Fitness Goal - Hiking - Training advice?

I find walking on uneven ground works different muscles in my legs than the road so maybe adding some uneven ground even if just grass might help. Walking up and down hills repeatedly would help as well. If you have access to a treadmill walking on an incline would be helpful. Just a couple of ideas. Oh and maybe some faster intervals in your walking. Do you use a daypack when you hike? If so adding some weight to your pack and walking with that might be helpful as well.

STRETCHING..........LOTS OF STRETCHING...........I used to have bad knees, hips, back, shoulders, and since my surgery, throw in the pelvis gone badly wrong. If I didn't stretch for 1/2 hour, every day that I tromp over hill and dale, I would not be able to move the next day. I use a mixture of pilates, classic stretch, yoga, and runners stretches. I've combined them over the years and made up a routine that works exactly for me. It's incredibly boring, yes. But so is logging, counting calories and being hyper attentive to everything I put in my mouth. So worth the 1/2 hour it takes, because it's so necessary.

As an experienced back country backpacker, I can say, whatever you do, get in shape. Walking, running, increasing your times and speeds and crucially, add some leg, back, shoulders and core strength training.

Backpacking in the mountains is probably the most taxing work you can ever do, so any preparation will save you some of the pain of the first 36-48 hours on the trail.

However, don't be fooled into thinking that your daily walks, runs and weight lifting will completely prepare you for carrying 30+ pounds on your back for 8-10 hours and climbing 1000+ ft in altitude a couple of times each day.

That said, train, get prepared, and go have fun! I envy you!

I love hiking. You need to work everything. On uneven ground, you work all sorts of muscles in your legs and core. Even your arms if you add really rocky areas or any climbing. A weighted pack would certainly make your regular walks more challenging.


Make sure you've got good boots and you break them in way in advance. I love my Vasque boots. A walking stick might help you to support yourself but then you will be working your arms more. So, as said before, it's best to just work everything because you'll probably use everything.

Oh, yes. I agree with llsal11, too, about the boots. Probably the most important part of hiking, is to protect and cushion, your feet and ankles.

Even if all you do is day-hiking, make sure your footware is comfortable, fits properly (no squishing of the toes business) and is broken in, good.

I have very wide feet and rather large, for a woman (I call them golum feet, as I can actually write with my toes, lol), and I don't like twisting my ankles, so I get a 5" tall version.

I usually special order them, since I take a mans size 8 4E. Only one manufacturer makes them, and they are very hard to find, but I never short myself when it comes to my feet.

I still get callouses, even after taking out the original liner and replacing it with Dr. Johnson's gel insoles (sometimes 2-3 pairs).

I try and rub Sombra into my feet 2-3 times a week, at bedtime, to offset some of the callous building. I also have a salve that I make, which I use about 2x a month. My knees usually aren't terribly bothered, but I think it's because I take such good care of my feet (the footbone is connected to the ankle bone, which is connected to the shinbone, which is connected to the kneebone..........lol), and I stretch everything out, a lot.

Also, I HATE things that chafe, bind or rub, so clothing is also important. I wear men's cotton/nylon hiking pants, breathable t-shirt and expedition over-shirt with an outside vest, as well as headbands and gloves. This is good through below 30 degree weather.

Good luck!