Camping Gear for Women (Clothes, Backpacks, + More!)

Love camping and hiking, and want to upgrade your gear? Here are a few of my favorite camping gear ideas for women!

Ladies! If you've spent much time looking for hiking and camping gear, you've probably noticed something.

A lot of the standard camping gear out there is not made with women in mind.

We also have a list of our favorite outdoor gear for men.

Here's a list of my top camping gear recommendations for women. Everything's available online, so you don't have to hunt it down in person.

Planning a camping trip? Check out my camping + hiking travel guides, including tips for camping in the rain! Or look over my favorite gifts for campers and national park lovers.

Hiker walking on trail with overlaying text box that says "Camping Gear for Women."

Best Camping Gear for Women

Below are some ideas and suggestions based on what clothing and shoes I've grown to love over the years.

Clothing

The following are the clothes that I grab when we head out for a camping or backpacking trip. These clothes make my hiking trips more enjoyable and comfortable, and I highly recommend them!

Looking for backpacking specific gear? Check out this guide for our favorite backpacking gear.

woman standing on a rocky cliff and wearing a backpack. — Wearing a Merino Half-Zip

My favorite clothing for the outdoors does two things: keeps me the correct temperature and keeps me protected from the sun.

Check out some of our clothing specific gear guides:

Sun hoodies
Hiking pants for curvy women
Merino wool shopping guide
Alpaca shopping guide
Snow pants for curvy women (because some of you camp in winter too!)

Pair of blue Topo Terraventure 5 shoes with ankle gaiters attached.

Shoes + Sandals

Over the years, my shoe preferences have changed a bit. I went from hiking in barefoot-style boots to thick Keen hiking boots, and eventually transitioned to trail runners.

Here are a list of shoe specific gear guides:

More Camping Gear for Women: Bags

Here are a few more things that I always throw in the car before heading out on a camping trip.

A Fanny Pack

This might seem obvious, but I don't want to take a purseout on a hiking trail. But you do need some way to keep your phone and ID safe. If pockets aren't working for you or if you're on a long backpacking trip, a mini purse might be ideal.

My favorite trail-friendly purse is the Gossamer Gear bumster fanny pack. It's large enough to hold essentials, has a hidden zipper compartment for your ID and money, and easily fits in a backpack.

Backpacks + Vests

For short hikes, I love simply carrying a running vest instead of a backpack.

Shopping for backpacking packs, especially large ones, can be challenging. If you're short, it can be extra challenging! If you're struggling to find a correctly sized pack, check out this backpacking packs for petite women guide.