I'm really enjoyed this book. I like the layout of intermixing essays full of tips and advice on different outdoor activities with personal short bios that talked about different people's experiences of being fat outdoors.

I think this is a book you would not want to read all the way through like I did. You might I want to flip through it and not read it all-in-one go. I thought this book was full of great tips and body positivity and inclusivity in the outdoor spaces. It both celebrated the joys and benefits of being outdoors while also calling out for change in the outdoor industry. I thought it struck a perfect balance between the is between being a joyful celebration and outlining the very real prejudices that people experience outdoors.

This is such a helpful and realistic book about hiking containing great information for hikers of ALL abilities. The author stresses the importance of accessibility for everyone regardless of size, age or ability. Nature is healing and everyBODY deserves to participate.

Thank you Netgalley, Timber Press and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Publication date is March 29, 2022

I fully plan on buying this book once it comes out- It's really just what I've been looking for.
I love being active, but, it's hard to see myself as an 'active person' when the rest of the world seems so convinced that I must never exercise because of my body type, and that in turn makes me nervous to show my face in active spaces.
This book has personal essays as well as reviews of trails- a great resource as well as a way to see myself. I love how it also brings up the barriers of race and ability as well- with solid advice and encouragement to get out there even if some others may not want you.
The photos and layout of this book are also lovely!

An awesome exploration of what it is like to hike as a fat girl and how to do it with pride. I loved reading about the different tips and hiking trails. This book made me want to get out there and get after it!

Reading this book was a gift. It felt like a book I could’ve written myself. I felt seen and understood. It’s part memoir, part guidebook, a collection of profiles, and an intro to the outdoors for folks who feel it’s not a space they belong in.

The author of the book and founder of the Fat Girls Hiking community, Summer Michaud-Skog is self-described as midsize fat, white, and queer, but throughout the book, she makes sure to make note of her privilege and how certain experiences may be/feel less safe, less appropriate, etc for folks of more marginalized identities.

Fat Girls Hiking is full of beautiful pictures, acknowledgment and awareness for the Indigenous peoples of the land we’re residing on and exploring, and stories that prove representation matters. I cried my way through the book and read it all in one day.

This book is meant for fat folks, for queer folks, for folks of color, but it shares a meaningful message that all folks could read. It would maybe give them an awareness of how the outdoors is meant for everyone.

I loved this book so much.

This book is a very refreshing take on hiking and enjoying nature as a pleasurable fun activity. It also preaches to stand up for your needs (both physically and mentally) and to prioritize them in whatever journey you are on.

I really enjoyed all the essays and community profiles, but I connected the most with the essay on body liberation. As a person who has struggled with body acceptance my whole life, hearing how she has come to accept and celebrate her body was inspiring. “My goal is to help every fat person find peace in the knowledge that there is room enough in the outdoors to celebrate however our bodies show up.”

The photography in this book is beautiful, and if I ever end up in the US, I look forward to trying out some of the recommended hikes - going at my own pace and enjoying the journey.

I LOVE this book. As a plus-sized lady who loves being outdoors but is sometimes intimidated by big hikes, this was such a great read. I loved the inclusivity included in the book, and the diverse voices and perspectives included. This makes me want to start hiking again and inspired me to find a hike to do this weekend. Summer's stories she shared, tips and realistic advice was so incredibly helpful. I can't speak more highly of this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this!

Fat Girls Hiking by Summer Michaud-Skog is the book I didn't know I needed. I had no idea there was a Fat Girls Hiking group. I will definitely look up the group in my area of SW Ohio. Thanks to these folks for providing lovely photos and practical advice for those of us who are not athletic but we still love the outdoors!

While I am not a "fat girl", I am what they call a mid-sized girl and I love hiking. I struggle with it though, due to limitations from my own body. Fat Girls Hiking intrigued me, especially since the review said it was inclusive to all types, not just fat girls. That piqued my interest, so I requested it. This book was uplifting and inspiring. It was part how-to, part memoir, part trail review, not at all what I expected, which is why I think I enjoyed it so much. I loved that there were tips for hiking and what to hike in and with. I enjoyed the trail reviews in detail. While I only saw part of it, if it's not in there, I feel that there should a section where it lists trails in the US and their difficulty/accessibility rating index. Kind of like a Yelp list of reviews, if that makes sense? I think that would be incredibly helpful. The memoir part was my least favorite, but I still enjoyed reading about others' struggles and triumphs. Overall, this book was worth reading and has inspired me to seek out this group to help me find solidarity in my hiking struggles.

I loved this read! Such an awesome representation of different body types in motion and packed with a lot of useful information. It's great to see bodies like mine represented being active.

This book was amazing and so needed for me as a fat woman who enjoys hiking, but sometimes feels embarrassed because of my size. There are a lot of personal stories in here that I enjoyed and it has also a lot of practical stuff about hiking in here (that's not only useful for bigger people).
Would recommend.

