How to take up hiking as a hobby

I know, right? The last time I went hiking was when I was 16 years old, as a requirement for COCC trainees and CAT Officers in high school. I cursed every step I took, to think I trained for it so I was prepared. I was ready. And then I realized hiking is not for me.


But maybe it's for you! The idea of taking up hiking can sound daunting as there’s a lot to think about, but they say if you get the basics right it can be a really enjoyable and stress-free hobby. You don’t really need any special skills to hike; you simply need to know how to read a map, plan a route, and enjoy getting out and about and walking. It’s fun, exciting, and good for both your mental and physical health.

Whether you've always wanted to try hiking or the pandemic and working from home has made you more keen to get out and about regularly, hiking can be really great for your mental health, as well as your physical health.

If you’re keen to start hiking but don’t really know where to begin, it can seem a little overwhelming, but the truth is that it’s easier to get started than you might think. It’s simply a case of preparing properly and making sure that you have everything that you need to make hiking safe and enjoyable.

 

Wondering what you need to get started when it comes to hiking and how to enjoy the new hobby safely? Below is a guide to everything that you should know!

Invest in the right gear

One of the most important aspects of hiking - and any outdoor activity - is that you invest in the right gear. The last thing that you want is to be caught out without the right equipment, so making sure that you have everything that you need is extremely important. What that means is taking the time to work out what the essentials are for hiking - usually, walking boots are a must, but what else do you need?

It’s a good idea to do plenty of research to find out what the most essential items are - you can also opt to ask other hiking enthusiasts what their must-have items are. You might also find that websites like ECOGEAR FX are useful for sourcing essential outdoor activity items, so are worth taking a look at.

Plan your routes

When you first start out hiking, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of planning your routes. As a newbie hiker, there’s a lot to think about when route planning, so you might find it helpful to research some tried and tested routes to try out. There are lots of websites that can help with this - so it’s worth taking the time to have a look around.

Another option as a new hiker is to consider joining a hiking group, where you can enjoy some different walks as part of a group. This ensures that you’re hiking safely and are able to learn as much about hiking as possible. When done incorrectly, hiking - like any outdoor sport - can become dangerous, so it pays to gain an insight into the ins and outs of hiking.

There you have it, a guide to how to take up hiking and how you can ensure that you love getting out and about exploring.

As for me, I am so out of shape as the only exercise I get these days is by walking to the clubhouse to pick up deliveries. -_- Showing proof of life here as J and I dropped by 7-Eleven for a quick coffee and snacks fix.

How are you? I hope you are doing well and keeping safe. :)