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Hiking Tips
Hiking Clothing:1 – Avoid cotton clothing, socks and underwear when hiking. Cotton absorbs moisture and holds it, making cotton clothing very slow to dry. If cotton clothing becomes wet or damp it will significantly increase heat loss and wind chill. The outdoor saying goes, “cotton kills”. Synthetic or wool hiking clothes are a much better alternative.
Hiking Foot Care:1 – Keep your feet as clean as possible. Dirt and small rocks are abrasive and lead to sore and even blistered feet. Hiking gaiters significantly reduce the amount of dirt and other trail debris that get into hiking shoes.
2 – Keep your feet as dry as possible. Hiking through water and even sweat build up can get your feet wet. When your feet are wet, or even damp, they are much more likely to blister. Carrying a pair of extra hiking socks is a good idea. If you tend to get sore feet or blisters, using a sports ointment such as Hydropel can help significantly.
Hiking Footwear:1 – Hiking shoes are a better alternative to hiking boots in most conditions. Here are a few reasons to use hiking boots: if you have problems with your ankles, if you are carrying a load heavier than 20 pounds, if you are overweight, if you are hiking in snow or wet conditions. In most other cases, hiking shoes are better because they are lighter and breathe better.
2 – If you are going off the paved trail, hiking gaiters will increase your comfort and keep your feet in better condition.
Hiking Hydration:1 – Stay hydrated by drinking often while hiking. If you feel thirsty at all, that means that you are starting to become dehydrated. Being even slightly dehydrated can reduce your energy and endurance capacity. Try to drink a small amount every 10 to 15 minutes. If you feel thirsty, drink more.
Hiking Poles:1 – Use hiking poles: to reduce knee pain, get an upper body workout while you hike, increase balance in slippery conditions, to hike up steep inclines easier.
Hiking Safety:1 – Carry the hiking 10 essentials.
2 – Know how to use the 10 essentials.
3 – Be aware of the range of conditions (extremes) for the area you will be hiking in.
Hiking Sun Protection:1 – Use sunscreen on exposed skin if you are going out for more than an hour. If your skin is sensitive to the sun, you may need to sunscreen every time you hike. Apply sunscreen before you start hiking and reapply as directed on the sunscreen bottle.
2 – Remember to protect your eyes from the sun with a good pair of hiking sunglasses. Eyes can be easily burned by the sun and long term over exposure to your eyes can lead to serious vision problems.
3 – Many outdoor professionals prefer to use clothing as much as possible for sun protection. Wearing hiking pants, hiking long sleeve shirts and a good hiking sun hat will protect most of your skin from the sun.
4 – In environments where the sun is extremely intense such as high altitudes and deserts, a hiking umbrella can be very nice. Think of it as portable shade.
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