Fat Girls Hiking: An Inclusive Guide to Getting Outdoors at Any Size or Ability by Summer Michaud-Skog is the most encouraging book for women to get out and walk, hike, and gather in the outdoors. I enjoyed this informative book with beautiful photographs and a friendly approach to an outdoor activity that should be acceptable for all. Many women who are considered overweight are often excluded or discouraged from hiking in groups or even thru-hiking longer distances. If you feel unaccepted by the stares of others as you walk a trail, hike, or get in line for an adventure park, this book is for you!
The author also realized the need for more trails to be available for those who have a disability. Many outdoor walking, hiking, and adventure trails still have not made these activities easily accessible according to the ADA guidelines.
This is not a "Let's Get in Shape", or a group dieting movement. It is for the acceptance of living as you are and being accepted in outdoor activities, hiking, or walking trails.
There are FGH chapters available for joining. The author has organized information resources for parks, trails, and groups. The book has personal profiles of some of the members of this growing group of women that is a joy to read.
Publication Date: March 29, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for the opportunity to read this new book.

Fat Girls Hiking by Summer Michaud-Skog


First, thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit apprehensive to request this one based on the title and the use of the word “fat” but I overall enjoyed it!

Fat Girls Hiking is a book loaded with hiking tips, trails, rating of trails and little stories of real life hikers. Each of the personal stories in this book included the pronouns by which the women prefer to go by and include their struggles with learning to be the “big girl” hiking.

Many of these stories I could relate to because I myself am a big girl and love to hike. I could relate to almost each and every single woman. This book is LOADED with amazing photographs and I really felt empowered as I read it. I applaud this book for trying to normalize big girls hiking and building up body positivity . You don’t have to be fit to hike or to love hiking.

Trails NOT scales! <——LOVE THIS

I am giving this book a solid 4 stars. I like that it included simple hiking tips but wish there were more personal stories included.


* AVAILABLE March 29, 2022
* 224 pages
* Informative
* Slow-Medium Paced

I read this book in one sitting because I loved it so much. If you want to hike but are intimidated by experts, unsure of where to begin, uncomfortable for any reason, or just kind of scared you will find support, advice, and comfort in this book. I HIGHKY recommend this book to all the fat girls who want to hike more!

This book is packed with advice for folks looking to get out hiking - and I was delighted to hear about FGH & that there's a chapter not that far from me! I enjoyed this and could see it being a useful reference for someone not used to hiking.

The revolutionary thing is that this gives us fat folks permission to take up space on the trails, hike in clothes that fit properly & feel good on our bodies (because we all know the outdoor companies do NOT market to us), to hike slow, to enjoy the experience, to listen to our bodies.

I love the emphasis on accessibility for all - there's honestly so much to love in here & if you are a hiker of ANY kind, I would highly recommend it for the straightforward advice on how to make group hikes more inclusive.

I was provided a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but I'll be buying a copy for myself anyway.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review! - 'Fat Girls Hiking' starts by explaining the origin of the U.S. group Fat Girls Hiking and the subsequent chapters that sprouted up in different states across the country. We are introduced to the many community members and team leaders of each chapter and through interviews we learn about their personal journeys revolving around hiking. The book goes on to cover a lot of content regarding detailed trail guides, what to pack when preparing for a hike, mental and physical preparation, social media sharing and reflections on one’s connection to nature. It includes a number of photographs of the trails and members and even covers van life and tiny house living. Overall, there is no fat-shaming or participation in diet culture within these pages. The real emphasis is on accessibility, diversity and inclusive connections to the outdoors and nature.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book!

The book is a guide to Fat Girls Hiking and talks about how the idea started and the chapters around the US. The book talks about the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in the outdoors. There are trail reviews by people in the Fat Girls Hiking chapters and interviews that talk about their experiences with the outdoors.

The book talks about what to wear, how to prepare to hike, and how to take care of yourself while hiking. There's also information about van life and sharing information on social media.

Overall a great read for getting outside and making inclusive connections in the outdoors.

Fat Girls Hiking: An Inclusive Guide to Getting Outdoors at Any Size or Ability emphasizes that hiking is inclusive for everyone, but the media and content online implicitly (or explicitly at that) says otherwise. This book is for more than just "fat girls." It's a great beginner's guide for all hikers, from gear, first aid, and more.

Hiking is for everyone! I love the focus of this book, especially the emphasis on accessibility and diversity. There have been so many times I wished for trail guides like the one included - hiking shouldn't just be for those who are the right shape and have the right money. When I was pregnant, postpartum, hiking with a toddler, or simply days when my chronic illness was too much, I benefitted so much from hikes in the woods, but without knowledge of what trails had good cell service, benches, bathrooms, were easily accessed, I stuck to the few I knew. I would love to see more guides of this type! The focus should be on the journey, on the hike, and not on anything else!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy.

I loved the subject matter of this book. I think it is so important to have visibility of people in larger bodies doing activities to make others feel like they can too.

What i will say is that this book is heavily USA-centric, so a lot of the advice on equipment or trail reviews is not immediately applicable to me given the pandemic. I did take some notes of potential places to travel in the future, but i would emphasize that a lot of the content is not going to be applicable to all fat girls hiking.

Photos were a great addition to the book.