Relaxing sights, fresh air, and a workout that can put all other workouts to shame – hiking is a uniquely beneficial activity for any athlete. Not only does this physical activity help you build muscles, control your weight, and improve your heart health, it can also boost your mood.
Enjoying the sun and the nature around you can feel downright meditative and athletes will find hiking particularly beneficial because it can improve their performance in the long run.
However, as good as hiking is for us, it’s not really something you can just get up and do after a warm-up, the way you would a regular workout. It does require some planning, and beginners would do well to pay attention and prepare well before they strike out.
Luckily, we’re here to help you prep! Here are some tips that’ll help you explore wilderness safely and effectively.
Learn about your destination before the hike
If you’ve never gone on a hike before, try to pick a destination that’s close to your home. Not that this is an absolute necessity, but beginners generally tend to overestimate their own abilities, and this is one way to make sure you can always go back home quickly if you overexert yourself or run into any kind of issue.
Regardless of what destination you pick, do your research and learn everything you can about the terrain, weather conditions, and wildlife you can expect in the area. This will help you prepare accordingly.
Grab a sturdy backpack
Even if you don’t plan to camp out somewhere, you’ll still need a big, sturdy backpack made of quality materials. You want something that will disperse the weight as evenly as possible, so try to find a backpack with hip straps and padded shoulders. This way, you’ll be able to carry everything for a long time without getting tired.
Pack up all the necessities
We’ll make it easy for you by giving you a little list:
- Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and tent (if you plan to camp out)
- Portable stove, cooking supplies, water purification tablets
- First aid kit
- Small canteen
- Map and compass
- Flashlight, multitool, sharp knife, whistle, spare lighter
In addition to this, you’ll also want to bring layered clothing and food, but we’ll cover that in a bit. Knives are also important, and bringing a sharp switch blade knife can be particularly useful because it’s a versatile tool that can help you with anything from cutting dinner to chopping firewood. It’s also a good idea to bring some bug spray, baby wipes, and basic toiletries.
Invest in good shoes
There’s nothing quite like hiking boots, but if you plan to walk through mostly dry parts then you could potentially get away with a pair of good sneakers. If you don’t have appropriate footwear, then don’t even think about setting off on a hike – you need something reliable that won’t fall apart, won’t let water seep through, and won’t give you a bunch of blisters after a long day of hard walking.
Speaking of blisters, makes sure to break your shoes in before setting off on a journey.
Dress in layers
While you hike, it’ll get hot. But as soon as you stop for the night, it could get unbearably cold, and depending on how much shade you get, you might end up constantly switching between feeling too hot or too cold.
This is why wearing several layers is so important – you can take them off if you need to, or add another layer if it gets cold. A good fleece jacket and a raincoat will be particularly useful to you on a hike.
Pack enough food
You don’t need anything extraordinary. A hiker’s best friend is basically GORP (good old raisins and peanuts), and a few cans of non-perishables that will last you until the end of your journey. You want easy, protein and carb-rich food that you can munch on the go. For the evenings, things like ramen or tuna cans can be an easy dinner that doesn’t take much time to prepare.
Take a one-day hike first
If you’ve never been on a hike before, don’t immediately commit to a long journey. Take a one-day hike somewhere close to the place you live, and see how you handle it. You’ll have a much better idea of the kind of physical effort that’s needed to walk all day, and how the weight of your backpack influences this.
Bring bags for your litter
This is the number one rule of hiking: pick up after yourself. Bring a bunch of bags where you can set aside any litter, and carry it with yourself until you can dispose of it properly. This is non-negotiable.
And lastly, relax, take a deep breath, and have fun. Hiking is a slow but intense kind of activity that doesn’t leave any room for stress. It’s important to take in the nature around you and learn to enjoy yourself as you make your long trek.
