Best Hiking Dress for Outdoorsy Women (with Pockets)

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 |
 RHONE Court Dress

Hiking Dress no Shorts |  KUHL Vantage Dress

Long Hiking Dress | prAna Jewel 


Women’s Hiking Dress

1) RHONE course to court dress

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

SPECS

  • Built-in Bra: Yes

  • Built-in Shorts: Yes

  • Pockets: Yes

  • MSRP: $118

TOP FEATURES

  • Moisture-wicking

  • Buttery soft fabric

  • Anti-odor built in to fabric

  • Easy to go the bathroom in

  • Hiking to dinner wear

  • While on the pricier side, the details and comfort of this dress make it completely worth it!

    Not to mention it’s a two for one with the 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 and 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 fits true to size. I normally wear medium in tops and large in bottoms, and I prefer the medium size in this dress.

2) prAna Jewel Lake Dress

Best For: those who want a longer 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.


3) REI Savanna Dress

Best For: a simple, flattering everything dress with no built-ins

SPECS

  • Built-in Bra: No

  • Built-in Shorts: No

  • Pockets: Yes

  • MSRP: $80

TOP FEATURES

  • Very soft and comfortable

  • Sweat-wicking

  • Wrinkle-resistant

  • Great for travel

  • Hidden zipper pocket

  • I really like the wrinkle-resistant fabric that is perfect for travel or hiking. it’s definitely an everyday dress that can withstand the elements.

    There are two front pockets and one has a hidden zipper to secure small chapstick/keys.

    As mentioned above, there isn’t any built-ins for those who don’t like that feature in activewear dresses.

    The neckline is flattering without being too revealing and it has a UPF 50 sun protection built into the fabric.

    I also really like the cinch-able waist to tailor the fit more. This dress fits true to size.

4) KUHL Vantage Dress

Best For: want a built-in bra and no shorts

SPECS

  • Built-in Bra: Yes

  • Built-in Shorts: No

  • Pockets: Yes, 3

  • MSRP: $85

TOP FEATURES

  • Anti-odor fabric

  • Sweat-wicking

  • Quick-drying

  • 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.

    There are two front pockets, but no hidden zippers on this dress.

    I really like the length of this dress and built-in shelf bra. I personally prefer no built-in shorts when hiking so I grab for this dress frequently as I find it’s the perfect length and fit.

    I also really like that I can get multi-use out of this dress because of how flattering it is, doesn’t smell thanks to the anti-odor, and dries any potential sweat very quickly.

    Additionally, the color options for this dress are so beautiful!

Read next: Best Hiking Bras


5) Adidas Frill Dress

Best For: those who want a dress with 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!


6) Mountain Hardwear Stretch Dress

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

SPECS

  • Built-in Bra: No

  • Built-in Shorts: Yes 3.5”

  • Pockets: Yes

  • Length: 34 inches

  • MSRP: $85

TOP FEATURES

  • Quick-dry and moisture-wicking

  • High-cut with Racerback

  • UPF 50+ fabric

  • 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.

7) Old Navy PowerSoft Dress

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

hiking dress for women

SPECS

  • Built-in Bra: Yes

  • Built-in Shorts: Yes

  • Pockets: Yes

  • MSRP: $50

PROS

  • Sweat-wicking

  • Built in bra

  • Separate built-in shorts w/pockets

  • Flattering Silhouette

  • Lengths for petite to tall

  • 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 V neckline is still high enough to not feel like your exposing much.

    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.


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!


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Taylor Schlesinger

An adventure seeker and nomad who created this blog, Nomads in Nature, to be a source of inspiration for epic hikes, camping, RV or van life, and where to go on your next adventure vacation! A professional wilderness guide and part-time traveler.

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