Women's Hiking Underwear
You might not think of it, but wearing the right underwear can make a long hiking trip, backpacking trip, safari, trek, or any other adventure much more pleasant. Check out the Pants and Tops pages for more information on baselayers (long-underwear).
Women’s Hiking Underwear Shopping Tips:
- Underwear material should be synthetic – not cotton! Hiking underwear should be wicking, meaning that any perspiration is “wicked” away from your skin.
- Look for quick dry underwear. If the materials are synthetic, than it will likely dry pretty quickly. However, some are designed to dry super fast, so you can wash them and have them ready to wear in no time.
- Odor reducing. Clearly a nice feature to have…some hiking underwear is made of special materials that help reduce odors, which is definitely worthwhile on hiking trips, or even regular travels.
Hiking Lady’s Favorite Women’s Hiking Underwear:
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Patagonia Active Hipster Briefs: These are moisture wicking, quick dry, and modest enough to wear as swimwear if you find yourself without a swimsuit on a backpacking trip! Hiking Lady’s Review: Patagonia Underwear |
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ExOfficio Women’s Give-N-Go Bikini Brief: The ExOfficio brand is very well known as the leader in underwear for active people like hikers. They aren’t cheap, but last a long time and live up to their reputation. Hiking Lady’s Review: ExOfficio Underwear |
I’ve been searching for backpacking underwear for women. My first purchase was from Patagonia. Though they were comfortable, they were not cheap and on the first day hike did not control odor. I’ve tried them at work and working out. They receive a B minus, especially considering the cost ($20). My next try was from EMS. I bought their brand of undies and a simple bra. Each of them cost less than $20, and they have performed okay in the field. Just found the ExOfficios at an outfitters in Ellsworth, Maine. Update later. Doesn’t anyone have anything better to offer than Patagucci??????
Thanks for the comment and question, Hello Kitty! I totally agree on the expense! Both Patagonia and ExOfficio are quite pricey. Of the 2, I find that the ExOfficio control odor better, but the Patagonia’s are softer and more comfortable. I’m on the lookout for a lower cost alternative. If I find one I’ll let you know. Definitely share with us how you like the ExOfficos.
Hi, tried the ExOfficio on 30 and 26 day treks in Nepal. They wadded badly. I wanted to strangle the designer. Patagonia were a bit better. Am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail next spring (2600+ miles, Mexico to Canada). I need something that will really work. Was thinking about something along the lines of compression shorts but in wicking, light weight material. Anyone ever hear of such a thing?
Wow that is bad news about the ExOfficio underwear. They hold up fine on my 3-5 day trips but they should have been better for a 30 day trip. I have seen some manufacturers coming out with “boy short” underwear styles, but the reviews I’ve seen are very mixed. This SportHill hiking underwear is pretty good if you wash it carefully. Polarmax is coming out with some women’s underwear called TransDry Underwear in March 2011. If anyone else hears of any good hiking underwear for long journeys, please share!
Hey
I’m going on a 45 day backpacking trip to Alaska this summer, and I’m in need of underwear that can survive that kind of trip…my tripmates last summer had shorts with underwear pretty much built in, and I can’t seem to find them…
Please help!!
Built in underwear? I’ve seen that in running shorts like the Nike Tempo Track shorts. If I come across others I’ll let you know.
Forgot to add, built-in underwear has created rub areas that caused a lot of discomfort. There are some running skirts with built-in longer (way above the knee but not the short ‘boy short’ lycra style – shouldn’t bunch up or chafe) that look like they’d be comfortable.
Thanks for the info, Pig Pen!
has anyone tried the kathmandu brand undies?
I’ve just bought three pairs for my trip to Europe next year. WIll be doing a fair bit of trekking but I especially want them for the light weight factor quick drying and definatly for comfort of course, it will be interesting to see how they hold up.
: )
I checked out the website for Kathmandu Underwear, it may work but I am looking for something more like the men’s Merino Boxer Men v3 or quickDRY Boxer Men the quickDRY Brief Women look a lot like the ExOfficio that badly wadded.
have you tried pinnacle? I was looking yesterday and found some merino. just can’t remember if they were boxer style. I have got the kathmandu and they are gorgeous to wear. Saving them for my trip but wish I could wear them every day. Still havn’t tested them on a trip though.
Kathmandu underwear doesn’t make a boxer in women’s but they do in mens. At least that is all I could find.
