Best Hiking Dress for Outdoorsy Women (with Pockets)

Hiking Gear

Aug 4

For the ladies who want the comfort and confidence an activewear dress gives then I’ve got you covered with seven of my favorite hiking dresses (most even have pockets).

And yes, you can absolutely wear a dress hiking! Think of female tennis players, those ladies kick ass and are usually doing it in a dress or skirt.

All of these hiking dresses are made to wick-sweat, protect against harsh UV rays, and flow with you on every hiking trail no matter the difficulty.

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Best Hiking Dress

*- Editor Top Picks -*

**Hiking Dress with Shorts |** North Face Hike
**Hiking Dress no Shorts** | Patagonia Fleetwith
**Long Hiking Dress |** prAna Jewel

Women’s Hiking Dress

1) North Face Hiking Dress

Best For: all-day comfort from hiking to happy hour

I love how comfortable this hiking dress is from North Face. The blue color is also perfect for summer or they have a black option that can be worn as an LBD and no one would know it’s made for hiking.
There is a built-in shelf bra that is good for hiking, but not enough support to go running or play tennis for those with a C cup or larger.
The built-in shorts are very comfortable and wick sweat quickly (similar to a great pair of bike shorts). I love that the shorts have pockets big enough for a cell phone.
This dress does fit somewhat bigger so I would suggest sizing down if you are between sizes. I normally wear medium in tops and large in bottoms, and I prefer the medium size in this dress.

Dick's Sporting Goods

NorthFace.com

2) prAna Jewel Lake Dress

Best For: those who want a longer dress

long hiking dress — **SPECS**
**Built-in Bra:** Yes
**Built-in Shorts:** No
**Pockets:** Yes
**Length**: 38-40 inches
**MSRP**: $99

**TOP FEATURES**
High-neck
Flattering silhouette
Moisture-wicking
Versatile from hiking to lunch
Removable cups

prAna dresses are amazing for hiking as they are not only sweat-wicking but also come in the cutest patterns. This is the most comfortable dress in my opinion.
I love that I can go straight from a hike to eating out at a restaurant without feeling like I need to dress up more.
The dress I am pictured in at the top of this blog post is a prAna dress, but I actually prefer the higher neckline dresses like this Jewel Lake Dress to provide a bit more coverage in the sun.
Since the dress is knee-length there isn’t as much of a need for biker shorts underneath AND this dress still has pockets on the side!
These dresses fit true to size and I would go with your normal top size if you’re bottom and top sizes are different like mine.

View on prAna

View on REI

3) Sweaty Betty Power Workout Dress

Best For: a simple yet flattering workout dress with pockets on the outside

workout hiking dress — **SPECS**
**Built-in Bra:** Yes
**Built-in Shorts:** Yes 5” inseam
**Pockets:** Yes
**Length**: 33.5 inches
**MSRP**: $68 (on sale)

**TOP FEATURES**
Very soft and comfortable
Sweat-wicking
Perfect Length and Bodice
Favorite built-in shorts

This is one of the softest and best performing fabrics of all the active hiking dresses on this list.
The modest design and length also make it versatile from hitting the morning trail to afternoon errands.
The neckline is flattering without being too revealing and the racerback is great for ease of movement and supporting the girls better.
I really like the 5-inch length on the shorts so I don’t have any problems with them riding up.
I also prefer the pockets to be on the actual dress over the shorts so I don’t have to hike up my dress to get whatever is inside my pocket, and this dress offers both options.
If you’re in between sizing, I would go up in size.

View on Amazon

View on REI

4) Patagonia Fleetwith Dress

Best For: those who don’t a built-in bra or shorts

best hiking dress — **SPECS**
**Built-in Bra:** No
**Built-in Shorts:** No
**Pockets:** Yes, 3
**Length**: 30 inches
**MSRP**: $99

**TOP FEATURES**
Wrinkle-resistant fabric
Quick-drying
Hidden Zipper pocket
Customized fit with waist

A classic tank dress that will look good on any body. The cinch waist helps dial in the fit and it’s just flowy enough to give breathing room.
I really like the wrinkle-resistant fabric that is made with a blend of recycled polyester and spandex for to dry quickly and stretch when moving.
There are two front pockets and one has a hidden zipper to secure small chapstick/keys.

View on REI

➔ Read next: Best Hiking Bras

5) Adidas Frill Dress

Best For: those who want a dress with sleeves

hiking dress sleeves — **SPECS**
**Built-in Bra:** No
**Built-in Shorts:** Detached
**Pockets:** Yes
**Length**: not listed
**MSRP**: $90

**TOP FEATURES**
Quick-dry and moisture-wicking
Detached Shorts
Cute Scalloped Hem
Sleek built-in pockets

One of my favorite silhouettes for a hiking dress is the Frill Dress by Adidas. I love the full coverage up top to protect against harsh UV rays and the scalloped hemline that gives a feminine and playful flare.
The top also has a quarter-length zipper in case you need to let more of a breeze in. The shorts on this dress are detached, which I actually prefer since it makes going to the bathroom a lot easier.
Although, I will admit the shorts that come with the dress aren’t great. I’d just go without them or wear your other favorite pair of 4-5” biker shorts underneath.
The 2 side pockets and 1 back pocket on this dress are seamless and have zippers, which I love!

Buy on Amazon

6) Mountain Hardwear Stretch Dress

Best Feature: the perfect neckline and length on a hiking dress

This dress is very similar to the Sweaty Betty dress but it has a higher neckline and no built-in bra. I think it’s the perfect hiking dress length and cut.
The material is very soft and incredible and breathing on a hot day of hiking.
My only con with this dress is the hiking shorts are a little short and ride up my thicker thighs but you may not have that problem.

View on REI

7) Old Navy PowerSoft Dress

Best For: a budget-friendly dress that still performs and fits well

**SPECS**
**Built-in Bra:** Yes
**Built-in Shorts:** Yes 5.5” inseam
**Pockets:** No
**Length**: 34 inches
**MSRP**: $60

**TOP FEATURES**
Quick-dry and moisture-wicking
Built in bra with removable cups
Flattering Silhouette
Sizes for petites and tall also

Even though this dress is from Old Navy, I can confirm the fit and fabric on this hiking dress is incredible for the price!
Because there is an entire body suit underneath, it has a smoothing effect like Spanx would under a dress, except this bodice is a lot more comfortable and flexible.
The length hits right at mid-thigh and the neckline is still high enough where it doesn’t show cleavage unless you’re bending over.
My only con is this dress doesn’t wick sweat as well or dry as quickly as the other dresses on this list, but if you aren’t planning on a sweaty adventure then you should be just fine.

Buy on Old Navy

Tips - Wearing a Hiking Dress

Material:

Polyester and nylon are the most common types of material for activewear because they are great at wicking-sweat and that 4 way stretch we all love. Avoid cotton as it won’t wick-sweat or dry quick.

Built-in Shorts and Bra:

There are pros and cons to built-in shorts and a built-in bra. For instance, built-in shorts are usually seamless and not as noticeable on the outside that you are wearing shorts, but they are a challenge when you need to go the bathroom.

As for a built-in bra, I would say they are almost always a positive unless you have very large breasts and require more compression/security.

Length:

A good thing about most hiking dresses is that they come with built-in shorts to give you comfort and security while you’re being active.

For those of you who just feel more comfortable with a longer hemline, prAna has the best knee-length hiking dresses!