8 Tips To Make Hiking More Comfortable And Fun
Hiking is consistently one of the most popular outdoor activities with over 42 million hiking participants in the US alone. It’s one of the easiest activities to get started in for newbies because if you know how to walk you’ve pretty much got the basics down. However, there are some tips and tricks to making your hiking experience even more comfortable and enjoyable. When you’re communing with nature, you are also exposing yourself to the elements; therefore you need to be aware of what you bring in your backpack and how your clothing might affect your journey. Here are 8 tips that will help you have the best hiking experience possible.
#1. Pack Light For Short Or Long Hikes
Real talk, we’re about to give you lots of tips for hiking success and many are items you’ll want to pack in your backpack. While all of these items are valuable, keep in mind that you have to carry all these things on your back while hiking. So, how do you have the best of both worlds, bringing all the comforts without all the heavy lifting? First of all, you need the perfect backpack. It has to be roomy but lightweight and able to adjust to your body for the perfect fit. The TENTON Sports Oasis Hiking Backpack is an excellent choice. This customizable pack fits both men and women comfortably, comes in lots of vibrant colors, and it’s too heavy. If you want even more great hiking accessory suggestions, check out this full list by Rebekah Gillian at Giftwits. Once you have the perfect backpack, evaluate all the items you’ll be placing inside it. Look for opportunities to make lighter suggestions such as a smaller bottle of sunscreen or a lightweight flashlight. Before you leave for your hiking excursion, practice with your backpack and make sure you’ll be comfortable carrying it for hours at a time.
#2. Dress For The Elements
For short hikes, check the weather forecast and dress appropriately for the temperature and weather conditions.
Kate Huber, chief content editor at NJGamblingFun, and an avid hiker, has this recommendation: “Always dress in light layers so you can adjust as needed. Plan to have at least one additional warmer layer than you think you’ll need. If your hike takes longer than planned or temperatures drop quickly then you’ll be prepared. For longer or overnight hikes, you’ll want to pack in a similar fashion but take into account more opportunities for the weather to shift. It’s miserable to be cold and wet while hiking so bring some rain protection. Avoid cotton clothes because they retain moisture. You’ll be done a ton of walking so it goes without saying that your socks and shoes will be very important.“
Make sure to bring extra socks and do not wear brand new boots that haven’t been broken in yet. New boots can cause blisters making it painful to walk.
#3. Stay Hydrated On The Trail
The human body can go for days without food but water is essential to survival. In addition to bringing fresh clean water with you, plan for the possibility of having to drink water you find on the trail using a portable filtration system like Life Straw which will fit easily in your pack. Make yourself even more comfortable on the trail with the ability to keep water cold in the summer or warm in the winter with an insulated reusable water bottle from Kool8. It is light and portable with a slick modern design and the ability to keep the water at a perfect temperature for up to 12 hours.
#4. Take Adequate Sun Protection
No matter what the temperature is, being exposed to the sun’s UV rays all day long will take a toll on your skin and put you at risk of getting a nasty sunburn. There are a few ways you can shield yourself from the sun while hiking.
Sunscreen - Never go hiking without sunscreen. When applying sunscreen, don’t forget sensitive areas like the nose and ears. Sunscreen isn’t a set it and forget it activity though, don’t forget to reapply throughout the day.
Sunglasses - Your eyes need protection too. Bring sunglasses with UV protection that wrap around your head or have side blinders for full protection.
Clothing - Protects your arms with lightweight long sleeve shirts while hiking. Wide-brimmed hats will also help shield your head and face. Long nylon pants are also a better idea than shorts to protect your legs.
#5. Take Some Munchies On Your Hike
No matter if you’re going for days or hours, you’ll need to take some food with you hiking. Choose a variety of packable foods with high-calorie counts because you’ll be burning a ton of energy walking all day. Trail mix, protein bars, nuts, and seeds are all great choices for healthy hiking snacks. If you’ll be doing an extended hiking trip and need to plan meals, then some good choices are jerkies, tuna, crackers, bagels, and tortillas. You can also bring fresh fruit as a delicious healthy snack that’s easy to eat on the go. Remember that you want to leave no human trace behind when you’re hiking in nature, so anything trash you generate needs to go right back in your backpack to take home with you.
#6. Don’t Leave Home Without A First Aid Kit
Minor injuries are the small price you’ll have to pay for loving the great outdoors. As long as you’re prepared for them you’ll be able to have an enjoyable hike even when accidents occur. At a minimum, you’ll want to have antiseptic wipes, an assortment of bandaids, and insect sting treatment at your fingertips. Additional items could include elastic wraps, splints, pain relievers like ibuprofen, and antihistamines to treat allergic reactions. Of course, you’ll want to pack your first aid kit to match the length of your hike and the degree of difficulty you’ll experience on the trail you’ve selected. You can pick up a pre-packed hiking specific first aid kit at REI like the Adventure Medical Kit.