I almost always hike in a skirt. It is not a religious thing; I wear pants and shorts (and skirts) in my daily life. It started as a fabric thing. Then it became a comfort thing. So for those who were wondering…

Where It Began

It all began with a search for a good pair of hiking pants. I wanted pants that fit my body type. They had to have real pockets – not the itty bitty lint collectors that pass for pockets on women’s pants. They had to be real pants – not leggings. Most importantly, I wanted them to be made of wool – not stinky, hormone-disrupting, plasticky synthetic.

Basically, I was looking for a unicorn.

I briefly considered sewing my own. But perfecting the fit would take time – and a lot of trial and error. Plus, I would still need to start with some kind of pattern as self-drafting pants was not high on my priority list.

What I Read

As I browsed various forums and websites looking for this unicorn, I ran across several posts in which women raved about hiking skirts. What?! The claims included things like a better fit, greater ventilation, cargo pockets, and more coverage for potty breaks and clothing changes. I could get on board with that. Surprisingly, the women also said that skirts were cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

That last claim made zero sense to me. Living in the South, I already knew that skirts and dresses are cooler in the summer. But warmer in the winter? How can they be both?

Even if that last part was untrue, I was convinced that I wanted to give hiking skirts a try. At that time, there were one or two cottage vendors who were making and selling hiking skirts. However they were not using natural fibers. Plus, they were outside of my preferred budget.

I excitedly turned to my sewing machine. It is much easier to fit a skirt than a pair of pants. Plus, I could customize this skirt however I liked!

What I Made

Wool fabric is pricey and is nigh impossible to find in fabric stores. Being frugal and slightly impatient, I searched the local thrift stores for wool pants. By refashioning pants, I could skip making a waistband, lining the pockets, and attaching a zippered fly. That was already done. Plus, I would not have to shop online and then wait weeks for the postal service to route it circuitously to my house.

Without too much searching I was able to procure a pair of winter weight, charcoal gray, wool pants for a few bucks. Inspired by a few blog posts similar to this one and this one, I quickly went to work cutting open the inseams and using the lower leg pieces to create gussets (triangle-shaped inserts) in the front and back. If you look closely, you can see the front gusset in the picture below. The gussets create an A-line style which allows plenty of flexibility while hiking but is not prone to flying up in a gust of wind (a la Marilyn Monroe). The back of the skirt is slightly longer than the front. I later added a patch pocket just for my phone. That gave me four pockets!

After hiking in this skirt for a year or so, I decided I would also like to have a summer weight wool skirt. This time, I used a different method to create something with even more ventilation. I stitched a snap to the front and back hemline for more modesty on windy days. I also added a bit of decorative embroidery to cover some moth holes because it makes me happy . Again, I made the back slightly longer than the front.

What I Learned

Skirts are definitely cooler in the summer. My winter weight skirt was not unbearable in hot weather, but it is still more comfortable than shorts. I definitely prefer the lighter weight and breezier style of my summer skirt when temperatures climb. The ventilation of both skirts is far superior to shorts and pants.

One huge advantage of a skirt is the ability to potty quickly, easily, and without baring all. A Tinklebelle (or other Female Urinary Device) is easier and more discreet to use with a skirt than with pants. The bum and hips remain fully covered. Plus. there is no fly slowing down the process or interfering with the angle of the device. Knowing I can quickly, discreetly potty when necessary means I am more willing to stay hydrated while hiking.

[For those who do not use an FUD, a skirt still provides more coverage while squatting. BUT – I would encourage you to get a Tinklebelle or other FUD. They require a bit of practice and you will most likely still need to lower your pants a bit to get a proper angle. However, these things can be life savers in traffic jams and especially at festivals where the only facilities are nasty porta-potties. BTW – that is not an affiliate link. I simply like the company and the product.]

And Are They Really Warmer?

While standing next to our fireplace before heading out for a hike one winter day, I discovered that I could not feel the warmth of the fire. In pants, I can feel the heat very quickly. Not in my skirt. The outside of the skirt would get warm, but not my legs. How disappointing!

Then it clicked: a skirt does not allow an easy transfer of heat. Pants may warm my legs quickly, but they cool just as quickly as soon as I step away. That actually makes me colder. However a skirt maintains a constant temperature inside. It creates a microclimate that traps the warm air near my body and refuses to let it disperse into the cold air outside. Who knew?! (All those women extolling the virtues of hiking skirts. That’s who.)

So, yes! Surprisingly, skirts really are both cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter! My winter skirt keeps my hips, thighs, and bum much warmer than pants. It blocks the wind surprisingly well. And it creates a ventilated, insulated microclimate.

“What About … (Cold, Chafing, Modesty)?”

A few women have asked me about wearing shorts or leggings under skirts due to cold, modesty, or chafing. I generally choose not to wear them because most shorts and leggings are made of synthetic materials which I am trying to avoid. They also reduce ventilation.

On particularly cold, wet days, I have occasionally layered a pair of nylon pants or fleece-lined tights beneath the skirt. Since I prefer not to wear synthetic fibers against my skin, I am looking into making some wool or alpaca gaiters/leg warmers to replace the synthetic options. It has not been a priority because, for the most part, my calves do not get cold. With my hips and thighs staying warmer, the blood circulating through my calves does not get cold.

For modesty, I made my skirts mid-knee length in front and slightly longer in back. This is considerably longer than most skirts designed for active wear. The length provides both modesty and greater sun protection. I also added a snap to the hemline of the summer skirt; it works when I need it.

Regarding chafing, many women have found that the increased ventilation keeps their legs drier so that chafing is not an issue. If it is, some salve and/or arrowroot powder can often solve the problem. Another natural fiber, non-cotton option is to wear men’s boxers or women’s long tap pants in wool or silk.

So, have you tried hiking in a skirt? If so, what are your thoughts? If not, is it something you might want to try?