7 Tips for the Perfect Hike

Hiking is more popular than ever, captivating young and old alike. But everyone knows this feeling. You drag yourself off the couch, the weather is perfect, you're motivated, and you happen to be in a great hiking area. All the parameters seem ideal, and you're looking forward to a beautiful and relaxing day of hiking. But the annoyance starts as soon as you arrive. Where was the trailhead again? Annoyed, you search for the best parking option and then just park somewhere along the street, surely expecting a parking ticket later 🙁 During the hike, you then realize that your gear is completely unsuited for the conditions. What do you do? Most of the time, you keep walking with blisters on your feet or aching knees, feeling frustrated.

Since a next hike will surely be missed in this case due to a lack of motivation, I would like to [you here] 7 Tips for the Perfect Hike give. Because as many people as possible should enjoy the best hobby in the world and really have fun with it.

Proper footwear – good shoes are essential

Naturally, everyone knows you need proper footwear for a perfect hike. And it's not even about whether you're just strolling uphill through the woods or climbing an alpine trail in the mountains on exposed terrain. The right footwear should be adapted to the conditions. But what does proper footwear actually mean?

Since I do Nordic walking and naturally love to go hiking, I want to differentiate between these two sports. Of course, there are different shoes for joggers, and there are certainly other sports that require different footwear. I want to limit myself to my sports because that's where I'm most knowledgeable.

Nordic Walking Trails When Nordic walking, as well as on easy hikes through the forest, I make sure I have very good trekking shoes. GORE-TEX® is the first thing I look for, because when you're out and about a lot, you can sometimes be caught out by rain. It's more than annoying when your feet get wet. Not to mention the subsequent cold. The next point is the sole, which should definitely be a Vibram sole. It has happened to me several times that I have misjudged the hiking path or trail. And especially in the worst-case scenario of bad weather, a Vibram sole ensures that you always have a non-slip surface. My third point is to make sure that the shoe has normal laces. Salomon, for example, has these Quicklaces, a quick lacing system that is not really very stable. If you're out and about a lot, this gets damaged much more quickly than conventional laces. Another disadvantage is that you can't even repair them quickly with a knot. I have already had to walk several kilometers with open shoes. That's not nice!

My favorite brands for trekking shoes are North Face and Meindl. I don't need to mention that a shoe has to be comfortable, of course. Just try on different ones. Most sporting goods stores like Globetrotter or Intersport have a good selection. I'm currently using the „The North Face Men's Hedgehog III GTX XCR Light Hiker“and the„Meindl Texas Pro GTX„.

Hiking Trails As soon as the terrain becomes steeper and the ground is rocky or crisscrossed with larger roots, I prefer trekking boots. Especially in this terrain, you need good hiking shoes. Above the tree line (approx. 1800 m), I would definitely opt for boots. Six years ago, I decided to buy a pair of boots that I could wear both in alpine terrain and on mountain hiking trails. Here, too, GORE-TEX® and Vibram are a must! It is really important that the shoes are waterproof and non-slip, otherwise it can quickly become dangerous in rocky and steep terrain, especially if the weather changes. In the Alps, for example, this can happen within minutes and is unpredictable.

A third important point is that the insole in the shoe is removable and therefore replaceable. You can buy these for a small amount of money at any sports store, for about 20 CHF. I only replace mine when they are truly worn out. In my case, this happened after about 1,000 kilometers, or about three years. I also made sure that the shoe was made from as much leather as possible. The fewer seams, the better the stability and the longer the lifespan (of the shoe *g*).

My choice fell on the „Lowa Tibet Pro GTX„This boot is extremely comfortable and was already broken in after just a few hikes. After six years and approximately 2,000 km, I had to have the Vibram sole replaced, which was possible without any problems. That's what makes good hiking boots.

Conclusion: Good footwear is a must for a perfect hike. Don't cut corners here. Nordic walking shoes last me at least 200 km, and my hiking boots have so far exceeded 2,000 km. Therefore, it's perfectly fine to invest a few hundred francs here.

