How To Prepare For Your Next Hike

20th February, 2023

Hiking is an activity that needs planning and preparation. Whether your plans are to go for a short hike or take a multi-day trekking trip, the principles are still the same. Plan in advance and get fit for the challenging physical activity. An unplanned adventure may or may not lead to a good time but a planned one will make your trip memorable. 

Planning for a hiking trip goes beyond creating a checklist. There is so much more you need to think about and plan before you head out on your epic adventure. Here is a quick guide to help you plan the trip.  

Condition your body

At least a week or three before the trip, you should condition your body for the hike by exercising every day. Cardio and strength-building are crucial if you want your body to survive the hike. Conditioning your body is also essential to avoid injuries.

Do yourself a favour and get yourself used to the burn as early as possible. 

Research the trail thoroughly

It is essential to familiarise yourself with the direction of your trial and the time your hike’s going to take. You don’t want to be lost or hurt during the adventure. While daring trips across hard-to-reach mountains are enticing, they can be dangerous, and need advanced physical and mental training. It’s better to raise the challenge gradually and not go for the hardest hike if it's your first time. 

Know your essentials

The one rule you’ll always hear for camping and hiking trips is to bring only the essentials. If it's a one-day trip, you can choose to bring whatever you like (including snacks and a bottle of your favourite wine) however, for multi-day treks, you’ll have to think twice about what you need to bring with you. 

Here is the list of essentials you should bring along, especially on a longer adventure. 

• Clothes appropriate for the climate (Lightweight, breathable and water-resistant)

• A water bottle or a hard thermos 

• Sleeping bags with decent insulation between +5°C and -5°C

• Backpacking tents are optional but necessary during the rainy season

• Portable cooking accessories

• Snacks, preferably water-rich fruits and vegetables

• Health supplies and a medical kit

• Camp light and other portable light sources

• Toiletries

• Sunglasses, sunscreen, a cap and extra pairs of socks

• A charged phone with downloaded medical/camping PDF manuals (if you’re trekking through areas with bad signal)

It’s also recommended that you invest in tough boots and a trekking pole for extra support. Try not to bring unimportant luggage or luxury accessories. It is usually recommended to travel light and for hiking trips, this is paramount. Only take things that fit in your backpack and you’ll hike like a professional. 

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