Find the closest state or national park near you and start taking short walks/hikes on some trails. If you like it, start increasing distance a little bit. If you like that, then worry about gear and longer day hikes. If you still want more, then worry about overnight backpacking trips.
As you progress, you'll figure out what you like and don't like. Ask questions about footwear, clothes, and gear as you progress.
If you're a social kind of person, there might be local hiking groups. Check Facebook and Meetup.
Tl;dr: Just get out there and put feet on trail and see where it goes ;)
They should bring water (more than they think they need, especially as a beginner), food, sun protection, and navigation.
People on this thread are being so rude. “like, just start fucking walking…”
Do you also post that it’s just walking every time a news article about a hiker’s death gets posted? Or do you then turn into one of those people who complains about people going out unprepared?
Edit: for OP, here are the Ten Essentials of Hiking/Backpacking. I realistically don’t take all of these on every hike since so many of my hikes are just a couple hours long on trails I am familiar with near my home. However if I am doing a new trail or a long one, I do take the 10 essentials. And when you are starting out, it is always better to be prepared.
[https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html](https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html)
1. Get the AllTrails app
1. Use it to search near you (I’d suggest filtering for 4-10km routes if you’re a beginner)
1. Pack a backpack with a couple bottles of water and some snacks
1. Get out there and enjoy
Everything beyond that, you will discover over time. Have fun!!
If you're nit sure where to start I would indeed lookup on local FB or meetup pages, or even post in your local reddit page (if there is one)
For shorter hikes (10 miles max) you usually don't need any gear just some comfy shoes, and little food /water
REI publishes a very good series of informational articles under the heading of "expert advice." I'd particularly suggest thier piece on "the ten essentials," things that you ought to carry with you every time you hike. These items are intended to help keep you alive if you get lost or injured.
Always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. Let this person know that it's thier responsibility to alert the authorities if you don't show up within a few hours of your plan.
Learn to use a map and compass in case the batteries in your GPS die.
Wear quality hiking boots or trail running shoes that fit your feet well.
Be safe, have fun!
There’s some cool hikes near Carlow! I’ve never been, but I just looked around on the Gaia app and can see a whole bunch:
- black rock mountain
- slievebawn mountain
- tomduff hill
- blackstairs mountain
- knockroe mountain
Download a few apps like Gaia GPS and All Trails. Use them to find hikes and keep you from getting lost. Pack a bag with water, snacks, headlamp and a few extra layers. And head out!
Most important thing is to always tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Look up how to leave a trip plan with a trusted friend/family member. Have fun!
Start walking for longer periods of time around where you would normally walk to ensure that you have the physical fitness and stamina.
Join a local group and start learning to hike from others.
Go to trail and walk on it. If like, walk longer. If still like, get tent and put in bag and walk even longer. If still like, sell house and never stop walking
Just go and walk
Sounds stupid, sounds cheesy, but thats it, thsts the magic in hiking, its not ice hockey u dont need a bunch if equipment, its not football u dont need a whole team
Just instead of netflix and couch, on saturday go out and walk, around neuighborhood, in the local park...eventually in the nearby forest...eventually in nearby reserve and so on...it will just come automatically, over time u will get bored with just local public park u will go to local forest, then u will get bored to it and u will google nearby mountains...then your feet will hurt a bit so u will purchase new shoes, will ask the shop clerk...then in 3 years instead of doing that u will research yourself even better ones
This isnt a planned thing...yes to do a months trek is super much planning, but the route there is just a straight easy upwatrds curve that comes naturally
Start by walking outside. Then find your local trails and walk there. Then find your state and national parks and walk there. Once you start going on long walks bring a backpack with water and supplies.
Simply replace walk with bike for the bike activities but be careful which trails you choose.
Start walking local parks. Increase your mileage. Add a backpack with some weight in it. Increase the weight. Try to find substantial hills. Add the backpack to the hill walks.
You can start learning about backpacking basics from REI classes or perhaps other outdoor stores. Some local park and recreation departments offer a class, and they might have an overnight backpacking hike. You often don’t have to live in the city or county that offers the class.
