For decades, outdoor brands gave little attention to women鈥檚 products. That鈥檚 changing fast. We asked a field of expert female athletes to nominate the best new performance tools in a range of sports. Here, we present our favorite high-performance hiking gear.听
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Petzl E+Lite听Headlamp听($30)

The E+Lite鈥檚 locking switch ensures it won鈥檛 turn on in your bag. And at less than an ounce with batteries, this headlamp is ideal for summer hiking, when days are long and a beefier torch is excessive.
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Jacket ($320)

At seven ounces, this is the lightest puffy you鈥檒l every have the pleasure of destroying. The warm QShield 800-fill down shrugs off moisture and light precipitation.
Ula Equipment Ohm 2.0 Pack ($210)

With enough capacity for your three-season kit, this super-comfortable, 32.5-ounce bag is a perennial favorite among through hikers. Plus, it comes in a bevy of colors.
Fj盲llr盲ven Abisko Trekking Tights ($175)

Hikers love these leggings for the reinforced fabric at the knees and in the seat, combined with an incredibly comfortable fit.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles ($160)

Collapsible and weighing in at just nine ounces per pair, these poles are extraordinarily resilient. I鈥檝e tallied 8,000 miles over every conceivable terrain with mine. They can also double as supports for your shelter.
Western Mountaineering Versalite听Sleeping Bag ($559)

Cold sleepers, rejoice. Weighing in at just two pounds, this eth颅ically sourced 850-fill goose-down bag will keep you warm on the coldest nights the Pacific Crest can throw at you.
Outdoor Research 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Helium II Jacket ($159)

Stuff this 5.5-ounce shell in your pack and forget it鈥檚 there until you need it. It staves off cold, alpine rains, and shoulder season hail. The hood stays put in brutal wind, and the women鈥檚 version even comes in a few legit colors (read: not pink).
Brooks Cascadia听Shoes ($120)

Here鈥檚 a secret: most long-distance hikers wear trail runners, not boots. The Cascadia boasts comfort combined with tread so good you鈥檒l practically skip across talus fields. If you plan to log more than a few hundred miles, size up so your feet can swell.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite听Sleeping Pad ($130)

Superlight, cushy, and insulated, the NeoAir does an ace job of protecting me from the cold, hard ground without turning my pack into an anvil. Tuck a sheet of Tyvek underneath to guard against punctures.
The Expert: Carrot Quinn has hiked 9,000 miles in the past four years, including the Pacific Crest Trail鈥攖wice鈥攁nd the Continental Divide Trail.