If you're looking for a healthy hobby that's easy to get into, hiking might be one that you turn your attention to quite quickly. Not only is it a convenient, accessible way of starting something healthy – a manageable way of getting more exercise into your schedule – but you don't need any equipment to get started outside of what you already have.
Those who have been at it for a while might be at a more relatively 'seasoned' stage of their interest, taking on more demanding excursions or outfitting themselves with lesser-known tools that can help them along the way, but to get started, none of those things are strictly necessary.
Any Equipment at All?
Strictly speaking, to go hiking, you don't need anything at all other than a vague sense of where you're going if you are taking a short walk close to home. However, you might find that as your interest expands into more committed routes and it becomes something you're taking more seriously, you want the right tools to make it more comfortable. This might be a comfortable backpack, reliable water bottle, or hiking stick for some people. For others, it might mean embroidered fleeces that can keep you warm in a variety of conditions without stifling you.
The thing is, it's not like with other hobbies where this is mandatory – it's just that the more you engage with hiking, the more you might see the value in having tools that afford you certain comforts.
The Routes – Near and Far
Next, you need to think about the truly mandatory aspect – where you are going. Some people will be more than content having a vague idea of the area they're in before venturing out, happy to explore the land at their own leisure and letting that be a core component of the activity. This approach won't suit everyone due to time constraints and the unease surrounding being lost, but having access to GPS maps through your phone can help balance that out.
Once you have explored the local area and seen all of what those routes have to offer, you might start to think about the 'great routes', the famous trails that can provide more of a challenge but potentially more bountiful rewards in regards to the views and satisfaction you find at the end.
Taking it Further
Once you have acquired all the gear you need and conquered the great trails, what can possibly be left? The joy of hiking is that as much as you engage with it, you can never finish it. You'll always find new places to walk and new sights to see, but you can also evolve and adapt your hobby in interesting ways. Perhaps you want to move it from something solitary to something you do with friends or take your dog on if you have one. Alternatively, you could incorporate it into holidays, making it a great way to understand a new landscape when visiting another country.
