Oh, I probably go on about this far too much (sorry guys) but I am continually delighted by the increasing ranges of women-specific outdoors clothing and kit. Now as editor of the Women’s Zone at leading on-line site myoutdoors.co.uk I am sent even more news and information about kit for women.

Running footwear, boots and even socks made to fit women’s feet; baselayers and jackets created with the women’s physique very much at the forefront of the designer’s mind; sleeping bags to suit our wide hips and chillier feet; and rucksacks that can be adjusted to perfectly fit.

Perhaps, if you didn’t spend years in the noughties putting up with potato sack style jackets (ie scaled down male versions) or male-width boots or one-size-doesn’t-fit-all rucksacks you will have no idea what I’m going on about. But it’s so lovely to have clothing and equipment that suits our size and physiques, rather than smaller sizes of men’s kit.

Now, women’s ranges are so comprehensive that you can simply bypass the guys’ stuff in shops and head straight to the women’s section, where every item of clothing and kit is created to suit women.

Another development is that designers are finally moving away from the “pink for girls” concept. I don’t mind pink clothing but there was a stage where all clothing seemed to come in shades of pink, and perhaps some pale purples.

On a recent trip to Cotswolds I counted a dozen shades of clothing hues, from bright green and orange to dazzling turquoise and some lovely paler shades, too. I am currently testing baselayers and each of the seven items is in a different, funky colour, all designed to fit my slim female physique. It’s great to now that the kit does what it says on the label and looks flattering, too.

Next on the test list is women’s rucksacks, with straps and belts etc made to fit our slimmer waists, shorter backs and smaller shoulders.

What item of female outdoors kit do you most appreciate?