Everything You Need to Make Hiking Your New Favorite Hobby!
Hiking has become one of my favorite hobbies. It’s something I enjoy doing with my husband and that we also do as an entire family. Some of our best memories have been made out on the trails. If you’ve never thought of taking up hiking, or if you have but are not sure where to start, I’ve got you covered in this post.
Why Hiking?
There are a lot of reasons why hiking is a great hobby for anyone. First of all, it gives you an opportunity to get outside and see the beauty all around us. And there are so many options! You can hike around a lake, to a waterfall, to a mountaintop, or down an easy trail through the woods. It’s also a great hobby for exercise. And lastly, its a fun hobby to do with others, but it’s also something great to do when you need time for self-reflection and peace on your own.
What Do I Need?
One of the best things about hiking as a hobby is that you don’t need much to get started. You could actually find an easy trail right now and just go as long as you have comfy clothes and shoes and a good attitude. That being said, I do recommend a few things if you’re ready to really get into hiking:
- A good pair of hiking shoes is probably the most important thing. I love On Cloud’s hiking shoes, and this is the one I currently have. I also recommend Hoka and Merrell as good brands for shoes. The important thing is to find a pair that feels comfortable and has a good grip on the bottom.
- A first aid kit. You don’t want to scrape a knee and not have a bandage.
- A water bottle.
- A backpack to carry your stuff in. This is the one we have that’s really great quality and built to last, but this one is a cheaper option if you don’t want to spend a lot.
- If you are going to do day hikes (hikes that are several miles and keep you out all day) or even overnight hikes, you also need some other things. Check out this checklist from REI, my favorite hiking outfitters, to help you pack everything you need.
Where Can I Go to Learn about Hiking?
Before you set out on your first hike, set yourself up for success by doing a little research. I recommend checking out AllTrails, which is a website and app that can help you find the perfect hike for you anywhere in the US. It will provide you with information about the location, the difficulty, and the elevation change. And if you really are a beginner, I would start by reading this article from Revolution Race. It gives a really easy-to-follow overview of hiking and has everything you would need to think about before embarking on your first hike.
Is Hiking Something I Can Do with My Kids?
Yes! We love to go hiking with our kids! It is the perfect activity for families to do together and it gives kids the opportunity to explore and learn.
If you have kids, before you get out into the great outdoors, check out my post, Everything You Need to Outfit Your Little Adventurer And to keep that adventure going all the time, check out 5 Simple Ways to Add Adventure and Excitement to Your Kids’ Lives!
I hope you’ll give hiking a chance if it’s something you haven’t tried before. It’s a hobby I embraced later in my life that has brought me so much joy! I hope it will for you as well!
Need a rest after hiking, but missing the great outdoors? Check out Experience the Great Outdoors Through These Awesome Books!
Want to read about some other great hobbies? Check out Happy Hobby Time: Online Acrylic Painting Lessons or A Lovely Floral Design Project That’s Fun and Easy!
Have a great day!
Jamie
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