10 Things I Wish I Knew… Before I Started Hiking

Though I spent a lot of time outdoors and going for family walks when I was younger, I only really started getting out hiking for fun around 3 years ago. There’s a whole host of information out there around getting started, but here are 10 things that I’ve learnt over the last few years.

1. You don’t need to buy a ton of expensive gear to enjoy being out

Hiking doesn’t need to be expensive. There are lots of ways in which you can get your hands on cheaper kit – especially if you’re not yet sure if hiking is for you. I found it really difficult to decide which boots to buy when I invested in my first pair, and from what I can remember, they weren’t exactly cheap. Buying second hand seems to be much more mainstream than it used to be and you can always find boots and other kit on facebook groups, online marketplaces and often in charity shops (especially in more ‘walking areas’).

All you really need to get started is a good pair of boots (or shoes), a rucksack and some waterproofs! You can check out my post on adventuring on the cheap, here.

2. How useful apps and maps can be

Navigation and finding routes, were some of the most daunting things when I first started. Thankfully, there are plenty of free tools out there to help you on your way. Komoot is my go to app for both finding routes and for navigation. You can download it for free and get one map area for free, which is perfect for trying it out and seeing if it works for you. I invested in world maps, which I think cost me a one off £30 and I recently upgraded to premium for a year so that I can use the multi-day features for my upcoming Dales Way hike.

If you’re planning on getting out in more unknown territory, or on your own, then I’d highly recommend taking a navigation course. I took one with NavTrek a few years ago and it was great. We spent a day out in the Peak District learning basic map reading skills, how to use a compass and take a bearing and I came away with much more confidence.

I always try to take a physical map and compass out with me as a backup to my phone, especially when I’m a bit further afield or in an area that I’m not very familiar with.

3. There are always people to hike with

Nearly all of my adventure buddies are people who I have met in the past few years. It can be really daunting starting a new hobby, especially if it’s something that your current group of friends aren’t really into. I found it difficult to begin with to find people to hike with, and had to push myself way out of my comfort zone and join a local walking group. But once I realised that there were so many others in a similar position to me, it made things a hell of a lot easier. I previously wrote a whole post on finding people to adventure with, which you can check out here.

4. Other people’s opinions don’t matter

Not caring what people think is important in all aspects of life. If you want to hike with a full face of make up, go for it, if you want to wear bright colours, it’ll most likely brighten someone’s day. Want to wear leggings? Why not. The important thing about getting outside is that YOU are getting something from it. In the past, I have seen quite a lot of negativity online from people trying to tear others down, just for doing what they enjoy, I’ve also had the odd negative comment here or there but have learnt to take a leaf out of lalalaletmeexplains book when I come across people like this, and just block, delete and move on.

5. Snacks are your best friend

Do not underestimate the power of the snack. The first few hikes I went on, I definitely didn’t take enough food. You burn a lot of calories when out hiking, especially if you’re not used to high levels of activity, are walking long distances, or are doing some big ascents. Making sure you’ve got enough energy is a key to enjoying your hike, especially if you get hangry like me. I always overpack on snacks and it’s a good idea to make sure you have extra in case of emergencies. My go to’s are crisps, cereal bars and more recently I’ve been enjoying trying out some different trail mixes.

6. Good waterproofs makes the world of difference

Waterproofs may not look the most flattering, but trust me, if you get caught out by the rain and don’t have decent waterproofs, things can get miserable pretty quickly. I’ve always carried them with me, but have only recently invested in some high quality ones. It’s also a good idea to keep up the maintenance of your waterproofs by re-waterproofing to ensure maximum waterproofness! Have I said the word waterproof enough?

7. You don’t need to travel miles to find a great hike

Some of my favourite hikes have ended up being the ones on my doorstep. Finding a great local spot that you can get to for sunset after work can help you destress in no time. When I first starting out, I felt like I needed to constantly be travelling up to the Lake District or further down into the Peaks, when in actual fact there was so much to be discovered in my local area. Apps like komoot really help with easily finding those local trails, points of interest and footpaths that you might never have known existed.

8. Only buy bottoms with pockets

Ok, so this may sound like a ridiculous one, but for me, pockets are essential. I use my phone for both my navigation and to take photos, so having easy access to it saves me having to constantly be taking my bag off. Pockets are also needed to make the snacks I mentioned previously, easily accessible!

I’ve found a lot of fleeces and jackets have pockets that sit under the waist belt of my bag, so I try to only buy leggings, trousers or shorts with a phone pocket and I make sure any rucksack I buy has pockets on the waist belt itself.

9. No-one cares about your speed

I used to get really caught up with how fast I was going, then I stopped, slowed down and realised how easy it is to miss what’s around you when all your focussing on is getting it done quickly. I’d sometimes feel funny about posting my walks or runs to strava incase someone looked at my times and thought I was slow. But honestly, no-one cares. I found that when I stopped thinking about my pace, I relaxed more, and ultimately enjoyed being out more.

10. Hydration is key

This may sound basic, but make sure you have enough water. The first big hike I did on my own, I wasn’t prepared and didn’t take enough. I hurt my already injured knee and had to hobble back to my car in a lot of pain, in the heat and very very thirsty. Investing in a water bladder is well worth it. They’re lightweight and I find I end up drinking much more than when I have to faff around getting a bottle out of my bag.

What are you key tips for hiking? Or what do you know now that you wish you’d known when you started out?

Happy adventuring x

If you want to follow along on my everyday adventures, then check out my instagram – lisa.outdoors