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  4. I never thought hiking skirts could be functional enough for my active lifestyle, but an athletic brand called Title Nine changed my mind

I never thought hiking skirts could be functional enough for my active lifestyle, but an athletic brand called Title Nine changed my mind

Suzie Dundas   

I never thought hiking skirts could be functional enough for my active lifestyle, but an athletic brand called Title Nine changed my mind
Insider Picks6 min read

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  • Title Nine is a women-focused brand that encourages women and girls to play sports, and it manages to blend style and performance in its apparel without sacrificing either.
  • Until I tried Title Nine's hiking skirt collection, I'd never considered wearing a skirt or skort while on the trail — I always felt they'd be nowhere near as functional as my go-to hiking shorts.
  • Not only did the skirts and skorts perform better than I expected but they looked more stylish than my old hiking shorts, so I was able to wear them out to meet friends after a hike.

As an adventure travel writer and frequent hiker, loose shorts and moisture-wicking shirts make up at least half my wardrobe. I tend to care about comfort above all else, so I'll admit some of my hiking shorts and tanks are mostly loose and shapeless. But there's no way I'd sacrifice functionality or comfort on the trails just for the sake of an Instagram photo. That's why I'm thrilled hiking skirts are becoming more and more mainstream.

I know what you're thinking: Who wants to wear a skirt when carrying a heavy pack or scrambling up a rock field? But hiking skirts from reputable companies take all the best features of shorts — like pockets, moisture-wicking and quick-drying fabrics, and lightweight construction — and combines them with the style of a skirt that can be worn almost anywhere.

My current favorite hiking skirts are from Title Nine, and if you know anything about Title IX the federal civil rights law, you'll know what the brand stands for: Creating clothing and gear to encourage girls and women to participate in sports. Hiking skirts have been a mainstay in its catalog for decades, too.

Title Nine's gear focuses on the features serious athletes need and designs its apparel with women in mind, understanding that being feminine or wearing a skirt can go hand-in-hand with being a fantastic athlete. So, I tested out three of its most popular hiking skirts to see if they could cut it on the rocky, high-elevation hiking trails of Lake Tahoe. Here's how they measured up.

Comfortable and stylish

All three items I tested fit well in my usual size and come in standard sizing (meaning, they aren't slim fit). If you're often between sizes, it's safe to size down with these. Both the Mad Dash and the Dream Skort are stretchy with elastic waistbands, while the Big B has a more fixed waistline with a button closure (though it does have an inner elastic tie.)

Of the three options, I liked the look of the Big B skort the best as it's more structured than the other two and could pair with a sweater or polo shirt to dress it up. It has a bit of square-cut, rather than hugging the seat or flaring out — as someone with an athletic body shape, it was flattering. The skort part underneath is very stretchy, so you get the comfort of a biking short with the look of something more tailored.

My next favorite was the Mad Dash reversible skirt, though it did run a bit large. I'm 5'7" and almost always a medium, and I could probably wear a medium or a small. The skirt has side pockets, which added a bit of width to my hips when the pockets were full but since the skirt is highly stretchy, you can pull up the waistband a bit higher to adjust the pocket placement or twist it a bit on your hips.

The Mad Dash is an actual skirt, too, rather than a skort, so it's very breathable when hiking (and makes mid-mountain bathroom breaks a breeze, both literally and figuratively.) The black side looks more professional than the patterned side, so you could probably even wear it to work with flats and a nice sweater, and no one would know it was hiking gear.

Lightweight and breezy for summer hikes

All three skirts impressed me regarding their technical performance, as they're all very comfortable and stretchy. This made it easy to take large steps while awkwardly making stream crossings or stepping over logs. Since the Big B and the Dream are both skorts, they function exactly like a standard pair of shorts on the trail.

Though the Mad Dash isn't a skort, it did have a longer, more snug cut, so I never felt like I was at risk of flashing my hiking buddies. Because it's highly breathable, I didn't have any chaffing or rubbing when my thighs touched, and I stayed a lot cooler than I did hiking in shorts. I could easily fit my phone in the pockets, and there's even a small waist pocket for cash and credit cards.

Probably the most well-suited to hiking was the Dream Skort, which is interesting as it was also the most feminine looking of the three. Personally, I think it's fantastic that Title Nine not only made a high-performance hiking skort but one that was as feminine as it is, too. The inner elastic shorts didn't ride up even on longer hikes, and with an elastic waistband and hidden pockets, it's highly useful, as well. I happened to be wearing this skirt when I got caught in the rain and it dried quickly, so if you hike in humid or wet environments, this is a great option.

They're great for traveling or a beach cover-up, too

Before I tried hiking skirts, I thought they looked cute in photos, but probably weren't very practical. I'm happy to say I was entirely incorrect. Though they worked well for hiking, I also do plan to wear them while traveling, especially to warm-weather destinations. In general, I think skirts look a little more dressed-up than shorts, and I'm happy to look more formal while traveling.

I've also used the Mad Dash skirt as a beach cover-up. It doesn't seem to wrinkle very easily so it looked fine after several hours of being rolled up in a backpack. The black side of the Mad Dash skirt could be paired with tights in the winter and fall for cold-weather wear.

Cons to consider

I haven't found any major cons to consider with the skirts, aside from the concerns about hip pockets adding a bit of bulk on the Mad Dash skirt. However, they are a bit pricey. The Dream Skort is $65, the Mad Dash is $79 (currently on sale for $49), and the Big B sets you back $75. I plan on wearing these frequently, so I expect to get my money's worth but it is possible to find less expensive moisture-wicking skirts.

For instance, the RyAndrew Skort on Amazon looks somewhat like the Dream Skort and comes in multiple pattern choices starting at $20 though it likely doesn't come from a sustainability-focused brand. A middle ground between the two price-wise could be the Saturday Morning Trail Skort from Columbia at $37.49, which looks similar to the navy blue Big B skort. If you must have hiking shorts, check out Title Nine's Clamberista short, which is abrasion-resistant and super stretchy.

The bottom line

I'm generally not someone who likes to dress in traditionally feminine clothing, but I have no problem saying that you'll see me hiking in skirts most of the time in the summer. All three of Title Nine's options were practical and great for hot weather, and I love the fact that I can wear them around town or to social gatherings without looking like I just stepped off a mountain. They're a great addition to my active (i.e. everyday) wardrobe.

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