There is nothing better than hiking. If I could only choose one hobby and had to drop the others for the rest of my life, it would be hiking. If I could spend all day, every day on the trails, I would.
Hiking offers many benefits to your mental and physical health, as well as providing a great way to have fun while getting active at the same time. But the best thing about hiking is that there’s something for everyone. Even if it’s your first time lacing up a pair of hiking boots, all you need is some hiking tips for beginners and a bit of preparation and you’re ready to go.
With the following hiking tips, you’ll have everything you need to set out on an outdoor adventure today.
1. Get Familiar With Your Fitness Level
As with any form of exercise, the most important thing to do when you’re first starting out is to familiarize yourself with your fitness level. Pushing yourself isn’t a bad thing inherently. However, pushing yourself too hard is a great way to take the fun out of the activity at the very least, and at worst, suffer a serious injury.
To get the most out of your hike, you need to choose one that suits your fitness level. Remember that hiking isn’t the same as walking on a treadmill or paved sidewalk, though. The elevation gain and uneven terrain make things more difficult. Because of this, you should pick a hike that’s a little shorter than the distance you would typically walk.
2. Give Your Plans to a Friend or Family Member
When you’re going on a hike, someone close to you should know where you’ll be and at what time they should begin to worry if they haven’t heard from you. First of all, you’re likely to lose cell service. But even if you don’t, it’s always best if someone knows where you are, should a worst-case scenario arise.
The amount of time it will take to complete the trail will depend on a variety of factors. The distance and difficulty, of course, but you should also account for snack and water breaks, varying pace, and taking a few extra minutes at the peak to soak in the view. Give your emergency person a time later than your calculated hike time.
For example, if you expect to be back at your car or campsite around 5 pm, your emergency person should be allowed to start worrying at 8 or 9 pm.
3. Choose Your Footwear Carefully
This one is absolutely crucial. Your footwear can and will make or break your hiking experience. Choose the wrong shoes, or even the wrong socks, and you’re in for a bad time. I’ve made the mistake of wearing the wrong socks once or twice, thinking I could get away with it. And let me tell you, blisters are the enemy of fun.
You don’t have to have heavy-duty hiking boots if you don’t want them. There are plenty of options that look and feel similar to regular shoes but are sturdy enough to give you the support you need on a hike.
I have a pair of Solomon boots that I love, but the best shoes for you will depend on your preferences. That said, the one feature you should absolutely have (in my opinion), is waterproofing. Keeping your feet dry will help you stay comfortable, and warm if you’re hiking in cold weather.
As for socks, go with wool or synthetic. Cotton is a bad choice for outdoor activities as it will trap your sweat against your skin. Wool is far better when it comes to regulating temperature. It’s also a bit thicker, which will protect your feet from those dreaded blisters.
4. Know the Trail Before You Hike It
Before you set out on your hike, look up a map of the area and the trail itself. Preferably, you should have the map downloaded on your phone.
Is your trail a loop or will your route take you out and back? Are there any landmarks to look out for along the way? Where will you stop for lunch? Having all these questions answered beforehand will allow you to enjoy your hike even more.
Most trails are marked at least reasonably well. However, you should never assume that the trail will be well marked or that there will be no intersections that could cause you to lose your way. Make note of these intersections before you set out so that you don’t accidentally take a wrong turn and hike 3 miles in the wrong direction (I may or may not be speaking from experience…it happens to the best of us, so don’t worry too much if it happens to you).
5. Always Check the Weather First
This is an obvious one, but checking the weather before your hike is a must. Even if you’ve been checking in the days leading up the hike, look one last time before climbing in your car to head out.
Weather apps aren’t always right, and you might walk into some unexpected rain now and then, but they’re good for predicting severe weather that you shouldn’t be hiking in. A light shower is no big deal; in fact, it’s usually welcome when I’m hiking in hot weather. As long as your belongings are in a waterproof backpack or case inside your bag, and you don’t mind getting a little wet, you’re good to go.
That said, a strong lightning storm is something else entirely. When the weather is truly awful, why not grab some breakfast and watch a movie or two instead? The trail will still be there tomorrow.
6. Prioritize Hydration
Hydrating while you hike is the key to staying strong and energized on the trail. And if you have low blood pressure like me, it’s the key to not fainting halfway up the mountain. The amount of water you need to bring will depend on the weather, as well as the difficulty and length of the hike.
The more water you lose through sweat, the more water you’ll need to drink to replace it. Sunshine is awesome for giving you a boost of vitamin D but the last thing you want to do is become dehydrated from the heat. Being weak or light-headed on the trail is never fun and can even be dangerous, which is why bringing plenty of water is truly one of the best hiking safety tips I can give you.
I have a 32-ounce water bottle that never leaves my side, and is plenty for hikes that I know are easy and won’t take me much time. A good rule of thumb is to bring 1 water bottle of this size for every 2 hours of hiking. You might need more for high temperatures or extremely strenuous hikes, but for moderate-intensity activity at moderate temperatures, half a liter (16 ounces) per hour is enough.
7. Never Leave the Essentials Behind
Speaking of what to bring with you, there are a few hiking essentials that you need to bring every time you hit the trails. Luckily, the hiking gear list for beginners and one for advanced hikers are extremely similar. Once you have your packing technique down, you shouldn’t have to change it.
I have a whole article on packing for hiking, including a handy checklist of what to bring on a day hike. You can go over there for more details, but we’ll talk about the basics here.
Water should always be first on the list. Other than that, the two things that I bring on every single hike, regardless of the weather or difficulty, are sunscreen and bug spray. Nothing ruins that post-hike endorphin high like being burnt and itchy.
If you’re hiking in the winter, bug spray will probably be unnecessary. But because it never leaves my hiking backpack, it comes with me even when I’m hiking in the snow.
You should also have a few snacks, a flashlight or headlamp, a small first aid kit, a raincoat, and a map of the trail at all times. Keep in mind that this is for a day hike only. If there’s a chance you’ll be spending the night on the trail, the list becomes much more extensive.
Get Off On the Right Foot With These Hiking Tips for Beginners
Hiking is for everyone, grizzled veterans and those hitting the trails for the first time alike. However, when it is your first time, it’s a good idea to do some preparation beforehand. Equipped with these hiking tips for beginners, you’ll get even more out of your hiking experience.
When in doubt, choose a trail on the easier side rather than one that might be too difficult when you’re still learning your limits. The point of hiking is to connect with nature and enjoy yourself, not to push yourself to the point of misery. At worst, there’s nothing wrong with a casual stroll through the woods.
To keep up with my adventures, follow me on Instagram, and be sure to check out a few of my other posts on hiking, breakfast food, and everything Asheville.
– See ya Out There!
