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- in Trekking Poles , Adventures
Essentials for a Safe, Enjoyable Hiking Trip
If you’re like most people, then you don’t prepare to go for a walk. You just put your shoes on and walk out the door. Unfortunately, many people treat a hiking trip as little more than a long walk, and that can be a bad idea.
Think of it this way: When you go for a walk, you stay in your neighborhood. That means that you’re never far from help in the unlikely event that you get too tired to walk home.
When you go hiking, you’re in a completely different environment.
Carrying the proper hiking gear will not only keep you safe but also allow you to have fun. What are the essentials that hikers need to carry?
1. Food and Water
One of the aspects of hiking that is often underestimated is the potential for dehydration. When you hit the trail without carrying enough water, you can quickly find yourself in trouble.
Whether it’s hot out or, when you’re hiking in one of the cooler months of the year in your region–an insulated water bottle for water can stabilize your liquid intake for hot, cold or temperate no matter the outside climate.
Depending on the temperature outside and the distance you plan to cover, you’ll need at least a couple of bottles per person.
Since hiking can wear you out if you’re not careful, remember to eat before setting out. You’ll also want to pack a nutritious lunch.
2. Hat
Hiking on a hot day can not only put you at risk of becoming dehydrated but also increases your chances of getting heatstroke.
Wearing a white hat is a good way to keep from overheating and will allow you to stay on the trail longer.
If you don’t own a hat, then pack a white towel instead.
When you are hiking in winter weather, of course, a snowcap or beanie will serve to keep you warm.
Bottom line: wear the hat that will protect from the exposure no matter the season of the year.
3. GPS, Cell Phone, Map and Compass
No one plans to get lost when they go hiking, but it continues to happen nevertheless.
Taking a GPS device or cell phone can be a big help. In case they stop working, be sure to take a map and compass as well.
4. First Aid Kit and Walking Stick
In addition to getting lost, hikers are frequently injured, so it makes sense to carry a first aid kit every time you hit the trail. Since sprained ankles are common, it’s also a good idea to carry a walking stick.
Walking sticks, also popularly known as trekking poles, or Nordic walking sticks come in foldable, i.e. packable, styles, you can see more about them at the Walking Stick Buyers Guider here >>>.
5. Insect Repellent
The whole point of hiking is to have fun, but insect bites can quickly make you miserable. Carrying insect repellent is a good way to ensure that you enjoy your outing.
Hiking can be an unpredictable activity. Being prepared for a variety of different situations will allow you to get the most from your trip. You wouldn’t go on vacation without packing the essentials, and hiking is no different.
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- in Trekking Poles , Adventures
The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Hiking
Hiking enthusiasts around the world know that regular romps in the wilderness are not only good for physical health, but for mental health as well.
As hiking requires physical movement over varied and challenging terrain, it provides a great workout for your body.
Meanwhile, the social and stimulating aspects of hiking, such as taking in beautiful scenery while accompanied by friends and family, provides a workout for your mind.
Few other exercises can so effectively benefit your body and mind at the same time.
When you’re ready to learn about these benefits in greater detail, then read on below to find out about three physical and three mental health benefits of hiking.
Hiking’s Physical Health Benefits
1) Arthritis prevention and relief
Walking is one of the very best activities for relieving arthritis pain in the knees.
Sure, you could walk around your neighborhood or around the mall, but hiking provides the varied terrain necessary for building up all of the muscle groups in your legs.
Recent studies have shown that taking 6,000 steps a day may not only prevent and relieve arthritis, but may even reverse it.
What better place to get these steps in than out on the trail?
2) Weight loss
As it is a form of physical exercise, regular hiking can definitely aid in weight loss (which, incidentally, can further aid in reducing arthritis pain).
You can easily burn around 300 calories an hour at a gentle pace, and you can increase your pace and trail difficulty as you feel yourself becoming fitter and healthier.
Plus, it is very difficult to get bored when surrounded by the great outdoors, as opposed to when running or walking indoors on a treadmill.
3) Diabetes prevention and reversal
Hiking can be a great way to manage both Type I and Type II diabetes*.
Not only can it lower your risk for Type II diabetes by keeping your body in great shape, but it can actually contribute to the reversal of Type II diabetes for those who are already suffering from it.
Furthermore, while there is no known cure for Type I diabetes, hiking can lower the amounts of insulin that your body needs, making symptoms easier to manage.
Hiking’s Mental Health Benefits
1) The strengthening of social ties
Humans are social creatures, and while some of us may be more introverted and prefer to spend time alone, we all nevertheless need a network of close relationships in order to feel happy, secure, and loved.
Hiking is a fantastic way to renew and strengthen these relationships, as it allows us to get closer to friends and family while away from the usual distractions of life.
One afternoon out on the trail with a close friend can be worth more than hundreds of text messages!
2) Reduction in feelings of depression
Renewing and strengthening social ties can also be a big part of helping the symptoms of depression, but the benefits of hiking for depression don’t stop there.
Researchers have found that spending time out in nature is actually a much better strategy for reducing the symptoms of depression than, for example, walking around a shopping mall.
While depression is a complex mental illness with no simple cure, hiking can definitely be part of a strong depression treatment plan.
3) Stress relief
Just as hiking can help fight depression, it can also help fight anxiety and stress.
When school, work, or your home life have you down, then it is healthy to take a breather now and then to spend some time far away from your worries and stresses. Moreover, hiking can even serve as an upper body exercise when you utilize trekking poles on your journey.
If you give yourself a break and surround yourself with some natural beauty for a time, then you will likely return to your life ready and able to successfully handle whatever it throws at you.