15 Cute Hiking Outfit Ideas (by an outdoor guide!)

Looking for cute and functional hiking outfit ideas? I’ve got you covered! From what to wear hiking in the heat to cute winter hiking outfit ideas, start here to check out cute hiking outfits:

Hi there! My name is Maddy and I’ve been working as an outdoor guide and writer since 2018! Figuring out what to wear hiking can seem challenging at first but it turns out that there can be a lot more style to your outdoor outfits than meets the eye. Here are some of my favorite functional and stylish hiking outfit ideas!

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Outfit Ideas for Hiking

From hot to cold, trendy to functional, check out 15 hiking outfit ideas for adventure lovers:

1) Desert Day Hiking Outfit: water-friendly bottoms + sun hoodie

If you’re headed out on a shorter day hike in the desert, consider water shorts like the Patagonia baggies or Columbia rugged water shorts for bottoms. On longer hikes, it might pay to wear long pants both for sun protection and because scrambling over rough desert rock can leave a mark, but for hikes with water involved, I like shorts!

Pair with a sun hoodie, or even a long sleeve thin baselayer top for sun protection and versatile temperature regulation. For water hikes, consider a pair of adventure sandals. Don’t forget sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, and top off your kit with a hiking pack with day hiking essentials!

READ: Desert Hiking Tips

2) Hiking outfit for mist and humidity

Hiking in the humidity is one of my least favorite climates to be on trail in, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hike! For hiking in hot and muggy weather, I usually pair my hiking boots with a pair of loose-fitting shorts, a loose baselayer t-shirt, and a water-repellent wind breaker.

For humid hikes, I find that loose-fitting clothes are a must. If it’s raining in earnest, sub the water-resistant windbreaker for a raincoat.

3) Desert Backpacking outfit

For backpacking in the desert I love the simple combination of loose-fitting and lightweight trail pants like the REI Trailmade Pants and a sun hoodie.

Additionally, for backpacking you’ll likely want sun protection and a handful of additional layers to weather temperature fluctuations in the desert. Check out the full guide to what to pack for backpacking below!

READ: Ultimate Backpacking Checklist (+ how to pack and plan for beginners!)

4) Late summer backpacking outfit

If you’re hiking somewhere hot in the day but cool in the evening, consider long trail pants, a short-sleeve wool baselayer top, and a layering fleece (I like grid fleeces, which are packable and not particularly bulky.

In my opinion, hiking boots can not only make or break your hiking outfit, but your entire hike. Personally, I like a clunkier boot with a little more support, both because I think they’re cute and because they feel good on my foot. That said, a lot of people opt for lighter-weight trail runners as their hiking shoes. Read more about how to choose the right hiking shoe for you at the link below!

READ: Best Hiking Boots for Women

5) Hiking outfit for mid-hike swimming

If you love to hop in the water for a swim mid-hike, you’ll want a layering system adaptable for swimming! For me, this looks like starting with a cute sports bra like the REI Co-op Active Bralette or Smartwool Strappy Intraknit and a pair of active short tights like the REI Co-op Swiftland 6 inch, or any spandex short style pant you feel comfortable both wearing under leggings or hiking pants and also swimming in.

This will be the baselayer you hike in, and the baselayer that you swim in! For this reason, I recommend choosing materials that dry quickly, and shorts long enough that they prevent chaffing.

From here, dress however you would like for a normal hike! For me, that generally means a pair of leggings that don’t slip on my body and a wool baselayer top.

READ: Best Hiking Sandals

6) Basic summer hiking outfit

Can I let you in on a secret!? You can often wear pretty much whatever you want hiking, especially for nontechnical hikes less than three miles! For a basic summer hiking outfit, toss on a pair of shorts (preferably not denim or canvas) and a t-shirt (preferably not cotton, which stays cold when wet).

Pair your simple hiking outfit with a small day pack filled with snacks, a first aid kit, water and the ten essentials of hiking.

READ: Best Hiking Backpacks

7) Summer hiking outfit for high mileage

If you’re looking for a comfortable hiking outfit for fast hiking and long mileage with a variety of temperatures, toss on a pair of legging shorts underneath loose-fitting pants and a quarter-zip pullover over a sports bra.

