What activities will you primarily wear this dress/skirt to?
Are you planning to wear a dress for hiking, walking, or both? Some hiking clothes make great hiking clothes, like the Cotopaxi Tolima Overall. However, I wouldn’t go with the Royal Robbins Spotless Traveler Dress – it’s great for traveling as it’s comfortable, pretty, and versatile, but it’s not something I’d want to sweat or get dirty in.
If you are looking for trail running, you can choose a skort. It has built-in shorts and the skirt adds a little coverage and airflow.
If you’d like the option to transition between a tank or a long-sleeved shirt, and don’t want built-in shorts, you might enjoy a hiking skirt like the Purple Rain Adventure Skirt. It has pockets…and you can pee easily.
In what situations will you wear them?
If you will be hiking a lot in the summer or at high altitudes, you may want to consider prioritizing UV protection, breathability, or coverage. While the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Dress may look best in colder weather with its long sleeves, its UV protection, breathable fabric and coverage also make it great for staying safe in the sun. In this sense, it is a flexible option throughout the year.
How much coverage do you want?
When it comes to hiking clothing, you can consider neck coverage, arm coverage, and how long it is. The Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite Active Skort, for example, is very short. This is comfortable for people who like less coverage in the heat, but may be uncomfortable for people who prefer more coverage.
The Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Dress gives you more coverage around your neck and arms than most of the other dresses we tested.
What is your budget?
As with all outdoor gear, you can find a wide range of prices. Be sure to balance the features you want, comfort, and whatever else is important to you with the price tag.
As mentioned in our Best Budget Hiking Clothing section, you can totally save on a comfortable, quick-drying (ie, made of non-cotton material like nylon or polyester) jacket/skirt, and within your budget. If an improvised sundress fits National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Heather “Anish” Anderson, it’s ready!
Looking for built-in shorts?
One of the great benefits of walking in a dress or skirt is how easy it is to pee. However, built-in shorts mean you have to take off your clothes to do your business, which can feel more vulnerable than wearing shorts or pants.
Although dresses with built-in shorts can be difficult in that sense, many people choose the comfort of shorts over the look or the breezy air of a skirt or dress. Shorts/shorts can also help prevent chafing.
What aspects are important to you?
How many packs would you like to have? Do you want to prioritize UV protection, odor control, cords and adjustability, etc.? We will recommend that you decide whether you prefer a dress, or the flexibility of a skirt or skort. Then, consider which features seem most useful to you.
Do you like the look of the dress/skirt/skirt? Is it free?
If you don’t like the way a dress, skirt, or skirt looks or feels on you, you won’t wear it. Choose a comfortable fit for walking (or whatever activity you prefer), the right fit, and choose a style and color you enjoy!