A guide to hiking but so much more!
As an avid outdoors enthusiast and fat hiker, I was immediately drawn to this book. It provided practical information on how to hike, invaluable resources for where to hike and insight into becoming a part of the community. I especially loved the community spotlight sections of the book!

There is so much beauty and joy in this book! The deeper I get into my health and sustainability journeys, the more I realize that the outdoors need to be accessible for everyone in order for it to be enjoyed and admired so it can ultimately be protected. This book opened my eyes to a lot of obstacles I was not aware about for fat people and it also taught me some tips for my own planning of outdoor excursions- I took notes! I loved the photographs, the stories, the nature, and the people highlighted throughout this book. It’s very well done and obviously made out of love, wanting to welcome even more people to the outdoors.

Thanks to #netgalley for access to this title.

** Thanks to NetGalley, Summer Michaud-Skog, and Timber Press for this ARC **

Fat Girls Hiking: An Inclusive Guide to Getting Outdoors at Any Size or Ability by Summer Michaud-Skog is a lovely collection of photography, advice, and short essays about hiking, biking, and rock climbing as a fat person. Written by the creator of Fat Girls Hiking (https://fatgirlshiking.com/) and featuring content from a variety of other activists in the sphere of outdoor activity, this book was inspiring, beautiful, and supportive. It made me want to get outside! I had not ever had to think before about the challenges of accessing specific outdoor gear, like sleeping bags, as a fat person, and finished this book feeling newly comfortable with the idea of approaching activities like hiking as a beginner and in the body I have.

4 stars - I really liked it!

Publication Date: March 29th, 2022

I didn’t care for how the download of this book worked, but it was a inspiring and motivating book for us to get out there and enjoy nature and our bodies , no matter our size.

Fat Girls Hiking is part trail guide, part memoir, and all encouragement for those who don’t fit the mainstream “outdoorsy” profile. The author, Summer Michaud-Skog, reflects on how she came to start the Fat Girls Hiking community, and many of the challenges she has faced on her outdoor journey. Included is practical advice such as how to find gear and what to include in a day pack on a hike. Community members profiled range from fellow fat hikers to bicyclists, rock climbers and van-lifers and provide examples of fat people recreating in spaces where they see very little representation. The trail descriptions throughout the book written by Fat Girls Hiking ambassadors cover trails across the country.
I enjoyed reading Fat Girls Hiking and recommend it to any woman who already loves to be outside or wants to begin their outdoor journey.

This is such a beautiful and empowering collection. I really connected to it as a fat woman who loves nature, but hasn’t always felt comfortable hiking — I enjoyed the mix of tips/guides with essays and inspiration from FGH members sharing their experiences. I will almost definitely be purchasing a physical copy of this to revisit in the future (worth it for the photos alone tbh), as well as taking advantage of the wealth of resources and book recs the author listed at the end.

Despite the title, this has something for just about anyone in just about any activity. The author and featured guest essayists (local chapter leaders who are included in 2-5 page narratives) are involved in handfuls of activities: hiking, and also kayaking, biking, rock climbing, backpacking, weightlifting, and more. The advice is most appropriate for people looking to take walks/hikes in nature spaces, but is loosely applicable to most other types of activity: where to look for necessary gear, what gear you can get away without, online sites to find advice and company, general motivation.

Although the title and main focus is on participants with larger bodies, there is specific mention of a few chronic illnesses and other marginalized groups. In general, again, the advice is appropriate for most people with any kind of physical limitation and from any group not commonly portrayed in mainstream fitness-oriented media, and even for able-bodied, mainstream readers who are just generally brand new to hiking.

Focus on the subtitle; recommended for all public libraries where hiking materials circulate.

As a hiker myself this is the best book I've read on the subject. Lots of information which I definitely appreciate for new hikers or beginner hikers. It's intimidating to set out on the trail for the first time. My favorite parts were the community profiles and the trail reviews. Plus that cover is the best cover of the year. Definitely will be buying for my shelf.

There are oftentimes when plus-sized women can feel excluded, especially in the area of fitness. There is a feeling of anxiety and powerlessness when it comes to your body and its environment. This Guide is so amazing because it is a step-by-step layout of how one can get started, keeping to mind not only one’s limitations but integrating socialization in its movement.

The use of the Guide is inspiring, using pictures and personal accounts that can inspire others to become motivated in themselves and the idea of hiking.

The writer made sure to include not only etiquette that pertains to the individual but also the environment, the trails that can be hiked, and how one can respect it. All around fun read, a fascinating guide, and a goal post I would look through in the future for further inspiration.

This book is brimming with not only brilliantly written stories about the love of nature and the outdoors, but also information and guidance for folks who are generally left out of conversations about outdoor activities.
As a once-thin-but-now-fat queer woman who finds an incredible amount of solace in nature (but is often intimidated by the expectations placed on bodies navigating outdoor/adventure activity spaces), I found this book to be refreshing, insightful, and so incredibly needed. The blend of storytelling and practical information is gorgeously executed. Any person whose body isn't visibly thin/white/cis/straight/abled enough to be represented in mainstream conversations about the outdoors will find useful information about gear, logistics, sustainability, and accessibility while hiking that actually speaks to your specific needs. Overall, this book is an enchanting and informative read from start to finish.

I like the premise of this book and appreciate the time and care and personal advice in the book. So many books on sports/exercise are really geared toward the "ideal" vision of an athlete and really are actually fat-shaming. This book is inclusive, welcoming and will not cause psychological damage or eating disorders among its readers. My only issue, is that it is somewhat geographically narrow in scope and may only appeal to hikers in certain areas of the USA. Otherwise - Bravo! We need more activity books like this that take positive ownership of the word fat.

