Make packing light easy. Join the ultralight packing class waitlist.

Outdoor Newbies Never Fear: A Woman’s Guide to the Wild

Woman's Guide to the Wild review

Anything men can do, women can do too, right?!

Well, there are plenty of naysayers that suggest women going places alone is dangerous. This could be to specific destinations or even into the great outdoors.

But writer Ruby McConnell sought to change that with her new book, A Woman’s Guide to the Wild: Your Complete Outdoor Handbook. McConnell herself is a writer, dancer and geologist who loves the outdoors. She created this practical guide for women in the woods, breaking down the many myths and offering helpful advice.

>> Grab a copy of A Woman’s Guide to the Wild on Amazon.

Why Was the Book Written?

McConnell noticed an underlying current in the media that seemed to suggest women had no place in the wilderness. She also noticed a trend in all-female hiking clubs and interest in long-term camping trips like the one featured in Cheryl Strayed’s book (and later movie) Wild.

Women are equally capable of accomplishing long distance hikes like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail, but we seem to hear less about them than their male counterparts. There are also some aspects of female life that make camping and hiking more difficult, and overwhelming to some, but not impossible. The author dives into this as well.

Woman's Guide to the Wild review
A Woman’s Guide to the Wild was written to fill a growing female interest in camping and hiking.

What’s In the Book?

In this 250+ page book, you’ll find information on everything from where to actually go camping to how to make a meal on the go. She starts with information on how to get back to nature within a short drive from major American cities.

The next chapter is all about what to pack, which is of interest to readers of this site! Packing lists include day trips to deep wilderness trips and, as we’ve discussed before, how to pack your backpack properly.

You’ll later learn how to set up camp, start a fire and deal with “that time of the month” while outdoors. Pay special attention to the illustrations of venomous insects and poisonous plants! If you have any camping related questions, you’ll likely find the answer in this guide.

Woman's Guide to the Wild review
This guidebook is a must for new female outdoors enthusiasts.

Is It Right for Me?

If you’re a camping and hiking veteran, you might find most of the information in A Woman’s Guide to the Wild to be common sense or knowledge you already had. But for someone like me who is a total camping neophyte, it could be useful. If I had to set out on my own tomorrow, I would have no idea how to start a fire, how to properly dispose of waste, or how to tell which direction I was facing.

This book is like a guidebook to a destination, which you might want to either research fully before you go (before leaving it at home) or to bring with you to constantly reference.

My favorite aspects of the book were the layout, which was easy to follow, especially with the boxes for packing lists, and the sketches that are included every few pages. I also liked the little sidebars with recipes and DIY hacks. The paperback makes it easy to throw in your bag while still traveling light. And for every topic covered, McConnell interviews an expert to offer their words of advice, whether it’s a Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, professional kayaker, or the folks at Lunette and Diva Cup.

Woman's Guide to the Wild review
The guide deals with everything from what to pack and where to go, to safety tips and dealing with food.

But keep in mind that the majority of the information is geared specifically towards Americans, including tips on camping for free at Bureau of Land Management property. That’s not to say that the rest isn’t useful, or that it wouldn’t be helpful while hiking in America, but it’s something other readers should keep in mind before purchasing. Overall, as a non-camper who lives in the United States, this book taught me a lot!

You can buy the guide on Amazon as a paperback (US) or for your Kindle (US, UK, AU) as well as Target, Walmart and Foyles (UK). All cost less than $20 USD.

Written by Caroline

Caroline Eubanks is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, but has also called Charleston, South Carolina and Sydney, Australia home. After college graduation and a series of useless part-time jobs, she went to Australia for a working holiday. In that time, she worked as a bartender, bungee jumped, scuba dived, pet kangaroos, held koalas and drank hundreds of cups of tea. You can find Caroline at Caroline in the City.

Add your voice & leave a comment!

Gear We Use

speakeasy hidden pocket travel scarf ad
Speakeasy Hidden Pocket Scarves

SHOP NOW

Splice Jaisalmer Reversible Tunic
Splice Reversible Jaisalmer Tunic

SHOP NOW

Eagle Creek Compression Packing Cubes
Eagle Creek Compression Packing Cubes

SHOP NOW

tom bihn 3d organizer toiletry bag
Tom Bihn 3D Organizer Cube

SHOP NOW

Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Daypack - Fits in the palm of your hand!
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Daypack

SHOP NOW

Turkish Travel Towels

SHOP NOW


Travel Resources

HPL Learnables

Handbag Packing Masterclass – Learn to pack your lightest bag ever in this revolutionary packing class run by HPL founder, Brooke.

Creative Ways to Minimize Your Toiletry & Beauty Kit – Practical tips alongside DIY recipes designed to help you pack lighter, smaller & with fewer liquids. (Also included as a bonus to Handbag Packing Masterclass.)


Book Your Trip

Viator – Enhance your trip experience by booking from thousands of tours across the globe.

Booking.com – Search for hotels, hostels, and apartments using this one resource. Use it for flights, car rentals, and airport taxis as well.

Trusted Housesitters – Save money on travel accommodation by becoming a housesitter. Housesitters often have extra duties, like caring for pets and gardens.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lady Light Travel says

    I just love seeing posts like this. My favorite quote is “you’ll find the doe in the woods as well as the buck.” In short, nature does not exclude females, so we shouldn’t either! Even “girly girls” can enjoy the outdoors.
    Once women actually get out in the woods they’ll see a lot of their fears disappear.
    We need to ignore the “no women allowed” and “women can’t” themes that have been part of the media narrative. An examination of history shows that women were always there and always participated in almost every activity.

  2. Lulu says

    Awsome!

    Im going to invest in this since my next trip is for next summer will involve lots of outdoor time! !Caving in Jamaica,swiming an underground river in Mexico,swiming with dolphins and playing with turtles in Grand Cayman and takeing a jetboat to a private sandbar on Castaway Cay!Does it get any better?

Leave A Reply