Hiking for weight loss. Help, tips, tricks please.
RaggedyAnnazon
Posts: 183 Member
I'm looking into hiking for losing weight too. But I have ZERO clue where to start. Even less idea than bicycling. I'm in Southern Utah, so we have an idea what kind of terrain I'm looking at.
What materials do I need? Any tips or tricks?
What materials do I need? Any tips or tricks?
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You talking long distance hiking or just a few hours out of the city on a trail?0
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If ur just starting just get good hiking shoes and a water bottle and get out there! Doesn't have to be complicated. Maybe wear a hat. As u progress u can look into higher end additional geae0
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'Gear' sorry0
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What do you mean by "materials"? Hiking is just walking with sturdier shoes.0
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uh, no. Maybe if you're mall hiking.What do you mean by "materials"? Hiking is just walking with sturdier shoes.
OP - depends on what you plan to do, if you're doing long distance stuff there will be a list of 13 essentials, and then a larger list of optional/ nice to have stuff.
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If you have a pedometer, it will help you track your progress regardless of the trail. About 2,000 steps per mile.0
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I plan on at least taking an hour out to hike, some of it may involve light rock climbing, the kind of rock climbing that doesn't require safety equipment. But I don't know if it'd be considered long distance or not. I need someone to break the two down for me.0
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Doesn't really matter but I wouldn't consider less than 5 miles long distance. Even 10 mikes isn't really long. Some people do week long hiking trips. U don't need gear then besides shoes0
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jenncornelsen wrote: »Doesn't really matter but I wouldn't consider less than 5 miles long distance. Even 10 mikes isn't really long. Some people do week long hiking trips. U don't need gear then besides shoes
I have some sketchers slip-resistant work shoes. Very sturdy, but not technically for outdoors. Would those be okay?0 -
I recommend extra soles like Superfeet or memory foam soles and some hiking trousers that are light but windstopper/waterproof. For longer trips a food thermos and a sitting pad. Enjoy
Edit: Re the weight loss part. Umm...exercise is more for health and an investment in a better functioning metabolism. Plus forest bathing is good for the soul. I've done a lot of hilly, brisk walks lately and it has strengthened my hamstrings, glutes and tendons around bad knee. I suggest you do it at your pace and just enjoy doing something that is good for you 0 -
Good shoes, backpack with snacks and water. All you do is like, walk. Hiking is fun if you're in a good area, and Utah seems pretty cool to me. Where I live there is nothing cool to see so hiking is pretty lame
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If you are just starting out in the hiking world... You should start with day hikes. Get a decent pair of hiking boots or walking shoes. That really depends on the terrain. Pack a lunch and leave it in the car or carry it in a small backpack or fanny pack. Bring a bottle of water. I like to track my distance and change in elevation so I use a GPS. You can probably use your phone for that. Oh yes. If you find a good place to hike you might want to bring a camera for those scenic views. Don't wander too far off the beaten path. It can be dangerous depending on where you are hiking.0
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I´ve been a long time trekker here in Southern Spain. I guess Utah is a very hot and sunny place indeed so my tips may be useful for you too.
You´ll need:
- A pair of good shoes with rubber soles and a good grip of the ground. (Trekking boots or trail running shoes).
- A backpack
- A water bottle
- Sandwiches, apples, nuts, snacks...
- Sun screen (skin cream and lip balm)
- UV filtering sun glasses
- Light clothes in light colors: cotton or technic t-shirt, lycra leggings, etc.
- A good pair of socks: bad socks with thick seams may give you blisters.
- A good hat/cap in light colors
- Your cell phone ALWAYS charged: reccomended a good replacement battery
Optional:
- Poles. People don´t really mind for a pair of good poles, but believe me, you´ll be able to support yourself in difficult terrains and what´s more, you´ll work out your arms and back you´ll be able to walk a lot more distance without getting tired therefore burning much more calories than walking without poles (like with nordic walking). Just mind you use them correctly. There are good tutorials around in Youtube. And poles are always useful for chasing away furious critters (dogs, pigs, boars, bulls, rats, snakes...) I recently bought a good pair at Lidl for 17€
Tutorial on hiking poles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lof4iTdAivk
- A flashlight just in case it gets dark.