I haven’t found a single pair of wicking underwear made for women that actually works for long travels or long hikes. If I need real comfort, I switch to men’s modified boxers – a little snip and sew – or just do without. No underwear is better than miserable underwear.
Nylon is the only thing I’ve found that works all year, and dries fast even in winter. I tried various brands, even wool boy shorts – nice but not for me, and nixed poly fibers after several tries.
I’m not sure why the manufacturers always seem to make women’s underwear uncomfortable, with tight cutting elastics, bunchy, etc. – are the designers all men? Or do you need stick legs and a rear the size of a small pencil eraser?
I keep hoping to find an inexpensive brand, so I don’t have to sew it for myself! Hmmm – maybe nylon swimsuit fabrics? Any other ideas?
They all seem to be made for Chinese bums. They actually have bum implants to get a bum. Us anglo saxon/European bums are ‘real’ bums, meaning they don’t fit inside those tiny immoveable undies. Boy it makes me want to bring out an underwear line for different shapes and sizes. I think they would be so popular.I wonder if there is a european brand of underwear that is more realistic. You’d pay through the nose but maybe being quick drying we would need less pairs?
I’m looking at bamboo underwear. Bamboo has natural moisture wicking and anti-microbial properties, and they’re soft. Haven’t tried them on a trek yet but they sound promising.
Tried the Andiamo skins tonight – I will not use them on the PCT. They chafed my skin and had tight bands at the bottom which were irritating. Bamboo is a good idea – if I can find the right configuration.
Has anyone tried the Stoic Merino Boy Boxers (for women)? I just read a write-up in Backpacker magazine about them. They’re made of 7% spandex and the rest is wool. Price is steep at $35. Would love to hear if anyone has heard if they’re any good!
I am looking for underwear as well. But, I really would like to know if anyone has bra suggestions. I am looking for something that supports and dries fast. I was thinking of getting a basic sports bra, but they seem so thick that I doubt they will dry fast.
Hi Heather,
I generally wear a basic sports bra. The straps are far more comfortable with a pack on vs. a standard bra. I haven’t had any major issues with them drying out overnight…you should be fine as long as you look for ones that aren’t overly thick. Make sure it is made of wicking materials and NO cotton!
Have fun out on the trails!
Hiking Lady
Gail at Perfection sportswear http://www.perfectionwear.com/ has been extremely helpful with my quest to find underwear. she is making me a sample of two materials, both bamboo, one with cotton, and both with spandex. The design is a V crotch that doesn’t bind or wad. I have a pair of her original compression tights (purchased in 1995) that still are performing well. But, I wanted a thinner material to use for underwear. She also has sports bras, haven’t tried one but I imagine they’re fabulous.
I have tried regular underwear of all sorts including ExOfficio, which I HATE!!! I thought “boy” shorts would be good but all the ones I’ve tried were cut too high in the back and rode up. The seams on other underwear have rubbed and caused rashes. I am hoping that the perfection will work out “perfectly”!!
We leave April 18th to thru hike the Pacific Crest Trail. http://www.postholer.com/jackandbarb for our journal – I’ll try to post there to review Perfection Sportswear.
Excellent news! I am definitely looking forward to reading your review! Sure hope they work well for you and then Gail can start producing them for the rest of us!
Eureka! I have found some underware that really work for me (Still waiting for Gail’s sample) these are from http://www.roadrunnersports.com Men’s underware: http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/RRM1044/ When I’ve worn tnem a number of days in a row they get a little baggy but they haven’t ridden up, no chaffing, no wadding. I like them. We’re hiking about 20 miles a day now – although we are stuck in a rare mid May snow storm in the Angeles Forest – holing up at a hotel in Wrightwood – until the high winds and snows stop.
Thanks for the update, Pig Pen! When you get the sample from Gail I’d love to hear how those work out too. Your input is really helpful! Enjoy your adventures
Due to popular demand, I have begun a test to find the best hiking underwear. My goal is to find the best quality, most comfortable, odor reducing, and reasonably priced hiking underwear on the market. I’ll be testing a few new ones from Isis, ExOfficio, Icebreaker, and perhaps others. Any suggestions of what should be included in the testing? Any up and coming brands I should be aware of? Thanks for your help dear readers!!
http://hikinglady.com/2011/the-best-hiking-underwear/