Did you know that petite women face different challenges from anyone else while hiking and backpacking? Whether it’s struggling to keep up with the tall folk, or finding gear that even fits, there are certain difficulties that only us little people encounter. To ignore this fact would be a complete disservice to our ability to adapt to the special conditions of the outdoors. For this reason, I want to discuss the common hiking and backpacking problems petite women face, and how to overcome them.
If you’re 5 ft 3 in or shorter, and would like to find ways to solve the problems you may not have even known were affecting you as a hiker, keep reading.
However, before we get to it, I just want to clarify some things.
1. Myths to Be Aware Of
For whatever reason, people will associate personality traits and other characteristics with a person’s height. For instance, when I was growing up, everyone would just assume I was younger than my sister, because she has always been taller than me. (I’m the oldest of my siblings.) On the same note, people tend to underestimate our abilities to lead, and provide for ourselves.
I am here to tell you that whatever negative beliefs people have associated with height, they are wrong. In fact, it is absolutely just not true. These people might not mean it, but these beliefs can be very hurtful to us.
They are WRONG
Being petite does NOT make you less of a person, and it is NOT your identity. You are a complex, multi-faceted human being. You can be whatever you want to be, and you can prove them wrong if you want to. Or prove them right if it’s a positive trait 
I reached my max height of 5 ft 1 in (155 cm) at a very young age. However, I was lucky enough to grow in an environment where my height didn’t cause me to feel belittled. If anything, I felt appreciated and praised for my height. I know this is not always the case for everyone, but I just want my fellow petite crowd to know that it is possible to become just as capable as our taller counterparts. I, myself, am one of the most independent and headstrong people I know.
With that in mind, some things will need slightly more time and adjustments for us little people. Regardless, we can accomplish the same goals.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s talk about how we can overcome some of the most common petite hiker problems.
2. Finding Clothes That Fit Properly
One of the most difficult aspects to overcome as a petite hiker, in my opinion, is finding the right activewear that fits properly. This is especially true for hiking pants and leggings, because it’s not always possible to muddle along with poor fit like it is for tops and shorts.
Always Try Clothes On
I highly recommend trying on all clothes in the store before purchasing. Each brand has its own definition for petite sizes, so your size and fit may vary. Know your inseam length! It will be one of the most helpful tools when buying pants.
If it’s not possible to buy in-store, buy from an online retailer that provides free shipping for returns. And at the very least, look for retailers that provide the option to buy online and return in-store if you find the clothes you bought doesn’t fit right.
REI has a few options for petite pants on their site, and they have an excellent return policy. I’ll update this page with my recommendations as I try some out, and find my favorites.
Other Options
Also, don’t forget to check out the kids and junior clothes. I sometimes have luck finding clothes that fit me better from those sections, and it’s usually less expensive. However, the look and style are not always age appropriate for my personal taste.
If worse comes to worst, you can also get your pants tailored to your size, but be aware of special stitching for things like waterproof pants.
3. Less Ground Covered With Short Legs
Another hiking problem I’ve encountered as a petite women is keeping up with the tall guys, especially on backpacking trips.
Since my legs are not as long as someone who is 6 ft or taller, a single step for a tall person can be equivalent to two steps for me. If you think about it like that, it is essentially taking me twice as much energy to do the same amount of work! And don’t even get me started on what that looks like while hiking up large, rocky steps.. I’ll usually have to crawl up, whereas taller men I’ve hiked with can easily just step through as if it were normal stairs.
You've Got Some 'Splainin to Do
The disparity is so mind-blowing, and the tall folk sometimes don’t even realize the advantage they have. The best thing you can do in this situation is to explain to anyone you’re hiking with that you may have to stop for more breaks than what they’re expecting. You could also ask them to slow down.
Finding a group of hikers who understand, and are willing to slow down with you when necessary is important. Hiking should be about the journey, anyways – not the destination. Start early if you need to accommodate the additional time it will take with more frequent breaks.
Just because certain trails may take us a little more time doesn’t mean that we can’t do it too!
4. Is This Backpack Heavy or Is It Just Me?
It can be more difficult as a petite woman to carry everything you need on a backpacking trip, when your pack weighs nearly as much as you do. Okay, that is an exaggeration, but you get my point.
We have a smaller range to work with pack weight-wise, because our smaller bodies are just not built the same as the tall folks. This can be especially difficult when looking for backpacking gear, such as tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks, which take up the majority of pack weight. Manufacturers typically make their gear for the more average-sized person with the ability to carry heavier gear.
Ultralight Backpacking Gear
The best solution to this petite hiker problem, is to buy ultralight everything. It is even more important for us little people to consider the necessity of every item we bring, because that weight will add up quickly. Carefully considering the weight of every item against its functionality can help narrow things down a bit.
Do you really need to be carrying 2L of water at all times? Probably not. Just plan to look for water sources and fill up more frequently. Be honest about the amount of food you’ll need – try not to pack too much more. Bring more nutrition-dense snacks when possible. Every ounce really does matter for us petite hikers.
Proper Support and Packing
I highly recommend reconsidering the backpack you’re using as well. You want to make sure your backpack is giving you the best support and weight distribution possible. Go to a camping store, like REI, and try all the backpacks on. Some stores will even have weights on hand to mimic the feel when it’s fully packed.
