8 women-owned outdoor brands to shop for summer adventure gear

• Wild Rye
• TomboyX
• Title Nine
• Carve Designs
• Coalition Snow
• Thousand Helmets
• Machines for Freedom
• Kari Traa
• Nuu Muu
• Other women-supportive brands we love
• Why is it so hard to find women's gear that fits?

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• Some 60% of women feel their gear options are limited while 66% have shopped in the men's section.
• Gear designed by womxn or from womxn-owned brands often fits and moves with female bodies better.
• These 8 outdoor brands support womxn in the outdoors while skiing, biking, hiking, surfing, and more.

From mountain biking to skiing to surfing to trail running, there are more women in the outdoors than ever before — but the attention to the gear we want and need has been slow to catch up.

An informative-but-semi-depressing survey from Outside magazine talked to over 1,500 adventurous women who reported that 60% feel like the selection of women's gear is not the same quality as the men's, and more than half have shopped in men's sections to find gear they can actually use.

Read more: The best pieces of plus-size outdoor gear, according to athletes and influencers

As a travel and outdoor writer who loves mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, and snowshoeing, this doesn't surprise me. A large part of this disconnect is because the outdoor industry — especially the "extreme sports" niche — is dominated by men, particularly white men. 

We could write a novel on the downsides caused by a lack of diversity and inclusion (actually, we'd refer you to this great starter list of reads). But for all intents and purposes here, a male-dominated industry means that women's clothing and gear is often an afterthought, particularly at bigger brands. (Learn more in Why is it so hard to find women's gear that fits? at the end of this article.)

The solution is surprisingly simple: Buy from the growing number of technical companies led by women, making clothing designed by women, specifically for women. 

Over the past decade, particularly the last few years,  more and more women have started solving their own problems of ill-fitting gear by overseeing designs themselves. From mountain bike shorts that fit curves, to hiking packs designed for female geometry, to surfing bikinis that will actually hold you in, to a basic sports bra that will keep you comfortable no matter how you're working up a sweat, adventurous women everywhere actually have options.

Here are eight of the best brands we've come across that make gear for women or, really, anyone who wants to wear it.  And remember, supporting womxn-owned brands is supporting womxn outside, period. 

Wild Rye

Size range: 0-18

If you'd rather move through the woods on two wheels than two feet, you probably know how limited women's mountain biking and cycling options are — not just in color but in fit, cut, and stretch. It can seem like you're limited to one or two options for shorts or chamois if you have a body type other than straight-and-slim. 

But like a few brands on this list, Wild Rye is having none of that. Founded and run by rad women in Sun Valley, Wild Rye makes cute and functional mountain bike gear for the summer and base layers for winter.

Its mountain bike collection is designed for sendy women, with-four way stretch fabric to adapt to your body no matter where your curves are. It makes bike shorts with both a long or short inseam, and the options for patterns and colors will make both your female and male friends jealous. Its high-waisted chamois are a true gem, especially for road biking without over-shorts.

Its tops and bottoms are among the most comfortable items in my mountain-bike wardrobe, and since all of its "models" are cyclists and Wild Rye staff local to Sun Valley, you can see what their clothing looks like on a variety of body types.

Also available at REI in limited sizing. 

TomboyX

Size range: XS-6X

If there's one piece of athletic clothing that seems forever tricky to get right for me, it's the sports bra. If you're large in some parts and small in others — a small cup size with broad shoulders, for example — it can feel impossible to get the fit right. Enter TomboyX, whose super-soft sports bras come in 29 colors and patterns with sizes ranging from XS to 6X. 

The brand was founded by two friends fed up with limited options for ill-fitting underwear, and it tests its products on models of various sizes, gender, shape, and age ranges. TomboyX also makes a line of adaptable bras for women who want different size pads on each side or who need a one-cup sports bra to accommodate a mastectomy — and it even has trunk-style underwear (akin to boxer briefs.)

The brand also works primarily with women-owned factories to support women in business throughout the world. TomboyX has a very inclusive and non-judgmental brand ethos and supports dozens of charities working towards racial equality, LGBTQ advocacy, and ending youth homelessness. 

Title Nine

Size range: XS-XL

Policy buffs or women's history scholars will recognize the name of Title Nine, a brand named in homage to the landmark legislation banning sex-based discrimination in school sports funding. Female-owned and -operated, it continues to uphold that legacy by designing gear to help women perform to the max during sports. It has a broad range of offerings from feminine hiking skorts and everyday hoodies to mix-and-match swimsuits that actually stay put while swimming laps.

One aspect I really love about the brand is that many of its pieces are both feminine and high-performance, shattering the concept that girly can't also be sporty and athletic. 

Nearly everything I have from the brand is on frequent rotation in my outdoor wardrobe, but I especially like the sizing of its jackets, which are fitted without being tight. The athletic-focused tops fit close enough to trap my body heat during cold-weather workouts but not so tight that I feel restricted or self-conscious.

