Budget Friendly Women’s Hiking Essentials
While I love a good pair of Lululemon leggings, I often find myself NOT wearing my more expensive athletic gear during hikes. Why? Because I don’t want to rip or snag a $100 pair of pants! Yes, I know many stores have great policies should that happen, but why deal with that when you can find gear that is nearly identical for a fraction of the price? Here are my top choices for budget friendly women’s hiking clothes along with recommended footwear options.
Budget Friendly Women’s Hiking & Outdoor Tops
Tanks
This Lemedy crop tank is my go-to Lululemon Align dupe tank. The best part is that the Amazon version is less low cut, which I appreciate on the hiking trails. If you don’t want a crop top, this CRZ YOGA option is the perfect alternative:
Sports Bras
Most similar to the popular Lululemon Energy Longline bra, I actually prefer the CRZ YOGA brand due it being softer and slightly looser around the ribcage:
Long Sleeve Tops
These are my favorite long sleeve options. They work great on their own and also for layering options:
Budget Friendly Women’s Hiking & Outdoor Bottoms
Shorts
My go-to for running style shorts. I have this pair in several different colors:
For biking shorts, I have found these to be my top two choices:
For an option outside of a biker short or running short, these unlined shorts are great for hiking, golf and many other casual outdoor activities when you just want a breathable comfortable option:
Leggings
The Colorfulkoala option below is my #1 go to hiking leggings. They are super comfortable, stay in place and I don’t have to worry about a snag or rip compared to their name brand $128 version. The fabric is a little bit smoother/sleeker which is a huge bonus for dog parents. They do not hold on to dog hair nearly as much as other leggings. The YUNOGA option also works great and is often my backup option. For those colder days, having a fleece lined pair available is a must and this BALEAF brand legging is my favorite:
Hiking Pants
Through a lot of trail and error with hiking pants, I have landed on these 3 as my top budget friendly women’s hiking options:
Footwear
Hiking Shoes & Boots
While I focus mostly focus on budget friendly options, hiking shoes are the one area that I highly recommend you put more budget into. A few reasons why a good pair of hiking shoes is a must:
- Grip & Traction: Hiking specific shoes provide stability walking over all types of terrain. The first time you walk on a slick boulder and don’t slide like you do in normal tennis shoes, you’ll understand.
- Ankle Support & Stiff Soles: I mostly use high top type boots for more intense hikes to get the extra ankle support. Stiff soles on hiking shoes provide provide extra support on the ground and help cushion your feet when going over sharp rocks.
- Water Resistant/Waterproof Protection: Many boots offer some level of water protection, but be sure to check the details to understand how much. This is not just for a rainy hike, but incredibly beneficial for those early mornings when the trail and grass is a dewy. No one wants to start a hike with wet socks.
This was the first hiking shoe I bought (and my husband as well) and we still wear them to this day. My favorite part is the Continental rubber sole. Yes, Continental as in the tires. These shoes have amazing grip. Adidas makes several versions of its Terrex brand, be sure yours has the continental rubber sole as not all do:
These hiking boots are so comfortable and supportive. I love Salomon’s Contagrip soles. Very similar to Adidas Terrex Continental soles in my opinion:
Hiking Socks
If you are new to hiking you may think, I don’t need to splurge on socks. While you will get by just fine with your standard cotton socks, putting a few extra dollars into a better sock really helps to support your feet on your trek.
Many hiking socks use Merino wool. Yes, the thought of “wool” socks may sound incredibly hot and uncomfortable but, that is not the case! This is not your itchy wool sweater in sock form. These socks are specifically made to be breathable and with just enough padding to provide additional foot support. The best part? Merano wool is made to absorb odor causing bacteria making these socks less stinky than cotton options.
This is my go to brand. I have them in different colors and styles (low cut and crew):
I hope these options help you get geared up for your next hiking trip without breaking the bank! Make sure to check out more of our travel tips blog posts.