I never thought I’d hike in a dress. Here’s why I was wrong.

BY PAIGE TRIOLA

As someone who spent much of her young life fighting to avoid wearing dresses, Royal Robbins has worked a small miracle by converting me into a fan of the exercise dress—their Women's Spotless Evolution Tank Dress, to be specific. 

Never before had I considered donning a dress for outdoor recreation, having regarded such overtly feminine attire with tomboyish disdain. Who wants to wear something with a skirt when your hobbies include climbing trees and trekking through mud? But the Tank Dress has proven that it suits the outdoor lifestyle just fine. It has a built-in sports bra that actually offers support, zipped pockets for snacks (my favorite feature), and breathable, flowy fabric with UPF 50+ sun protection. It’s also wrinkle-resistant, so you can quickly stuff it into a backpack or duffel without a care in the world. The only thing I’d say is missing? Built-in shorts. But I simply throw on a pair of spandex shorts underneath and hit the trail with confidence. 

I’ve worn this breezy number on a variety of adventures—camping, hiking, kayaking—and found that it makes me feel less like Ma Ingalls and more like a free-spirited nature sprite. It’s easy to move in, keeps me cool in sweaty temperatures, and has a beautiful floral pattern to boot. Summer is nearly over, but I’ll still be sporting the Tank Dress on fall hikes. It’s too much fun to pack away just yet.