Ultimate beginners guide for hiking

Get outside and enjoy one of the simplest, most reinvigorating hobbies there is: hiking.

If you’re new to hiking, read on to learn what you need to know before you hit the trails, whether you’re planning a stroll through the woods or a multi-day backpacking trip.

Why hike?

The wind stung and burned our faces. Step by step, we made our way upwards, and then we were there, on top of a snow-covered ridge in western Wyoming, on top of the Continental Divide in the Wind River Mountains.

Though it was late June, the temperature was barely over freezing up on the pass, just under 13,000 feet above sea level.

Above us, a bright blue sky. The view was spectacular, valleys spreading out before us, forests and rivers and glaciers, all of it so tiny and yet so vast.

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We snapped some pictures and began our descent from the ridge, eager to escape the biting cold.

That night we made camp beside a long lake, where it dropped well below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Today was day seventeen of a thirty-day expedition, and to this day, that unnamed pass over the Divide remains special to me.
The amazing beauty of the wilderness, land so wild that even the loggers and miners of the 19th century had been forced back by the cold and the snow.

Land so wild that even before people came to the Americas on wooden ships, the natives of the land only passed through as hunters, as the vicious weather forced them to stay in more hospitable lands for the winters.

How had we arrived here? What drew fifteen people to this wonderful yet desolate place?

For some adventure was the call; for others the wilderness was the place they could go to leave their pasts behind. Whatever the cause, we travelled together.

Several of us had spent months in the field before, while for one of our group, this was the first time outside of a city or suburb.

Some people view the wilderness with fear or even distaste. Some live in big cities and don’t have the chance to venture into the great outdoors as often as they would like. Some would like to start hiking but aren’t sure where to start—what gear to buy, where to go, how to navigate, and so on.

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And of course there are many like me, wilderness fanatics who need at least a hike or two every week.

If you’re reading this, you might want similar experiences, but how? Isn’t it expensive? Isn’t is difficult or dangerous?

These questions don’t have simple one-word answers, but I’ll do my best to give you solid advice for starting off in hiking.
It changed the way I see the world around me, and I hope it will do the same for you.

What gear do I need?

One of the most common misconceptions about spending time outdoors is that it will cost you a lot of money.

While this can be true, it doesn’t have to be. So here are some tips for choosing gear that will serve you well and not require you to sell a kidney.

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First off, the most important gear out there is not actually equipment. It’s your skills and mindset. All the greatest gear will do absolutely nothing for you if you cannot safely and effectively use it.
Just got a new pair of boots? Break them in at the park, not in the wilderness. Also, stay positive. A bad mindset will make you miserable, so keep positive. Being able to laugh at adversity will make hiking a whole lot easier for you.

Next up, use what you already have. You do not need all the newest stuff available.

If you’re brand new to hiking, your first purchases will probably be a good pair of boots and some activewear.
Beyond that, take you time to see how you like hiking, build your skill sets, and gradually acquire or upgrade equipment. Once you have more experience, then maybe consider putting money into stuff.

Clothing

That said, there is some equipment that is highly recommended for hiking and backcountry travel. I’ll start with clothes:
• Hiking boots or shoes
• Socks
• Hiking sandals
• Dry-fit clothes
• Merino wool shirt
• Raincoat
• Sunglasses
• Gloves

Footwear

I have seen people going on quick day hikes in full-on heavy mountaineering boots and I can say without any doubt that that is a mistake. Lightweight is your friend.

There are a number of high-quality and relatively lightweight hiking boots on the market. I’ve had luck with brands like Asolo and Vasque.
They’re extremely durable, comfortable over long distances, and provide some ankle support over rocky terrain. Some boots come with Gore-Tex coating that will even keep out water.

A solid pair of hiking boots will likely be one of your biggest investments when you start out hiking. Expect to pay $150 to $300 for a quality pair.

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If you balk at the price of hiking foot wear, you can consider going hiking in sneakers.

After all, the Lewis and Clark expedition crossed North America from 1804 to 1806 in moccasins. Yes, just plain leather moccasins.
The key to wearing minimalist footwear in the field is having strong ankles. I trail run to build ankle strength, and have never had an issue wearing light shoes in the wilderness.

Add some low leg gaiters to the mix to keep out rocks and dust, and you’re set in the footwear department.

