Backpacking: A Woman's Guide

by Adrienne Hall

A complete introduction to backpacking for women. How can a woman get started in backpacking? What kind of gear does she need? What are the physical requirements? This book answers the questions women have about backpacking. Written in a unique woman-to-woman perspective, this book gives readers the confidence to try a new sport.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

Reviews

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, concise introduction to the concept of backpacking (for ladies). It's from 1998 but I don't think it's particularly dated, since the basics don't change. (A few things, like price-points for gear, are probably no good... but hey, we have the internet now.) I like the positive, can-do tone of it! Especially the chapter about personal safety, like how ladies hiking MIGHT get murdered but you're much more likely to get murdered in an urban area! Anyway it's a good starting point for me to realize what stuff I already feel competent on and what stuff I need to read more about if I am to become a true Lumberjane.

Also, there is a chapter about backpacking with young kids that I skimmed, because that is not on my agenda, it would probably be pretty useful to people who are thinking about backpacking with little ones.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

20130701 ◊ This book is a great resource for women backpackers. To be honest, I wondered if the subject actually needed a women's perspective. However, I found the topics included to be both inspirational and eminently useful. A lot of the information is bare-bones practical for any backpacker, but the focus on the emotional and physical issues particular to women was surprisingly helpful. A short section on the history of female backpackers was fun and interesting to read as well. Highly recommended!

The only reason I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars is because certain sections were entirely outdated. Good hiking shoes for $50? LOL. One suggestion in regards to photography made me wonder: do they even still make disposable cameras anymore? And the enthusiasm with which Fancy New Backpacks were described as having hydration systems was pretty endearing. The ubiquitous bite-valve hydration systems like Camelbak were shiny, new-fangled devices when the book was written back in 1998. It's not that I couldn't scale up for relevance, but these anachronisms made me wonder what other types of technical innovations I might be missing out on. This book is long overdue for a second edition!

Nevertheless, tips on packing, clothes layering, first aid, lighting a stove & etc. were great, and I absolutely appreciated reading these trail basics from a woman's perspective.

[Myriah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book immensely handy. It wasn't all new information, but I still found it useful.

I appreciated the female point of view. Most of the backpacking articles and books I have read have been written by males, and I couldn't really relate.

At 25, I feel I have started to backpack rather late in life. This book gave me good, sound advice, and gave me the courage to finally plan my first official backpacking adventure.

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

My research after reading A Walk in the Woods. I had to know what woman have to go thru. Good information

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this many years ago, contains lots of tips on pitching a tent, what stove to use, clothes to wear, etc

[Mamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a concise, easy to read intro guide to backpacking for women. I enjoyed it! It was a little dated since it was written in the 90s, but it was still very useful and interesting. It got me excited about getting outdoors more often and planning some trips. It included some good reminders and pointers for me, as well as put some new information on my radar. My favorite part was that it focused on the voices and experiences of women in the outdoors.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great informational book about backpacking. It covers a little about a lot of topics and has some fun little personal stories about peoples' experiences. It's also written specifically for women so it talks about all the things that are different for women like finding backpacks and physical training.

[Bria]

A good intro but doesn't give much detail. I did enjoy reading something from a woman's prospective though; for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to believe the man's answers for women specific issues on the trail from other books I read. haha.

[Kassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

awesome resource by a woman for women!

[Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for female beginner hikers/backpackers. It is concise and detail-oriented at the same time.