Five Brands That Carry Women's Plus Sized Hiking Clothing

As a 5'9" tall woman with a super long torso and "junk in the trunk" finding hiking clothing that fits well has always been a challenge. Pants are usually too short and bottoms are too tight in the rear and saggy at the waist. So I can empathize with all the women who just can't seem to find anything that fits, especially if the brand doesn't even carry your size. 
One of our criteria for our gear reviews includes whether or not that brand carries plus sized gear and clothing. It is so important for women of all shapes to be included in the outdoors and good gear and clothing for us is a must. So I  put a list of my top 5 favorite brands that also carry plus sized clothing and/or gear that is legit. 

1. prAna
PrAna makes my favorite hiking pants ever, the Halle Pant. They are durable, super comfortable, water resistant, breathable, have a 50 UPF sun protection and plenty of give. They just fit super well and look cute too. They offer them in sizes 00-22W and have short, regular, and tall inseams. The Halle Pant comes in multiple colors and has pockets! They are cross functional and can be used as climbing, hiking, office, travel, and hang out pants.  Here's a video of me wearing them in action on a 4-day backpacking trip through Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite NP.

P.S. Ignore the terrified look on my face ( I hate log crossings).

2.  Purple Rain Adventure Skirts
We love Purple Rain skirts and their Founder Mandy Bland. She is such an inspiration as an entrepreneur and Mom.  Her innovative design for the skirts make them practical for the trail and so comfortable. They are lightweight, durable and dry in a flash with 88% Polyester/12% Spandex blend and DWR finish. They are super cute with leggings for added warmth and modesty. Waistbands are woven with moisture wicking yarn to keep you dry and cool and they have UV Protection 40+. They are sized XS-XXL and she also can custom make any size needed with a special order. 

3. REI Co-Op
REI is doing an awesome job of adding more and more plus sized clothing and gear in their own brand and carrying more from other brands as well. I adore the Sahara shirt and literally live in them (hiking or not). It fits me way better than Columbia's version of a hiking shirt in the chest and is longer in the torso. They also have a more modern cut to them and work off trail too. The Sahara shirt has:

• Convertible sleeves roll up and secure with button tabs
• Lightweight, moisture-wicking nylon keeps you cool and dry
• Fabric packs small for easy stowing
• UPF 35 sun protection
• Snap chest pockets let you store essentials securely
• Quick-drying underarm panels are treated with LAVA XL™ odor resistance to keep the shirt smelling fresh

 

4. Athleta
I love hiking in yoga/tights especially ones with side pockets for my phone. Athleta makes an awesome pair of 7/8 tights that have a side pocket hat my phone fits perfectly in. They are high quality and mid-waisted and come in sizes XS-2X with regular, tall, and petite inseams.
Pant details are:

• FOR: Your sweatiest workouts-long distance, short distance and trail running
• FEEL: Incredibly lightweight SwiftLite fabric is cool and slick to the touch
• FAVE: Side stash pockets hold your essentials
• FAIR TRADE: Made in a Fair Trade Certified™ Factory
• Free-cut hem for an extra smooth, unrestricted feeling
• Front center draw cord keeps the tight in place

5. Columbia
Although I am not a fan of their sun shirts, Columbia makes some great jackets for the cost that come in sizes 00-3X. I have used my Columbia rain jacket for three seasons and it is still holding up and waterproof and I got it for less than $60 on sale! 

Jaime Purinton