Pair with your favorite hiking pack and boots and hit the trail!

8) Cooler weather hiking outfit

One of my favorite things about the change of season is getting to toss on some warmer hiking clothes. Some of my favorites include the Kuhl Freeflex Rollup pants, Smartwool baselayers, and vintage wool sweaters.

Pair with your favorite trekking poles and stash a fleece midlayer in your hiking pack!

READ: Best Women’s Hiking Pants (*that AREN’T leggings!)

9) Chilly autumn backpacking outfit

Heading out on a chilly autumn trek? It’s time to grab your hardy hiking boots, Darn Tough socks and puffer jacket! Pair with a set of tough trekking tights and a warm hat.

Once the colors start to change, you can have a lot of fun choosing outfits that contrast the scenery around you. One of the most fun ways to play with color is through a puffer jacket — a thin and packable jacket with a lot of “loft” meaning, this type of jacket can add a lot of warmth in just a little weight.

READ: Best Puffer Jackets for Hiking

10) Spring hiking outfit

Hiking in the spring can mean entirely different things depending where you live. Living up in Northern Wisconsin, for me spring hiking suggests ice, mealy snow and later in the season mud. For others, spring can signal wildflowers and time to hit the trails again.

Up here where spring means the last of the snowy hikes, I typically pair my winter hiking shoes or tough rain boots with a pair of black leggings (whatever is clean and in my drawer will do!), a wool baselayer and a sweater.

I’ll top off with a winter hat, and when the snow changes to slush, sleet and rain I’ll add in a raincoat.

11) Winter hiking outfit: heavy layering

For many, choosing what to wear winter hiking can be a challenge, but you don’t necessarily need to buy a whole new wardrobe to hit the trails. A good layering system goes a really long way. First, I start with wool baselayers; this is your next-to-skin layer that needs to keep you warm, even if you sweat a little. You can check out a full guide to the best baselayers for women here.

Next, you’ll want a decent midlayer. Typically I recommend you grab your favorite fleece from your closet or check out fleece options at a thrift store. From here, my next step is often a wool sweater, puffer jacket, or shell jacket (water-resistant, a raincoat may do). I don’t generally start my hike wearing all these layers but I am sure to pack them along.

For pants, I love the Fjallraven Keb Trousers over a pair of wool baselayers, and add a pair of YakTrax runners (they have screws in the ball as opposed to coils and I think work better and last longer) on my winter hiking shoe.

READ: What To Wear Hiking in the Winter

12) Coastal vintage hiking outfit

For a casual and fun hiking outfit for shorter shoreline walks, check out the thrift store and procure some funky pieces on a themed color! Below, I paired some thrifted teal leggings with another thrifted blue Icelandic wool cardigan.

The effect? Listen I may not be a style icon but I sure had fun.

13) Warm coastal hiking outfit

One of my favorite trips I’ve taken was when my fiance Andy and I headed out to Olympic National Park near the end of October to car camp. The mornings were misty and cold, and in the afternoons steam from all the moisture would curl up, lit by the sun.

For chilly weather with long days out hiking, I wore two pairs of leggings for extra warmth, a wool baselayer, a fleece pullover and a puffer jacket on top.

READ: Camping Packing List + How to Camp for Beginners

14) Rainy day hiking outfit

Hiking in the rain can be really rewarding and especially beautiful! For longer rainy hikes you’ll likely want both a raincoat and rain pants, but for shorter hikes when you anticipate a chance to dry out, a rain coat alone might cut it.

On this rainy hike, I went about three miles total in leggings with an oversized rain coat. Typically when I hike in the rain the space around my knees and lower thighs will get wet due to forward motion while walking, but the rest of me stays pretty dry. After finishing the hike, I dried out pretty quickly in a restaurant.

Generally, and especially when I’m hiking over night and won’t have access to a hot shower and a dry set of clothes, I’ll put on my rain gear including rain pants as soon as possible to keep dry.

15) Classic autumn hiking outfit

Grab your favorite flannel and hit the trail! Personally, I think men’s flannels sized slightly up have a better and cozier fit than most women’s lines.

A flannel over a hiking tank makes for a fun fall hiking outfit with a lot of options to personalize color-wise and move seamlessly from the trail to the brewery after your hike.

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