Despite some discomfort during this pregnancy, I’ve been so glad to have gotten the care needed to minimize any pain and allow me to continue hiking during pregnancy. It’s been a great way to stay active, spend time together as … Read More
Thursday, 23 June 2022 Today we headed off on our great Alaska adventure! We spent the morning packing up and getting the final things ready, then stopped by my chiropractor appointment in SF in the late afternoon. We picked up … Read More
When packing my favorite women’s travel essentials, I’m generally looking for a few things: comfort, durability, and versatility. Over the years, I’ve found some of the best travel clothing for women and these are 5 of my hands-down favorites that … Read More
Welcome to LPF Weekly Deals! These are our favorite, tried-and-true travel gear and home life items that have stood the test of time. With 7 people in our home or when we travel, we try to only purchase items that … Read More
Join us we learn about Kenya with kids! During this virtual tour of Kenya for kids, we’ll enjoy fun and inspiring Kenya activities. This Kenya virtual field trip as part of the Global Children’s Book Club is a perfect way … Read More
This post is sponsored by Camping World We’ve been lucky to embark on a few long RV road trips in the last couple years. Over that time, our process for getting RV ready and preparing our rig for a big … Read More
This post is sponsored by REI. All opinions are my own. When Dan and I got married, I’d never been camping before. It felt too daunting, too risky, too overwhelming. Even armed with a few tips for beginner campers, I … Read More
Visiting Acadia National Park with kids is definitely a bucket list trip. It has such a diversity of landscapes, habitats, and wildlife, and is an incredible place for families of all ages and abilities. Acadia with kids is magical! We … Read More
There are so many fantastic easy hikes in Acadia National Park that it’s hard to choose the best hikes in Acadia! This list compiles some of the best to give you a taste of various ecosystems and landscapes so you … Read More
It’s been a little while since I’ve shared some favorite things. Here are a few things I’ve been loving lately! Sam Edelman Slide Sandals I’ve always been a giant fan of my Saltwater sandals, but this summer, I was hoping … Read More
After visiting most of the US National Parks, I can truthfully say there isn’t a bad apple in the bushel. They all have something truly special and unique and I’m glad to have visited every one we have. That said, … Read More
This post is sponsored by Good Sam TravelAssist. All opinions are my own. Since we’ll be covering something close to 20,000 miles this summer , we’re definitely keen on making sure we’re prepared for emergencies. All these things in our … Read More
Despite some discomfort during this pregnancy, I’ve been so glad to have gotten the care needed to minimize any pain and allow me to continue hiking during pregnancy. It’s been a great way to stay active, spend time together as a family, and enjoy the outdoors. Plus, it’s been one of our favorite family activities while on our summer adventure to Alaska as well as at home in California.
Of course, every pregnancy is different and you should always check with your medical professional before taking on an activity, especially if it’s new to you. But if you do decide that it’s for you, here are 7 of my favorite maternity hiking essentials for hiking while pregnant. I hope they help you, too!
When hiking normally, I go back and forth between sneakers or trail runners. I tend to choose lighter-weight, lower-cut shoes that are a bit more minimalist.
However, when hiking when pregnant, it’s super important to maintain good balance and ankle support. I find that my balance tends to be off more, especially with a protruding belly, and I need all the stability and traction I can get. So I much prefer a mid-height, sturdy, and super comfortable hiking-specific boot when pregnant.
I LOVE this pair – they’re seriously the best women’s hiking boots. The ankle support is fantastic (important so you don’t roll an ankle – way easier to do when pregnant) and have terrific traction. They’ve broken in perfectly and keep my feet comfortable. Plus, they’re waterproof, which has been great in wet situations.
I love wearing them with a midweight wool hiking sock for good cushion and wicking – this is my VERY favorite brand. They have a lifetime warranty, are a family-run business, and just are overall fantastic for comfort and durability. Our whole family has had a number of pairs for years and they hold up like no other brand we’ve had.
Also, if hiking in water, I love these hiking sandals for sturdiness and traction.
I don’t tend to hike with poles generally, but they’ve been SO helpful for hiking while pregnant. I find they help me keep my balance much better and stay a lot more stable. They also help remove some pressure while walking, especially when going up and down hills. I noticed a big difference on a recent hike – I felt much less tired and less sore at the end of that one than a previous one of the same distance when I didn’t use my poles.
These are the hiking poles that I have and I love them because they’re super lightweight, sturdy, and reasonably priced. These hiking poles for women also have terrific reviews.
When hiking normally, I often choose loose running shorts or skorts for more airflow. But when hiking while pregnant, I prefer tighter fitting maternity bike shorts or maternity athletic leggings. I find that these tend to give better support for a belly and are more comfortable to wear when hiking during pregnancy.
These are my favorite maternity bike shorts that are soft and comfortable, and also have pockets! For cooler weather, I super love these maternity athletic leggings. I have two pairs in different pretty patterns. I love the style, fit, and especially the floral designs.
Late in pregnancy, I don’t personally prefer hiking with a pack – and you should definitely check with your medical professional before carrying anything with a fair bit of weight. That said, my kids’ CamelBak is a great size and weight to still be comfortable! It’s small enough that it doesn’t impact my lower back or make me uncomfortable, and it carries my water for me up high on my back. It’s also very lightweight, so works for all three trimesters.
If I don’t want to wear that, I will often just hand carry a water bottle for easy hydration accessibility. It’s so important to drink tons of water, so I like having a bottle with me. Plus, this means I can carry my favorite water bottle that keeps my water cold for ages, which makes me much more likely to drink more.
This is something I haven’t actually had to use for pregnancy or medical reasons, but is something that is SUPER important to have on hand if you’re doing any off-grid hiking during pregnancy. You never know when an emergency could come up and it’s really important to be able to contact someone immediately for assistance.
This little device has been an absolute lifesaver this summer with vehicle issues when we’ve been out of service, and I will never again hike off-grid without it, especially with any higher-risk medical circumstance (like pregnancy!). It’s worth every penny!
I have to admit to not being the most diligent with sunscreen since I have darker skin and don’t burn. Still, pregnancy can make your skin more sensitive, so it’s important to protect it. I love this mineral facial sunscreen and this one for full body (it’s also my favorite for my kids).
This pregnancy more than any other, I’ve found myself getting hot and cold easily. It’s hard to get comfortable! I like to have a couple different options on the trail, and ones that easily pack away.
I love this mid-layer zip up to throw on over my top. It’s not maternity, so I’ll get use out of it for a long time, but it’s plenty stretchy for a belly. I also love the multiple pockets and that it’s compressed so sheds much less (better for the environment). And it’s plenty long even over a belly and ties easily around my waist.
I also LOVE this rain jacket. It works great as a windbreaker in cooler weather, and is super solid construction for wet weather and keeps me completely dry. It has armpit vents to stay cool, and packs into it’s pocket when I’m not using it. It’s the best!
There you have it! Seven of my favorite maternity hiking essentials for hiking during pregnancy. I hope they’re helpful in making an active pregnancy more comfortable for you, too!
