15 Hiking Essentials for Beginners

Hiking is the best way to workout being with Nature and enjoy the scenic beauty, unlike your closed workout area. Hiking is the best way to improve your physical and Mental Health. Studies have proved that hiking reduces anxiety, hypertension, osteoporosis and reduces the risk of coronary heart diseases. Make sure you note and carry all your essential things.

Are you a new hiker? Here you go with 15 essentials to do list for your great hiking experience.

1. Plan your Trail

Every great journey starts with a single step. Choose short and right trail, do not over do. Do not choose too long or too much climbing. Keep it shorter than you think you can do it.

2. Know more about the trail

When you choose the trail go through the map to know how the way is. Read online reviews of the hiking spot. Check with your friends and know more information if they had been on the same trail. Physical experiences are more accurate. Find and mark spots where you can take a break and click selfie of the latest trend.

3. Be Updated on weather

Be updated on weather conditions before you start your hiking and after. Pack your Essentials according to the weather. If the weather goes bad, change your plan rather than getting into troubles on trail.

4. Keep your Family or Friends Informed

It’s very important that your family or friends know where you hiking. They would be a personal safety and It is very helpful during any emergency situations. GoFindMe – a real time GPS tracker that works without cell service would be really helpful.

5. Find a hiking partner

Having a friend or partner along will comfort you more to hike all the way long. As you all know “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk long, walk with a partner”. Finding a right partner to hike along can make great memories. They can be a great help too in all aspects as they are equally responsible in planning and executing.

6. Hiking classes

If you are not confident enough to start your 1st hike, it’s always better to take classes from local hiking communities. Or take suggestion from people who hike regularly.

7. Pack your Essentials
   • Shelter – Tents or Sleeping Bag
   • Route Map
   • Sun protection – Hats, Sunday Glasses and Sunscreen Lotions.
   • Head lamp, Flash Lights and Extra Batteries
   • Fire – Candles, Lighter and Matches
   • First Aid Kit
   • Tools and Repair kit
   • Sufficient food
   • Water and Instant water filter
   • Compass for Navigation
   • Communicators / Trackers / Glass Signal mirror
   • Insects Repellents/ Spray
   • Garbage Bags
   • Your regular medicines and pain killers

8. Right and comfortable Boots/ shoes and socks

Wearing right and comfortable shoes are most important things, as wearing comfortable shoes are key point for hiking.  If this goes wrong, you may ruin your hike. Avoid heavy boots. Light hiking shoes may be preferable. 

9. Comfortable clothes

Dress Right and Wear comfortable hiking gear for men or for women according to weather. It is equally important as you select your shoes. Wool insulation is highly relevant to hiking wear due to its exceptional properties that make it an excellent choice for outdoor enthusiasts. When used in hiking apparel, wool insulation provides exceptional warmth, even in wet conditions. It effectively regulates body temperature by wicking away moisture from the skin, keeping the hiker dry and comfortable during physical exertion.

10. Pack it light

Keep your carryon’s light. Carry only what you need. Comfort is more important than fashionable wear for hiking. This will ease your hiking.

11. Comfortable pace till the end of hiking

Do not rush at the start and fall by the time you end hiking and drain all your energy. It is very important to maintain your pace and energy equally from the beginning till you end the hike. Remember my first suggestion? Don’t over do.

12. Time and Target

Managing time with your pace is important. On an average you can hike 2 -3 miles per hour. Have a buffer of 1-2 hours for the target reaching time to have a hassle free Hiking.  Plan your time and target based on the season, sun set time and rain forecast.

13. Carry waterproof backpacks

Carrying waterproof backpacks is a key for hiking. This will be helpful during rain and at rain fall spots. Keeping all your essentials safe is very important.

14. Leave a trace to ease your way back

Leave small marks, note few spots on your way. It will help you reach back safe. And you would not waste your time taking a wrong turn. Use hiking tracker which would be more helpful in case you are lost. It is extremely scary to find yourself lost as almost all hiking spots would have mobile networks.

15. Maintain Cleanliness

Saving and Keeping our nature clean is our responsibility. Please do not throw trash all over. Always carry a garbage bag and maintain cleanliness.

I believe you will follow all the above suggestions and have a great hiking. Let us know your experiences, we would love to read them.

Vihari

Love traveling.