I do wish it offered a wider range of inclusive sizing for plus-size adventurers, but for those who fit in an extra small through an extra-large, Title Nine's huge collection has a style and fit to please most. 

Carve Designs

Size range: XS-38DD with tall options, in swim

If you have trouble finding swimsuits that are both flattering and practical, check out Carve Designs (as well as our guide to the best places to shop for active swimsuits). Friends Jen and Thayer were on a surf trip in the early 2000s when they realized their swimsuits couldn't last through multi-day surf sessions. So in 2003, they started Carve Designs, selling swimsuits designed to stay in place on athletic bodies and bodies with curves.

Many of its swim tops have full coverage and thicker, durable straps, while you'll find bottoms designed for athletic butts — so say goodbye to wedgies and droopy elastic. Its newest swim line comes in dozens of styles made from ocean plastics; there are at least five plastic bottles pulled from the ocean in each piece. 

Carve Designs makes one-piece swimsuits, tankinis, beach cover-ups, rash guards, board shorts, and a complete apparel line. Its clothing maintains the same priorities as its swimsuits, too — think: knit dresses with adjustable waistbands, shorts with room for a muscular butt, and high-rise leggings with hidden pockets.

Carve Designs is also part of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, manufactures everything in California, and supports female-focused non-profits like SheJumps.

Also available at REI and Backcountry in limited sizes. 

Coalition Snow

Size range: 157-180mm

If you're sick of brands that pay lip service to equality and representation in sports but turn a blind eye to related social issues, grab your next pair of skis or snowboard from Coalition Snow. It's female-owned and -run, and most of its products focus on women coming together to lift one another up (its most popular ski is the S.O.S. Ski, which stands for "Sisterhood of Shred").

All its skis and boards are conceptualized, tested, and even decorated by women; the graphics, for example, are designed in-house by the brand's creative director.

In addition to working to change the ski culture to be more welcoming to all genders, Coalition Snow also works with ski ambassadors of all ability levels (not just pros), donates a tree for every ski or snowboard sold, and only works with supply chain partners who meet high social and environmental sustainability efforts. 

If you're on the prowl for a great ski, the S.O.S. Ski is an all-mountain ski with a proprietary edge-cutting style that increases your edge control. If you're not ready to commit to a new pair of skis, it also has cool apparel lines based around themes like "Queen of the Mountain" and "Shred the Patriarchy." 

Also available at REI in limited sizing. 

Thousand Helmets

Size range: S-L

Men's and women's helmets for sports like skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and skateboarding aren't usually very different — after all, men's and women's heads aren't inherently dissimilar. But despite that, many brands market helmets to women with that same "shrink it and pink it" mentality I mentioned above, assuming women will pay extra for stereotypically-feminine colors and smaller sizes. 

But Thousand Helmets doesn't fall for that trope and instead designs unisex helmets in various colors and styles. Founder and C.E.O. Gloria Hwang started the company after she lost a friend in a bicycle accident, so the vintage moto-inspired helmets come with a fantastic guarantee: If you get in an accident while wearing your helmet, Thousand will replace it for free so you have no excuse for not being safe on your bike.

Not only is the company female- and minority-owned, it's also a climate-positive business, meaning that it offsets more carbon than it creates. 

Machines for Freedom

Size range: XXS to XXXL

Cyclist Jenn Kriske started Machines for Freedom in 2013 after realizing that women's distance cycling gear wasn't up to her standards considering wearing gear designed for men was just plain uncomfortable and sullied her performance. Kriske started designing women's-specific road biking clothing including bibs, jerseys, and outwear designed for an array of female body shapes.

This latter point is a huge reason we love Machines for Freedom: It uses models of various shapes and sizes without making it a whole thing so you can actually see what the gear might look like on you.

MFF is best known for its bibs, which women are obsessed with and uniquely come in a short or pant option. I especially like its lightweight, silky-soft long-sleeve jerseys which are ideal for summer riding. These offer UPF 50 protection but don't add much weight, and the back pockets are big enough for a phone, snack, or even a soft-sided water bottle — and side zipper pockets make it easy to stash a credit card safely. 

MFF launched its spring "off-road" collection in 2021, which is full of brightly colored and super flattering apparel rarely seen in mountain bike gear. Insider Reviews' Outdoors Editor, Rachael Schultz, is obsessed with its Key Short, which are ridiculously comfortable and a shorter 5.5-inch length.

MFF also recently partnered with eyewear brand Roka to create a jersey-and-sunglasses combo that includes the lightweight jersey and goggle-style matching Roka sunglasses. You can also build your own MFF cycling kit from items like bibs, shorts, pants, vests, and more.

Also available at REI or Competitive Cyclist in limited sizing. 