If you feel like you’re going to topple over when your pack is full, that’s not a good sign. If you feel well-rooted, and sturdy enough to take on a variety of stances, you’re good to go! Of course, properly packing your backpack with the heaviest items near the base and close to your body will optimize balance as well.
In addition, I would also recommend introducing strength training to your exercise routine. Increasing muscle mass and endurance will help immensely with one’s ability to carry on during backpacking trips.
5. Difficult River Crossings
This petite hiker problem is probably one of my least favorite to deal with. People will talk about rivers, saying it’s not that difficult to cross and whatever. But what they don’t realize is that knee-high water to them could be thigh-high water or even worse for us. Then, if you mix that in with chilly temperatures, a strong current, and deep rocks underneath, it’s just a total mess for a little person.
Pack Gear in a Dry Sack
You can also try to increase stability in the water by using trekking poles to find better footing, and counter the current. But, again, I’d rather just be safe than sorry, and try to stuff everything in a dry sack.
Sandals
I also recommend switching to water shoes or sandals when crossing rivers The last time I had to do a river crossing, I wore my hiking boots for it, and it took forever for them to dry afterwards. I ended up hiking for several miles more in wet, squishy boots – not a very comfortable experience.
While this recommendation won’t exactly help with crossing a river, it will definitely help with your level of comfort later on. Who knows? Maybe shoes that are more meant for the water will help with traction underwater as well.
6. Self Defense
As a little person, I tend to get the feeling that I am more easy to harm due to my smaller stature. I have no statistics at all to back this up, but am I not more compact and kidnappable? Who is more likely to put up a stronger fight in the time of adversity: a husky bearded man, or 5 ft 1 in me?
I’m not trying to downplay my will to fight if I have to. I’ve always imagined myself as a feisty, little chihuahua who is fearsome in a fight. But realistically, there are some truly dangerous people out on the trails sometimes. I know I’m not the only petite woman who feels like an easy target for predators.
Luckily, there are things we can do to protect ourselves better while out hiking or backpacking.
Hike With Friends
The first one is obvious: bring a friend. If I, myself, am not a husky man, there’s no reason I can’t bring one along who can back me up when I need it. Hiking with a friend is generally safer anyways. You have a second set of eyes to look out for danger, they can assist with first aid, or even leave to find help if you get stuck.
Additional Protection
However, if you are in immediate danger, Search and Rescue may not be able to reach you fast enough. It often takes a few hours for them to deploy and find a hiker’s exact location. For this reason, you might also consider concealed or open carry while hiking, depending on the laws in your state.
While I hope to receive my license to carry in the future, I have no experience in the matter. I am merely suggesting it as an option to protect oneself from other dangerous hikers or threatening wildlife on the trail. The reader is responsible for knowing and abiding by the laws and license requirements in his or her specific state of residence.
7. Temperature Sensitivity
The last petite woman hiker problem I often experience is temperature sensitivity – I get cold very easily. There is some kind of scientific reasoning behind this: lower body fat, sex, age, muscle mass, etc. But the real concern is how do we fix it?
I don’t recommend gaining an unhealthy amount of weight just for better body temperature maintenance, and increasing muscle mass can be a slow progression depending on your metabolism (although, I still recommend it). The only thing we can really do to instantly prepare for the cold is to invest in temperature-appropriate gear. This includes a temperature-rated sleeping bag, jacket, base layer, gloves, and a beanie.
Sleep Tight
For sleeping bags, I recommend looking for one rated at the same temperatures you’ll be experiencing overnight. Any more and you may be sweating in your sleep. Any less and you could be shivering. This will require planning ahead by looking up the nightly weather forecast for the area you’ll be backpacking through.
Pairing a temperature-rated sleeping bag with a high-quality tent and sleeping pad will further ensure your ability to stay warm at night. If you’ll be backpacking during the winter, you may want to consider bringing a 4-season tent. Otherwise, a 3-season tent may be more appropriate for proper air ventilation.
If possible, it is also a good idea to test your sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and tent out in similar conditions before hitting the trail, because everyone adjusts differently to the cold.
Warm Clothes
For a lightweight jacket that will keep you warm, I recommend looking into down or synthetic-filled puffy jackets, like Patagonia’s Nano Puff Hoody. It’s packable, making it even better for backpacking.
A base layer will be good as well if you’ll be hiking in winter weather. I love Under Armour’s HeatGear base layers the most. It comes in varying strengths, with 1.0 being the least warm and 4.0 being the most warm. Base layers are also great if you find that you need more insulation while sleeping at night.
Also, don’t forget a beanie and gloves. They’ll help protect your ears and fingers from horrible frostbite. This can be especially important when hiking in the mountains, where temperatures can change drastically throughout the day.
I am always adapting to the conditions that Mother Nature gives us. These are the best hiking tips I have for petite women, but if you have any other tips I didn’t mention, please drop them in the comments below! I’d love to hear them. We can all find ways to improve.
For more information about hiking gear for women, check out these other articles:
Until next time, happy hiking and I hope to see you out there on the trails!
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