Hiking poles for your perfect hike

Opinions differ here. There are hikers who would NEVER use poles, and others swear by them. I belong to the latter group. I „almost“ always use hiking poles. A medical aspect is certainly that the knees are relieved. Especially when walking downhill, you notice after about an hour whether you have poles with you or not. For me, there are two other important reasons. It's simply additional training for the upper body and chest muscles. Since I'm naturally rather lazy, I'm happy to take advantage of this extra training. The second reason is that it enables speed hiking. Going downhill, you are simply many times faster with poles. You find additional support, provided you use the poles purposefully. That takes some practice, but it comes with time.

Here are the points you should pay attention to when buying hiking poles. First, they should be telescopic poles, which, unlike ski poles for example, can be pushed together. This allows you to conveniently attach them to your backpack when you're on flat terrain. They should also have a damping system. Your wrists will thank you for this relatively quickly. They are thus protected, and you can simply walk more comfortably for longer.

I chose the company Black Diamond here, as the US-based company has developed into the top brand among climbers. Since good quality is vital there, this brand could just barely satisfy my needs for hiking :) Since my trekking pole is unfortunately no longer available for purchase, I can recommend the Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock 2015 recommend with a clear conscience. It is the successor to the Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock, which I bought in 2009.

A little tip on the side. Of course, it doesn't have to be a 160 CHF pole, but it should be 🙂 Many people here say you should buy a cheaper one to try out hiking at all. However, keep in mind that you can sell such poles again for good money. Just put them on eBay and you will have tried hiking for little money afterwards. However, the chance is greater that you will really enjoy hiking if you test it with good equipment.

Clothing for the perfect hike

For me, when it comes to clothing, I focus on choosing my pants and jacket. They have to be absolutely perfect, otherwise I won't enjoy hiking. It's like with good hiking boots, you know. It just has to fit.

Hose They should be as light as possible. I'm a fan of Mammut, but I also have a pair of hiking pants from Peek Performance and one from North Face. I'm not giving you a product recommendation here, as pants fit everyone differently, but they should definitely be absolutely comfortable and airy. So don't buy leggings 🙂 One important feature that my pants all have in common is that they are beige. But why beige exactly? Light-colored pants look dirty much faster than dark-colored ones. That's certainly true, but with a good brand it's no reason, because they wash very well and don't absorb dirt like cheap pants. It is so important to me that the trousers are light-colored so that I can see ticks on them immediately. Of course, I don't want to scare anyone here, but this is a very important reason for me and it gives me a bit more security. I travel a lot in high-risk areas and can see straight away if something is trying to „crawl up“ on me 🙂 Ticks are of course no more dangerous than mosquitoes in Asia, but you don't have to risk it. With long and light-colored hiking pants, you're definitely on the safer side here. Do it! Hehe.

Jacket The selection of jackets is, of course, huge. Since I currently live in the Alps and the climate there is rather temperate, I've decided to wear softshell jackets while hiking. Before that, I tried out some other jackets that would have been better suited for more extreme conditions. With those, I either sweated too much or got cold. Worst case. Anyway, I recommend the „Mammut Ultimate Hoody,“ which is suitable for Women as well as Men and is available in various colors. Different colors come out each year, but the cut and features don't change much essentially.

A softshell jacket protects you from the wind, meaning it doesn't necessarily keep you warm, but it blocks the cold wind. It also protects you from water for about 30 minutes if it rains. What's great about the Mammut Ultimate Hoody is that you can open a zipper under the arms, which provides good ventilation. This means you sweat less.

Since 2009, I've already bought three of these jackets, just to be IN *lol*. Each time, I was able to sell the old jackets on eBay for about half the money.

Sun protection

Now for a boring but serious topic. Sun protection. The sun should not be underestimated, especially in the Alps. Not only in winter, but also in summer, it acts like a pizza oven. Of course, on our hike, we want to get a nice tan, but not get grilled and crispy. Therefore, here are two tips for sun protection.

Hut Even before sunscreen, a hat is most important to me. Okay, you look silly in one, but a good hat works wonders and protects you from the sun much better than a cap. It covers your face and ears, and most hats even cover your neck. It also protects you from the sun's rays on your head. Otherwise, I get headaches in the evening after long hikes if I don't wear a hat. In the long run, that's not necessarily healthy and makes you enjoy your perfect hike to think back.