Kari Traa

Size range: XS-XL

After years of sharing knitted beanies and clothing with friends, Olympic medal winner Kari Traa founded her own namesake brand in 2002. Nearly two decades later, Kari Traa now makes sportswear exclusively for women and is known for its cute-and-comfortable base layers, though it makes a full range of outdoor clothing, too. Women are at the helm in every area of the company (Kari still oversees creative direction for all the products), and the materials and production processes all meet various high standards for eco-friendly and fair-trade practices.

Kari Traa only designs for women, so it's not just tighter, smaller versions of men's base layers. Like Title Nine, Kari Traa gear proves that being "feminine" and extremely high-performance can go hand in hand — if that's your thing. The base layers come in colorful, fun prints and are cut to accommodate curves, so you don't need to worry about reaching under your jacket to readjust your base layer all day. 

And don't be put off by the word "girl," either. In Scandinavian countries, women refer to themselves as girls, but Kari Traa doesn't actually make gear for girls in the "child" sense of the word.

Kari Traa is also available at Moosejaw and Backcountry with limited sizes. 

Nuu Muu

Size range: XXS-3XL

Love dresses? Love sports? How about travel? Then you might want to check out Nuu Muu, a small(ish) brand with loyal fans from across the size and age spectrums. The dresses lend themselves to year-round wear, from summer beach days to wearing tights and a sweater in the peak of winter. The company is entirely woman-owned and run, and its focus since the founding was to design a dress that fits and flatters women of various body types whether they're 17 or 87. 

Nuu Muu makes a huge range of athletic dresses specifically designed for running, hiking, and just about any other activity you want to get after — its clothing is both anti-wrinkle and UPF 50. They're also great for travel, with a hidden pocket to stash your phone or cash. The designs are simple with A-line cuts, so they create a classic silhouette while still leaving plenty of room to lunge, run, or jump. The prints are all limited editions, so if you see one you like, you better snag it ASAP. 

Other women-supportive brands we love

Kate's Real Food

I count trail snacks as an essential part of any outdoor adventure — even my bike has an internal storage compartment I use to stash mid-day snacks. I've tried a lot of trail bars, but my favorites are from Wyoming-based Kate's Real Food. So, it's doubly fantastic that it's female-owned, started by Kate Schade (hence the name), a ski-bum-turned-entrepreneur who first made the bars in her kitchen. She started sharing them with friends during ski sessions, and in 2010, officially incorporated as Kate's Real Food.

Since then, its supported several Wyoming-based initiatives like Mountain Bike the Tetons, the Teton Valley Food Pantry, and Seniors West of the Tetons.

My favorite product is the first (and still best-selling) option, the peanut butter and milk chocolate Tram Bar. But you can't go wrong with any of its seven flavors. I look forward to eating them in the afternoons while backpacking and am constantly singing their praises to my friends. You can buy them online in packs or pick up individual bars at stores like Whole Foods, R.E.I., or Backcountry.com. 

Anon Optics

Anon, owned by Burton Snowboards, is a good example of a brand not owned by women, but doing its part to partner with female athletes to design women-focused gear. One of those athletes is the professional free-skier (and my Tahoe neighbor), Michelle Parker.

Along with the team at Anon, Parker designed a goggle and helmet combo focused on female consumers that offer the high-end tech specs usually limited to just a few pairs of men's goggles. It comes with two magnet-attached lenses, anti-fog design elements, and a facemask that attaches below the shades. Parker's helmet also offers features like a quick-adjustment wheel and even anti-frizz earpads for skiers with longer locks. 

Buying a pair of goggles designed in partnership with a female pro can be a great way to support female athletes, who are often paid less than male athletes, and encourage more brands to sponsor and work with female pros. And Anon is part of Burton, which founded and still plays a huge role in the Chill Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to serving underprivileged kids and teens through access to board sports and supportive communities. 

Why is it so hard to find women's gear that fits?

When you consider the majority of outdoorsy women feel like their options for gear is not of the same quality as men, and that they have to venture into the men's section to find items that can keep up with them, you can't deny there is an issue with the industry's approach to outdoor gear.

This is not surprising when you consider the fact that the people who own outdoor apparel and hardgood companies, and the people designing for them, have traditionally been men. 

As a result, women's soft goods and hard goods started as a basic spin-off of men's styles and cuts. And it isn't until the late 2010s, really, that enough people have started rethinking that approach. Since female bodies come in so many shapes and sizes — not to mention women often have a wider range of personal preferences on fit — the "shrink it and pink it" approach of the last three decades has afforded us ladies limited options. What's available has so often been veiled as inclusive yet actually just continues to make it a struggle for adventurous women to find technical gear that fits, let alone flatters.

But when you have women both around the decision table and testing the gear, you're going to end up with better-fitting gear with the tiny details we care about, from trendy colorways to more pockets. 

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