This Is Your Sign to Embrace a "Hot Girl Hike"

My hiking gear isn't landing me on any best-dressed lists. For the most part, it's a hodgepodge of windproof cargos, sweat-wicking tees, and heavy-duty hiking shoes. As a self-proclaimed "indoorsy" girl, hiking already feels like a bigger adventure than it probably should, which means I'm more concerned with surviving the trek than looking good while doing it. I might share a quick snap of the view, but for the most part, I keep myself safely hidden behind the camera. (If you saw me out on the trails, no you didn't.) It's a practical approach, but if I'm being honest, it doesn't exactly make me feel my best. As a health and fitness editor, I'm familiar with how something as simple as an outfit can affect overall performance, and I suspect I may have room for improvement. While seeking inspiration, a rep at Urban Outfitters told me about a content creator who showed up to a group hike in a mini skort - specifically the Out From Under Bec Low-Rise Mini Skort ($39): polka-dotted, low-rise, and truly mini. OK, Meredith Blake . . . I think to myself. But who else would actually do that? As it turns out, plenty of people. Going down an internet rabbit hole, I discovered that it's not entirely impractical to hike in a skirt. A Reddit thread in /notliketheothergirls explains that, so long as you're not traipsing through a high-density tick area during tick season, hiking in a skirt can be empowering, and you might even find a heightened range of motion. That's not to mention all the celebrities who have engaged in what I'm calling "hot girl hikes." Take Vanessa Hudgens, who made headlines for hiking in a silk skirt and platform slides. Or Lady Gaga, who hiked in Louboutins and a Rachel Comey maxi skirt. Humbled by my findings, the rep sent me the skort . . . plus two other outfits to use for my hot girl hike experiment. Now fully prepared, I decided on a few goals. The first: to see how the hot girl hike outfits held up in the Sonoran Desert, where I would be doing all three hikes (one in the skort, one in a maxi skirt, and one in a full-on dress.) And the second: to see how the hot girl hiking outfits would make me feel. Read on to see what I discovered. Hot Girl Hike Experience Day one, my mother and I braved the Anza Trail in Rio Rico, AZ. Even in December, it was still 70 degrees and sunny, which made for perfect polka-dot skort weather. I wore the low-rise mini skort, a black long sleeve, and the BDG Becca Brushed Knit Oversized Cardigan ($59) in black. If we were going to brunch, I would've felt totally confident in my outfit . . . but I was quietly relieved to find that the trail was completely empty. Logistically, our three-mile hike was pretty flat, and I liked that I could move easily through the dry, desert landscape. I read that skirts help minimize chafing for some people, and if that's true for you, that's incredible. Unfortunately for me, the discomfort started around mile two, which meant it was time to wrap it up and start heading back for lunch. One bonus there? I didn't have to change anything about my outfit. Next up was the Kimchi Blue Ethereal Lace Trim Semi-Sheer Mesh Midi Skirt ($59). I paired it with my own black blouse and red cowboy boots (when in Rome . . . ) and felt a thousand times cuter than I ever did in my usual hiking get-up. In terms of functionality, this one was middle of the road for me. I had no problem climbing the more mountainous terrain, and I felt more confident than I did in the skort, but the fabric of the maxi was prone to snagging on dried plants and miscellaneous desert confetti. For the grand finale, I wanted to go big or go home with the En Saison Alannah Lace Trim Corset Maxi Dress ($186). My mom, an avid hiker herself, shook her head at me in disbelief. But in actuality, this was one of the best outfits to hike in. The skirt of the dress didn't snag as easily, the ventilation was much appreciated, I had full range of motion on the desert trails, and I could go straight to dinner afterwards. For me, this 'fit was the best balance of function and fashion - consider it hot girl hike certified. Hot Girl Hike Takeaways We all have our own sense of style. What makes me feel my best, might not be the same for someone else. Do I want to be the girl that shows up and slays a hike in a polka-dot mini skort? Absolutely. Am I that girl? Unfortunately, not at this moment. But that just means my version of a hot girl hike will look a little different. It's also worth mentioning that different elements demand different precautions. I was spoiled by Arizona's warm winter weather and clear trails, but functionality should still always be top of mind. The point is that there are ways to be both practical and fashionable - just be careful not to sacrifice one for the other. With that in mind, my ultimate takeaway is to approach a hot girl hike with confidence. Wear what makes you feel on top of the world, then use that momentum to climb it. Related: I Travel for a Living-and This Backpack Is Still My Go-To After a Year Chandler Plante (she/her) is a social producer and staff writer for the Health & Fitness team at Popsugar. She has over five years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.