- Swiss army knife
- Mosquitoes lotion
- Band aid, painkillers0 -
RaggedyAnnazon wrote: »jenncornelsen wrote: »Doesn't really matter but I wouldn't consider less than 5 miles long distance. Even 10 mikes isn't really long. Some people do week long hiking trips. U don't need gear then besides shoes
I have some sketchers slip-resistant work shoes. Very sturdy, but not technically for outdoors. Would those be okay?
this would depend on if the path your taking is paved. for any rougher surface i would recommend either hiking shoes or boots. i have an awesome pair of lightweight hiking shoes that are great for not too strenuous terrain. if your really serious i would go to a sports store and talk to an associate about the kind of walking your planning on doing and they will guide you.0 -
RaggedyAnnazon wrote: »
Long distance hiking for me is 20 miles or more. And that comes with a whole list of things you need.
For a few hours I'd really only recommend good shoes, water, sun screen, sun glasses, and your phone. Maybe a hat but idk hats arent my thing.
And make sure you take out everything you bring in. I have personally walked many miles with bags of dog poop because its not only the law but the right thing to do.
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RaggedyAnnazon wrote: »I plan on at least taking an hour out to hike, some of it may involve light rock climbing, the kind of rock climbing that doesn't require safety equipment. But I don't know if it'd be considered long distance or not. I need someone to break the two down for me.
No, an hour is not long distance. It's really no different than a walk - all you need is appropriate footwear, dress for the weather and, if you like, a water bottle.
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cantumelia wrote: »I´ve been a long time trekker here in Southern Spain. I guess Utah is a very hot and sunny place indeed so my tips may be useful for you too.
You´ll need:
- A pair of good shoes with rubber soles and a good grip of the ground. (Trekking boots or trail running shoes).
- A backpack
- A water bottle
- Sandwiches, apples, nuts, snacks...
- Sun screen (skin cream and lip balm)
- UV filtering sun glasses
- Light clothes in light colors: cotton or technic t-shirt, lycra leggings, etc.
- A good pair of socks: bad socks with thick seams may give you blisters.
- A good hat/cap in light colors
- Your cell phone ALWAYS charged: reccomended a good replacement battery
Optional:
- Poles. People don´t really mind for a pair of good poles, but believe me, you´ll be able to support yourself in difficult terrains and what´s more, you´ll work out your arms and back you´ll be able to walk a lot more distance without getting tired therefore burning much more calories than walking without poles (like with nordic walking). Just mind you use them correctly. There are good tutorials around in Youtube. And poles are always useful for chasing away furious critters (dogs, pigs, boars, bulls, rats, snakes...) I recently bought a good pair at Lidl for 17€
Tutorial on hiking poles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lof4iTdAivk
- A flashlight just in case it gets dark.
- Swiss army knife
- Mosquitoes lotion
- Band aid, painkillers
Being that it is utah, I'd strongly suggest keeping a compass, fire maker, and some insulating layers plus a light shell in the backpack.
I've been out in that territory and it's gone from 80F to snowy in the span of 3 miles.
OP mentioned scrambling. I'd add:
- Small first aid kit, with splinting material
- helmet
Also, skechers aren't good shoes. I'd get some good shoes. Something with an appropriate sole.
Also agreed, for the average person, one hour isn't a big deal, isn't long distance, and won't have them really off the road.0 -
You need a good comfortable pair of hiking shoes. Good tread is a huge plus if you will be hiking in mountinous/hilly areas. If you will be taking long hikes, I also recommend a camel back backpack that hold water. I love mine. No more stopping to dig water bottles out of the backpack, and lugging empties around. A GPSr is also a good idea. Mark your parking spot or starting point so you can always get back, should you become lost.
Also, I suggest checking out geocaching. It's a fun way to find cool locations.0 -
All good suggestions. For footwear, just use what you find comfortable. Make sure to take a map and compass and understand how to use them. Don't rely on electronics because they can break and run out of battery. If you go alone, be sure to tell someone where u are going and when u will be back. Most of all, have a great time !0
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comfortable shoes and a camelback or similar0
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If you get boots, be sure to break them in first. A long hike may mean blisters. I suggest bringing a snack along with water. We hike a lot, but last spring we went to a place we had never been before and a short hike ended up to be 3 hours. The gnats and mosquitos were horrible as well, may not be a problem in Utah though, but if so insect repellant. Have fun.0
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Yes, to all this.hallberghiker wrote: »All good suggestions. For footwear, just use what you find comfortable. Make sure to take a map and compass and understand how to use them. Don't rely on electronics because they can break and run out of battery. If you go alone, be sure to tell someone where u are going and when u will be back. Most of all, have a great time !