Sneakers might lack the ankle support and traction of hiking boots, but they are generally fine for shorter hikes of mild to moderate difficulty.
So let’s say you want to try out hiking, or go on the occasional day hike, but aren’t sure you want to splash out on expensive shoes just yet.

If you already own a decent pair of sneakers, try hiking in them. Are they comfortable? Are you able to handle the terrain? And if, over time, you decide to pursue hiking more seriously, you can always buy some hiking boots then.

Now let’s consider socks. A good pair of socks is absolutely indispensable when you’re hiking.

Don’t wear cotton socks. You’ll soon regret it when your sweaty feet start sprouting blisters. Stick to wool socks by brands like Smartwool, REI, or Thorlos.

If you are planning to hike in heavy rain or through any river crossings, consider bringing a spare pair of socks with you. Hiking with wet feet is pretty uncomfortable.

A final footwear option to consider is hiking sandals. These cost around $50 to $100, so they’re a more modest investment than most hiking boots.

I’ve had a pair of Keen hiking sandals for about five years now, and they’ve taken me on some light- to moderate-level hikes.
Sandals are not the best idea if you’re going bushwhacking (your feet will get cut up), but if you stick to trails, they can be a great option.
They’re also fantastic if you’ll be hiking through water or getting your feet wet. Sandals are lightweight, let your feet breathe, and tend to dry out more quickly than traditional hiking boots.

Plus, if you go camping, they make perfect camp shoes, allowing your feet to air out at the end of the day.

Things to consider: do they provide toe protection? Personally, I like having a cap over my toes since otherwise I have a real knack for scraping them.

How good is the traction? Are they adjustable? My Keens have adjustable straps, which is awesome—sometimes your feet swell a bit by the end of a long day of walking.

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Clothing

What should you wear on a hike? You certainly could spend a fortune on the latest, greatest activewear styles, but there’s no need to remortgage your house.

Here are some general guidelines to start with:
You’ll want a couple good shirts and at least one pair of pants, shorts, or leggings. A sports bra may be necessary ladies.

If you’re planning to hike in cooler weather, you need at least one warmer, long-sleeve top, along with a coat or rain jacket. And, as discussed above, some good wool socks.

Let’s talk clothing material. As a general rule of thumb, avoid cotton. Why? Because when cotton gets wet, it stays wet for a very long time, and once wet, it has almost no heat retention.

Also, once cotton is wet, it chafes like nothing else. So leave the cotton and denim at home.

Instead, wear a simple pair of thin nylon pants and a dry-fit shirt made of a synthetic fabric. These fabrics dry quickly and won’t cause you discomfort. They’ll wick sweat away from your body instead of getting clammy and keeping it against your skin.

Now what about hiking in the cold? Wool is your friend.

You can bring grandma’s Christmas sweater (seriously, I will respect you forever if you wear a Christmas sweater on a hike without shame).
However, typical wool clothes are heavy and bulky, so consider something like merino wool instead.

This stuff is amazing, but yes it costs quite a bit. Look for it on sale or used. Merino wool shirt is light and warm, and it compresses down into nothing if you’re carrying it in a backpack.

I’ve been in sub-zero temperatures Fahrenheit in nothing but a few layers of merino wool and not been overly cold.
What about clothing for bad weather? A nice, top-of-the-line raincoat is prohibitively expensive for many people.

Arcteryx, my personal favorite, sells coats for around $300 to $500. Yeah. That’s a lot. Again, try buying used, but also be careful not to buy junk.
A cheap rubber raincoat from a garage sale may be waterproof, but remember that waterproofing works both ways. It will keep rain out…and it will keep sweat in.

So it is wise to invest in a triple-membrane fabric raincoat. Don’t bother with the technical details, but these coats breathe decently, meaning that you won’t end up drenched and cold in your own sweat.
You can get a decent raincoat for around $200 from a company like REI, though try looking at sales to get one for less. I recently picked up a great waterproof coat from L.L. Bean for $90, marked down from $300.

Additional clothing items

Don’t forget to bring sunglasses! As long as you’re okay scratching them up or getting them dirty, they’ll work out fine in the field.
Protecting your eyes is important, especially in higher or snowy areas, as the sun can do serious damage to you. And while you’re at it, never forget the sunscreen!

Gloves can also be a sensible purchase for the avid hiker. They protect your hands while you scramble over rocks and keep your fingers warm in colder weather.

I usually bring my Buff along on hikes too. This circular band of material has many uses. Typically, I use mine to shield my neck from the sun or to mop sweat off my face.