You need less than you think
First things first: you don’t need state-of-the-art equipment to start hiking.
Don’t let the pole-wielding, high-vis-donning walking groups scare you off the trail – there is more to hiking than looking the part.
To help with the essentials, we ask Rob from Cotswold Outdoor and Molly from Mountain Warehouse for their top tips and gear picks this spring.
Shake off the gear fear and get going with our guide to your very first hike.
Footwear matters the most
You will be spending most of your time crossing uneven terrain, so to avoid injury, make sure your ankles are supported. If you own boots you don’t mind getting muddy, then you’re good to go. Otherwise, any waterproof hiking boots will do the job. While they may be less breathable, waterproof boots are all-rounders for beginners on shorter hikes.
“Basic quality walking boots will do you fine,” says Molly. She encourages people to try out hiking before investing in anything pricey, with good footwear being the most important bit of kit. The deeper the tread, the better grip you will have on uneven surfaces such as rocks and mud.
If you have a backpack at home, use it
Your trusty rucksack will be suitable, as long it has enough space for a jacket and some snacks. If you’re in the market for something new, Rob recommends a Daylite bag by Osprey, which retails from £55. It is lightweight and waterproof with enough room to fit in snacks, a water bottle, and any outer layers you take off. A 13-litre bag is plenty of space for your outdoor adventures.
Bring enough water
Pack a suitable bottle and snacks that won’t crumble in their packets such as jerky or our GORP mix.
If you are supplementing your hike with other activities, be sure to pack your birdwatching binoculars or sketchpad and pencils. In terms of navigation, you can see most smaller trails on Snapchat’s Snap Map – as we found out on our recent adventure.
Now you know the basics, why not give hiking a try?