or what not to do, it's your life. But we do challenge you to go hiking for the day in normal cotton underwear and tell us you weren't uncomfortable, sweaty and sticky at any one point.
You can go hiking in jeans and a fur coat for all we like, all outdoor hiking clothing does is make you last for longer on the hills and it's generally more durable too.
Women's hiking underwear that's soft, comfortable and moisture wicking will be a far better bet than those grey cotton undies with the dodgy elastic you got for Christmas five years back.
Material is a good place to start. Fabrics like those from merino sheep are natural and don't produce nasty emissions as some synthetic materials do. Plus, wool is naturally odour resistant, it's quick drying and it'll keep you cool for long days on the trail.
Some companies such as Patagonia also use synthetic recycled materials, such as nylon, which is heaps better for the environment too.
Generally we'd recommend opting for what you usually wear and what you're used to. The best women's underwear for one woman won't necessarily be the same for you, so decide what's most important and go with that.
When it comes to washing hiking gear, you do have to be a little careful. Fabrics like merino wool are susceptible to shrinkage if you wash them too high. Synthetic materials, such as nylon and polyester, can generally be chucked in with the rest of your clothes. Just make sure you check the wash label first.
Avoid using detergents as these can destroy the moisture wicking properties of walking gear.
Odour resistance, moisture-wicking properties, sustainable construction and durability are our top things to look for. Comfort is also key. Hiking underwear for women is very varied in terms of cut, style, coverage and price, so go with what you feel great in.
The best underwear for you will be largely dependent on what activities you'll be wearing them for, which cut feels more comfy for you, and your budget.
If you're watching the pennies you can't go wrong with the Decathlon Merino. If you're tackling a multi-day backpacking trip you'll appreciate the odour control and moisture wicking skills of the Montane Dart Briefs (these guys know all about bringing the heat!) and if you want something that looks great but still does the job, there's the Ex Officio.
The best hiking underwear for women needn't cost a fortune. Form meets function in this super affordable piece from Decathlon. They're made from merino wool, which we seriously rate (see buying guide find out why) and they won't break the bank. Soft, comfortable and lightweight, these Decathlon pants are the perfect hiking companion.
October 15, 2023
October 15, 2023
October 15, 2023
October 15, 2023
October 15, 2023
October 15, 2023
