8 tips for your next hiking trail

1. Choose the right trail

The first step is the most important, choosing a trail that fits your experiences and preferences. As you look at your options, consider trail length including daily mileage. Check the technical difficulty of the trail, especially when you’re hiking in the mountains, and research the remoteness of the trail as well. The more remote and the fewer accommodations, shops, and civilization there are along the trail, the harder it will be. To make it a bit easier, we’ve set up this database to find the right trail.

Search Trail

2. Get in shape

Hiking kilometer after kilometer with a backpack, sometimes up or down significant distances, and crossing the mountains can be quite strenuous. Therefore, make sure you’re fit when heading into the mountains. Being in good shape means you can walk further and thus enjoy more. Tailor your hikes to your own skills and condition, but also to those of the other people in your group if you’re not hiking alone. Give your body time to adjust to the trail by starting with some shorter stages. The best way to get in shape for the trail is to hike a lot in your own area with your hiking shoes and fully loaded backpack. Make those kilometers and it’s always good to train your core and other big muscles with some specific exercises.

3. Prepare your hike

Research your chosen trail by orienting yourself at home with guidebooks, maps, and internet sources. Once on location, you can supplement that knowledge with information from the local tourist office or locals. Check if trails and accommodations (especially mountain huts) are open and make sure you know an alternative route in case the conditions are not as expected. Always tell someone your destination and when you expect to arrive. Download the GPX on your smartphone and take a paper map with you when needed.

Hiking 101

4. Keep an eye on the weather

Rain or even snow can make trails significantly harder on the trail and convert easy trails into difficult trails. Especially in the mountains, snow in summer and thunderstorms in the afternoon: the weather in the mountains can change rapidly. Check the weather forecast before you leave, be alert to changes in the weather, learn to interpret them, and thus avoid surprises. Extra tip: if you’re hiking in the mountains, start early to prevent overheating or getting caught in a heat thunderstorm.

5. Head out with the essentials

What you need to take depends on the type of trip and the conditions. At the very least, pack a first-aid kit, layer up with your clothing (rain jacket and pants, hat, gloves, sweater), extra food/drinks, a (charged) phone, and sunscreen. You can find all the essentials in our gear list section.

Gear Lists

6. Be flexible

Hiking a trail, especially a long-distance trail or thru-hiking trail, it’s important to be flexible along the way. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t stick to your schedule when things might occur. It’s always your own journey and you’ll see, it all comes good in the end! You’ll have more fun for sure if you’re more flexible.

7. Respect nature

Leave no Trace. We can’t say it enough but please respect nature, wildlife, and also other people on the trails. Only by doing this, we can enjoy the hiking trails in the future. Do not pick flowers or plants, and take all your trash with you, including toilet paper. If you see trash from somebody else, pick it up and help to keep the trails clean. Last but not least, stay on the marked trails, this is very important to preserve pristine nature.

8. Hike slow, go far!

Hiking is an activity that you do for yourself and yourself only! Don’t follow the pace of other hikers when it doesn’t feel good, take a rest day when you need it, and take regular breaks. By doing this you’ll enjoy the trails more. Hike slow, go far!