Another advantage is that a hat absorbs sweat. This way, the sauce won't run down your face 🙂 However, make sure you buy a hat that isn't waterproof for ordinary hikes, as these are usually not breathable and you'll sweat to death. If you hike a lot in the Scottish Highlands, you might want to get a second, waterproof hat 🙂

Sunsreen There's not much I need to say about this. Just use them. Pay attention to the SPF. It's usually lower for women than for men #irony, but you should be sensible here and go for a higher SPF.

Water

The „Alpha and Omega“ for a perfect hike. Drink enough water. Everyone knows you should do that anyway. You don't have to go hiking specifically for that. You can't go wrong with two liters a day. For hikes longer than two hours, I definitely recommend another liter. There's nothing wrong with drinking an iced tea or a cola in addition. You have to decide that for yourselves. But you should definitely factor in enough water. Here in Switzerland, we have the advantage that you pass many springs where you can refill your water. That's quite convenient, of course, but the extra weight is worth it. When I hike abroad or on routes where I'm not sure if there are springs along the way (rather unlikely above 2000 m), I usually start with at least three liters of water, usually more like four. This way, you can last longer and it feels much more comfortable.

If you miscalculate despite everything, don't skimp on water. You should definitely drink the last sips all at once. This will help you much more than drinking small sips.

By the way, you can tell if you've drunk enough water by whether or not you have to urinate now and then. If you don't, you've definitely drunk too little water. Don't do it!

Catering

The „B and P“ for the perfect hike. I see many people on the go stopping for a break and eating sandwiches with sausage and cheese. Apart from the taste, if you eat fatty stuff on the go, you're only doing one thing. You're revving up your metabolism. Unfortunately, here, only the calories, which largely consist of carbohydrates, are burned. On average, the body uses about 80% of the energy from bread, sausage, and cheese to burn them. So what did you ultimately consume? 20% of energy! Not good.

Instead, eat fruits and vegetables. The energy balance is much greater here, as the body only needs about 20% energy for digestion. In addition, your body receives many more nutrients, especially micronutrients, which give you a real energy boost. A perfect hike in a culinary sense as well.

Since I prefer to drink on hikes, I juice my vegetables beforehand. Firstly, I don't have to lug as much around, and secondly, I don't have to eat it all. For an energy boost in between, however, I always bring apples or bananas. Nuts, my favorite being cashews, are also excellent energy boosters. But every now and then, I'll simply take a smoothie with me. The extra fiber doesn't really bother me on hikes.

This isn't really about educating you on healthy and unhealthy food, but more about giving you more energy and not being so tired afterward 🙂 And that's what matters in a perfect hike.

Route

As a final tip for a perfect hike, I want to talk about the actual route of the hike. Well, if you're a little adventurer, like I might be, then this point isn't the most important to you. That's why I'm listing it last. But if you're a pleasure hiker or a beginner, then I recommend planning your hiking route carefully beforehand. There are now many sources on the internet with detailed descriptions. You can also find many descriptions and pictures on my blog here. Use them as a guide. The worst thing is getting lost on your first hikes or not even finding the right starting point. That's depressing and might put you off trying again, which would be a real shame.

There are also many great hiking books. These are e-books that are sometimes printed out in bookstores. Buy a book about the region you live in. I did that often, especially at the beginning. It's great for tackling your first hikes.

You should have good maps if you're out in the high mountains. It can even be a matter of survival there. However, if you're doing simple mountain hikes, good maps can also be very interesting, as you can not only see the surrounding mountains but also get more information about them.

I always wear a GPS tracker on my hikes. Nowadays, this is not only very easy thanks to modern technology, but it also costs practically nothing. There are free apps that record the route very accurately. For those who need additional information, such as altitude data or running speeds, you can get the premium version of these apps for a few francs. It's definitely worth it if you go out regularly. Most apps also allow you to upload your route to a cloud, giving you a nice overview of where you've been.

It can also be useful to take photos of the signs. Everyone should at least have a phone camera with them by now, which makes this easily possible. In case of doubt, you can always check which direction you are going or see where you took a wrong turn two hours ago 🙂

Finally, I would advise you to at least print out and take with you the route description from some homepage, like this one here. It certainly won't hurt.

I hope you find these tips valuable and can apply them. If you have any questions or see anything in this post completely differently than I do, please just write it in the comment section below.

Your perfect hike

I wish you a lot of fun on your hikes and please share your experiences with me. I'm always looking for great new trails.