Hiking Is Hot: Here's How to Look Cool

How many of you have a serious itch to celebrate these sunny days by being outdoors? We've had some beautiful weather where I live lately, and hiking is the perfect way to enjoy it. But, outdoorsy or not, we are fit beauties, so one question has to be answered before we hit the trails: What should we wear?

In my mind, the perfect hiking clothes need to have three elements. First, they have to be comfortable -- soft but flexible fabrics that are also lightweight. Second, they have to be easy to pack -- if they take up a lot of room, it's a deal breaker. And third, I have to like them, ideally enough to get some use out of them when I'm not trudging through the woods.

Tops
Any top I wear hiking needs to be long enough to allow me to stretch and bend without exposing my midriff, so the Be Present Women's Short Sleeve Tree Tee ($47) is a great option. It's fitted, so it won't get in the way, super lightweight, comes in loads of great colors, and is plenty long (and I'm tall!). Also, it's eco-friendly, which makes sense for something you're wearing while appreciating nature.

Beneath every great top, there's a good bra. I'm digging the eco-friendly KALYX reversible "Centered" sports bra ($40) for a few reasons. First, it provides good support without making me feel like I've bound my breasts. The reversible feature is fun, but I especially like the crossover detailing that makes it cute enough to wear on its own if you decide you need a little sun.

Not every place you hike is going to be bright and sunny all the time, however, which is where a great, packable jacket comes into play. I wore the Lucy Misty Windbreaker (currently on sale! $44.99) hiking through the rain forest, and loved that it kept the dampness and cool breeze off my skin without making me feel stuffy. As a bonus, it folds up into a tiny pouch, so you can always find room for it in your pack.

Bottoms
I'm sure there are people who love hiking in tiny shorts for the ease of movement, but when I know there's a possibility of climbing over logs and rocks, I like to have something a little more substantial covering my backside. The Lucy Women's Vista Shorts ($58) are Bermuda length, ending just above the knee, and the durable, ripstop, stretch woven lucy flex material is great for hiking. A zippered back pocket lets you keep things like keys on your person and secure, and they're quick drying -- handy for when you find a hidden waterfall pool you're just dying to swim in.

The Kona Pant by Be Present ($59) has a great stretch to the quick-drying material, making climbing around like a monkey a piece of cake. Even better -- the back rise of the pants is a bit higher, so you're less likely to flash any hikers behind you when you're bending and stretching.

Shoes
Ah, shoes. Perhaps the most important part of the hiking ensemble. After all, if you're hiking and your shoes aren't working, it's not going to be much fun!

If you need a lot of support, the Kuru Kruzr II ($89.97) is terrific. The bold reddish-orange shoe (yep, that's the only color it comes in, but I think it's great) has breathable mesh to keep feet cool and dry, PORON foam in the heel and forefoot to absorb shock and supportive suede side panels. But the rubber outer sole is what I really like -- it provides loads of traction, even on slippery surfaces. And -- fellow plantar fasciitis sufferers take note -- the company makes shoes specifically designed to help.

If you're looking for a shoe that really makes you feel close to nature, the kigo star ($49.99) is for you in more ways than one. For starters, the company is fully committed to the environment -- just check out their ecological footprint. The shoes, which are designed to be worn barefoot, are light (five ounces), easy to pack (they fold in half) and water and stain resistant. Walking or running in these gives you a true barefoot feel, which is great, but does work different muscles, so be careful wearing them on a long hike if you haven't adjusted to them. A two-mile run in them left my calves hurting in an awesome way for days.

The New Balance 100 ($74.99) weighs only an ounce more than the kigo star, but is more of a traditional shoe with a solid sole and serious tread. The front of the sole is made of ROCK STOP, which provides protection from sharp rocks on the trail. If you know you'll be interspersing some trail running with your hike, this is the shoe for you. Plus, they look like perfectly normal sneakers, so you can pop them on with jeans or shorts when you're heading on a "hike" through the supermarket.

Accessories
Hey, every girl needs a good bag to go with her outfit, right? I've been carrying around the Ivar Revel backpack ($95) because of its ingenious way of storing all my stuff. Rather than one or two big compartments dividing the bag and allowing everything to settle at the bottom, Ivar bags have a shelving system that distributes the weight of your pack more evenly, resulting in a more comfortable experience. It even has a laptop section in there, but if you take your computer with you on a hike, well, we need to talk.

To top it all off, you need a hat. And not just any hat -- a hat that offers protection against the sun, rain and unfortunate pictures of your hair. Tilley Endurables has been a leader in hats for hikers, sailors, fishermen and travelers, and the lightweight nylon version ($79) is just about perfect. It's only three and a half ounces and can be smashed into your backpack without losing shape. It floats quite well (yes, I tested it) and, coolest of all, has a secret pocket where you can stash your I.D. or a bit of money for cab fare in case you decide not to hoof it back to your starting point.

Looking for another cool hiking accessory? How about a CamelBak Hydration Pack?

Be Present, Lucy, KALYX, Kuru, kigo, New Balance, Ivar and Tilley Endurables provided these items to That's Fit for review purposes.