What to Pack for Montana in the Summer
And not look like you're playing dress-up.
This post was supposed to have been sent last week, but in between horseback riding through the Crazy Mountains in Montana (Travel + Leisure article coming soon), fly fishing on the Missouri River, and hiking through Glacier National Park, I, admittedly, didn’t have the energy to put the final touches…
Now, I’m writing this from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where I got to be one of the very first guests of the Sylvan Lodge, a brand-new hotel in Snake River Sporting Club (another T+L article is in the works, too).
My suitcase for this Wyoming trip is a bit heavier than the one I packed for Montana—I needed a few nicer pieces for various events—but I brought mostly the same things: denim, button-downs, cowboy boots, a few additional layers, and plenty of activewear. After spending time out West over the last few summers, I can confidently say I’ve nailed the outfit formula (and no, it doesn’t include a Kemo Sabe hat).
Tops and bottoms
I always start the packing process for a Western trip with denim. It’s heavy and bulky, so I try to stick to just two pairs. Since I knew I would be doing lots of horseback riding in Montana, I picked up a new pair of Ariat jeans—they’re high-waisted and bootcut and stretchy enough to be comfortable on long rides, but they still have shape. I also brought my favorite Madewell barrel jeans to relax in.
As far as tops, I packed a long-sleeve denim button-down, a couple of sleeveless Ralph Lauren button-downs I got on eBay (similar ones here and here), one of my oversized sweaters, and a well-worn Anine Bing sweatshirt. While in transit, I wore a vintage suede fringe jacket I picked up last year at a vintage shop in Jackson (similar one here). I was able to mix-and-match most everything, so I never felt like I was repeating any combo too often.
Hiking clothes
I love Western wear as much as the next person, possibly even more so, but if you’re going to Montana (or Wyoming, Colorado, or Idaho) in the summer, the denim, gingham, suede, and cowboy-adjacent accessories have to be complemented by clothes you can actually wear to enjoy the great outdoors.
In Montana, my mom and I did some hiking through Glacier National Park, and I brought along my favorite Lululemon tank tops, another tank with a built-in bra I got on Amazon right before the trip, and my all-time favorite workout shorts—just order one size up from your regular size. I also added a light flannel button-down for the chillier mornings and evenings.
Shoes and other accessories
I packed three pairs of shoes for Montana: one of my (probably too many) pairs of cowboy boots, water shoes for fly fishing, and hiking boots. I’ve alternated between these Danner and Columbia hiking boots for years, and neither of them has ever given me blisters.
Other pieces that that made it in my suitcase: a bandana, a packable hiking backpack, sunscreen, sunglasses, crew socks, and several different sizes of Aquaphor. Don’t underestimate how dry Montana can get in the summer.