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I hike in Colorado, so it's not completely dissimilar. You can go pretty far with a water bottle, a good pair of boots, and a handful of nuts. I'm often out on shorter hikes, like it seems you'll be starting with. 2-5 miles is pretty good for me most days. I prefer sturdy hiking boots because I have an tendency to roll my ankles in rocky or gravelly terrain, so I really need to wear supportive footwear. I usually wear a small backpack. I have friends that wear small fannypacks. This is great to carry your water and any layers you may take off as you warm up or put on as you cool down depending on the day/weather and a small snack in case you are fading and need a boost. I sometimes hike when it's still a bit snowy and I don't have spikes. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BAIL IF IT'S NOT SAFE. If the weather takes a bad turn or it's icier than you expected...bail and do something else instead.
I usually carry my phone, but often don't have reception. If you are hiking by yourself, it can be a good idea to tell someone where you'll be hiking and when to hear back from you by.
Keep it simple and start small. No need to make it more complicated than it needs to be.0 -
I live in New Hampshire and there's a lot of good hiking. I recommend looking for books on hikes near you. They usually rate the trails easy to expert. They also give you lots of information on what to expect on the trails, estimates on how long it takes to complete it, etc. We especially used them when our kids were young and advanced through the different levels. Now we do the same thing with our dogs.0
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Break yourself in slowly if you're new to it. Find a good trail that's at least a few miles. Go as far as you can and see how you feel. Remember that, unless it's a loop and you can do the whole thing, you have to go back and don't want to be too exhausted. Take a dog if you can. It makes it tons more fun. Remember that it burns way more calories than just walking and you will not maintain the same pace, especially in the beginning. As you get more and more used to it, it gets easier. I love hiking and crave that time in the middle of nature to feel restored. I rarely go on long hikes but the short trips are great and very fulfilling. Water, food, a fully charged phone with GPS, good shoes, and a dog are really all you need and you could get by with much less if you needed to.0
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You want a replacement battery for your phone or one of those portable charging stations, fully charged. They're cheap.0
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Carry the 10 essentials (use Google), especially water where you will be at. I suggest getting a backpack with a sleeve for a hydration reservoir, and make sure it is full of water before you go out. Good shoes as some have said.
Here's something very important: Do not wear cotton! Dress in layers so you can easily take off or add on layers, but no cotton. It will hold in your sweat and make you uncomfortable at best and could lead to hypothermia at worst. Merino wool socks, synthetic / nylon shirts. Get pants with zippers at the knees so you can easily go from shorts to pants without much effort. And good boots/shoes as others have mentioned.
If you are really interested, I recommend joining the Sierra Club in your area. There are a lot of knowledgeable members you can learn from and they might even arrange group hikes so you can go out with a group, enjoy each other's company, and learn some of the important things.
Edited to add: My profile pic is a selfie I took at Zion National Park in May 2014.0 -
You can throw on a pair of sneakers, grab some water and go hike. That's probably how most of us started. But if you do this I would stick to populated areas like State Parks or trails that get lots of traffic.
I live in northern New Jersey and we mostly day hike. But we do like to hike off season and prefer less popular trails. (The fewer people I see the better, that's why I like to escape into the woods in the first place.) I wear a pair of Merrells and they are fantastic. Food is evaluated based on the length & terrain of our hike (which is mainly hilly & scrambley) but we always bring plenty of water. Clothing is also determined by the weather but layers are encouraged.
And my pack ALWAYS includes the following:
Not pictured:
-Pocket knife
-Whistle
-Phone/GPS
-Dry socks
Pictured:
-Bugspray
-Various First Aid items
-Lighters
-Headlamps
-Ponchos
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I think the 10/13 essentials are always a must, but OP is saying she just wants to go for an hour at a kick. Aside from water, good boots, a map and compass... an hour isn't enough to really get off a populated trail.
This advice though is a great must have advice for folks who intend to get off the newfish trails.0
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