Some topics rarely make it into gear guides, but they matter just as much when you’re walking for days at a time. Underwear is one of them, and it’s not something I can speak to firsthand, so when this question came up in the Trail Hiking Australia community, I thought the answers were worth collecting properly rather than leaving them scattered through a comment thread.
An anonymous member of the community asked:
“On a two-week hike without easy washing or drying, how do you keep underwear comfortable, dry, and odour-free?”
Women in the community shared what actually works for them on long treks, and what follows is a distilled version of that conversation, trail-tested advice rather than marketing copy.
Fabric came up more than anything else. Merino wool was the clear favourite, and many hikers reported managing comfortably with just two or three pairs over extended trips. The reasons were consistent: merino resists odour, stays comfortable when slightly damp, and performs across a wide temperature range. Lightweight technical synthetics were the main alternative, since these fabrics dry very quickly and can be easier to manage in persistently wet conditions, which is why some hikers preferred synthetics for tropical or humid environments where drying speed matters more than insulation. Cotton was almost universally discouraged for multi-day trips because of moisture retention and friction. Period underwear got a mention from a few hikers too, but was generally considered less suitable for long trips without reliable drying options: effective at home, but described as bulky and slow to dry in field conditions.
Once fabric is sorted, the next question is how many pairs to actually carry, and most women described using a simple rotation system rather than packing a large supply: one pair in use, one pair drying, and one clean pair in reserve. Drying methods varied depending on conditions. Some hikers clipped underwear to the outside of their pack while walking, others rinsed in minimal water, wrung thoroughly and finished drying inside their sleeping bag overnight using body heat. In consistently wet weather, drying was described as the biggest challenge, and the common thread wasn’t perfection, it was managing moisture before it accumulated.
That rotation only works if washing without facilities is manageable, and several practical methods were shared for that too. A small amount of water and biodegradable soap in a ziplock bag, shaken and rinsed, was enough for many. Thorough wringing was considered more important than the volume of water used. Some hikers preferred to avoid washing daily and relied instead on liners to extend wear time between rinses, with disposable liners seen as simple and lightweight while reusable options reduced waste but added bulk. There was no single correct method here. The right approach depended on trip length, climate and personal comfort.
Beyond fabric, rotation and washing, small hygiene tools made a difference for staying fresh on longer trips. Some women used compact wipes sparingly, being careful to pack everything out. Others mentioned lightweight bidet attachments to improve cleanliness where water access allowed. A few suggested lightly misting fabric with alcohol-based sanitiser to reduce odour in stubborn conditions, though those who tried this emphasised testing at home first and avoiding contact with skin or sensitive fabrics.
None of this adds up to a single product or method that solves the problem. Comfort on multi-day hikes came down to three consistent themes across the responses: choosing the right fabric, carrying fewer but better-performing items, and managing moisture proactively. Perhaps the most useful advice in the whole thread was to trial everything before a major trip, because what works for one body may not work for another.
This article is a reflection of shared experience from women in the Trail Hiking Australia community, not a definitive gear prescription. It’s a collection of what has worked in real conditions, across real hikes. If you’re also planning around menstruation, the dedicated guide is Hiking With Your Period: Practical Field Management, linked below along with related guides. If you’ve got your own hard-earned lessons on this, add them. Community knowledge is often more valuable than marketing claims.