Fat Girls Hiking is an outdoor community that promotes body liberation and fat activism. (Please note, I use the word “fat” throughout this review and I use it with love). I was not previously familiar with this group but I was immediately on board with their mission and I want to be friends with everyone involved. I even found out there is a chapter in my town! 😍. I requested an advanced release copy from Netgalley because of the title alone, and I’m please to find out that fat girls who love hiking is actually a whole movement.

This is more of a coffee table style book and not a memoir, although there are several personal testimonies from group members. We also get treated to beautiful photos of women of all body styles enjoying themselves outside.

One aspect of the group that I love is that there is no expectation that you should have fancy workout clothes and gear. Just be comfortable! The gals in the photos have quirky cool getups that are more in line with something I would wear while hiking. I just found it refreshing. That being said, almost all of the women being interviewed said they wished there was hiking apparel with inclusive sizing. (Major business idea for anyone out there who is looking to start a company.)

The book contains tips that perhaps would apply to any hiker, but I found them to be particularly helpful for fat hikers. For instance, you don’t need expensive shoes but you do not sneakers or boots that support your ankles, and if you are in a wet place, that are relatively waterproof. The author recommends keeping a second pair to change into after the hike, such as some flip flops. Why didn’t I think of this before? Taking off my heavy sneakers and wet socks and slipping into flip flops must feel so good. Another tip was regarding finding backpacks that fit, and the suggestion was to check the men’s section and consider a extender for the hip belt if you use one. Also, trekking poles are a great investment if you have chronic pain or otherwise need to take some strain off your knees and back.

There’s a great section on respecting the land that we are on. And a chapter on dealing with bugs and humidity. The author covers it all!

Comes out 3/29/22 from Timber Press.

Fat Girls Hiking is part inspirational book to get people of limited mobility or just increased size motivated to go out and try hiking. The book champions going at your own pace and wearing what is comfortable while not letting others intimidate you while you spend time with nature.
The book also has these little inserts about other hikers and their stories to help inspire. These women come from varying backgrounds and life experiences but they all found that hiking was something they could do. I love that there is a mix of ethnic backgrounds in the women that are highlighted showing that this is not just a white person experience. At the same time they do highlight the need to be and feel safe. There are places where a person of color or LGBTQ person might not feel or be welcome.
Finally there are trail reviews. Different people highlight trails that they enjoy and talk about the accessibility of the trail and what to expect. With everything that is going on getting outside and hiking has become more popular, this book is needed to let people know that experiencing nature is not owned by any one person or group and anyone can go for a hike, even if it is only really short and takes a long time. The self care you get from going out there will give you more than you thought possible.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fat Girls Hiking is an inclusive collection of personal stories, trail reviews, and resources for hiking and general enjoyment of the outdoors. The author Summer Michaud-Skog seeks to bring to light the imbalance in outdoor communities.

The interviews from members of the Fat Girls Hiking community are both encouraging and thought provoking. The variety of trail reviews is extremely helpful. I would have liked to read a few more. There are beautiful photographs shared throughout the book.

The author has included a fantastic list of material and online resources for further guidance.

I read this book in one day! It is an excellent guide to being a fat person who likes to hike. I loved the diversity of the women profiled and reading about their experiences. American readers will enjoy the inclusion of information about specific accessible trails in the U,S.

As a plus size woman , i really enjoy this book, usefull tips and tricks.
Appealing cover, a delightful read.

I loved this easy to read, easy to use, comprehensive guide to getting out there and enjoying the trails, regardless of your size. This book is packed with information on best gear to use, what to pack, and where to go. More importantly, it tells you to push yourself just enough but to know your limits and not overdo it. I really enjoyed reading stories of other women who have overcome their fears and hit the trails. I’m a big fan of hiking because (when you choose correctly) there’s not too many people out there and I don’t feel like people are judging me. This book helps others see that this is the case and it’s okay to go out and enjoy yourself. Highly recommended for those who need a push to get out and explore nature.

*thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have no desire to really be a hiker, but I really like to dance and do physical activities and for a long time everyone told me that I was not qualified for many activities, including dancing (and I am learning how to free myself through dance now). I think this book is helpful not only to the fat people who want to do hiking, but for every person, especially us that are fat, who wants to move their bodies and were not allowed, or just don't allow themselves.
We have every right to do any exercise we want, to simply shake our beautiful bodies if it will make us comfortable! We need to be more gentle with ourselves, and we need to celebrate our bodies. And that's what this book is about. I loved all the personal stories, a big thank you to all those people who took the courage to share, especially the BIPOC ones.
It's important that we can see all different bodies taking the places that usually only white people, especially cis and heterosexual men, have occupied. Thank you Summer Michaud-Skog for such a beautiful work like this one!


“There is no single way for people to enjoy outdoor or physical activities. When I was able to allow myself to participate in physical activity in a way that met the needs of my body on any given day my perception completely shifted. I realized physical activities didn't have to be hard or challenging of uncomfortable, although sometimes they were. I could honor the needs of my body on a hike, go as slow as I wanted, and take as many breaks as I needed.”

This is a great book for anyone looking into hiking. It covers the basics of what you will need and basic safety tip. Sprinkled throughout the book are trail recommendations from places across the US.

The book does a fantastic job including people with varying physical abilities by offering different tips to make hiking and spending time in the outdoors accessible for yourself.

I love the profiles throughout the book that highlight different individuals experiences with the outdoors. Each person comes from a different background and has different experiences. I loved reading how they were able to claim some space in the outdoors for themselves.

Overall, a great inclusive positive book for anyone looking into hiking and spending more time outdoors.

An uplifting introduction to the outdoors for those of us the industry historically ignores. Support and love shines through on every page.