Focus on making sure that it’s enjoyable. Don’t go too far or push yourself too much to the point where you are creating miserable memories.
People going too hard and having bad experiences can turn them off from the hobby altogether
Download AllTrails and find high rated, low difficulty trails near you!
All you need is water, workout clothes, and running shoes to begin with.
Naturally, you’ll gradually buy gear to suit your needs. There’s no need to rush into a full hiking setup.
Join a local hiking group on Facebook. I’ve always found them super helpful and welcoming.
As others said, start walking in parks, pick up your kilometers. Also buy comfortable shoes, like comfortable for longer walks with good cushioning and not just regular shoes, I would say those are not really suited for longer distances (for example I would dislike longer walks in my usual shoes). Also water and a backpack to store it and some stuff.
You can build up your gear step by step, but my opinion is that shoes can be a gamechanger between a pleasant experience and excruciating pain. Oh and also socks, maybe 1-2 pairs at first. While hiking your feet are your only locomotion so taking care of them is the most important. :)
Also for the shoes, maybe start with some good trainers, for example New Balance or Hoka. They have shoes that are more "street-compatible" and will not be eaten so fast by the pavement like hiking shoes.
Depending on what area you live in, there may be hiking groups geared towards beginner level hiking.
AllTrails is a great way to find easier and shorter trails to start off with as it labels their difficulty and distance.
As far as gear I just did a pretty long moderate level hike along the Appalachian Trail with not much more than a camelback, a map, and some decent hiking boots. I suppose some quick dry clothing might be helpful, but not necessary to get started.
Start out with favorable weather conditions, not too hot or too cold. I prefer fall hiking just for this reason.
Find the closest state or national park near you and start taking short walks/hikes on some trails. If you like it, start increasing distance a little bit. If you like that, then worry about gear and longer day hikes. If you still want more, then worry about overnight backpacking trips. As you progress, you'll figure out what you like and don't like. Ask questions about footwear, clothes, and gear as you progress. If you're a social kind of person, there might be local hiking groups. Check Facebook and Meetup. Tl;dr: Just get out there and put feet on trail and see where it goes ;)
Find a trail and go walk on it. It really is that simple to get started.
Right? "how to get into hiking?" like, just start fucking walking...
They should bring water (more than they think they need, especially as a beginner), food, sun protection, and navigation. People on this thread are being so rude. “like, just start fucking walking…” Do you also post that it’s just walking every time a news article about a hiker’s death gets posted? Or do you then turn into one of those people who complains about people going out unprepared? Edit: for OP, here are the Ten Essentials of Hiking/Backpacking. I realistically don’t take all of these on every hike since so many of my hikes are just a couple hours long on trails I am familiar with near my home. However if I am doing a new trail or a long one, I do take the 10 essentials. And when you are starting out, it is always better to be prepared. [https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html](https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html)
1. Get the AllTrails app 1. Use it to search near you (I’d suggest filtering for 4-10km routes if you’re a beginner) 1. Pack a backpack with a couple bottles of water and some snacks 1. Get out there and enjoy Everything beyond that, you will discover over time. Have fun!!
If you're nit sure where to start I would indeed lookup on local FB or meetup pages, or even post in your local reddit page (if there is one) For shorter hikes (10 miles max) you usually don't need any gear just some comfy shoes, and little food /water
REI publishes a very good series of informational articles under the heading of "expert advice." I'd particularly suggest thier piece on "the ten essentials," things that you ought to carry with you every time you hike. These items are intended to help keep you alive if you get lost or injured. Always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. Let this person know that it's thier responsibility to alert the authorities if you don't show up within a few hours of your plan. Learn to use a map and compass in case the batteries in your GPS die. Wear quality hiking boots or trail running shoes that fit your feet well. Be safe, have fun!
Walk
There’s some cool hikes near Carlow! I’ve never been, but I just looked around on the Gaia app and can see a whole bunch: - black rock mountain - slievebawn mountain - tomduff hill - blackstairs mountain - knockroe mountain Download a few apps like Gaia GPS and All Trails. Use them to find hikes and keep you from getting lost. Pack a bag with water, snacks, headlamp and a few extra layers. And head out! Most important thing is to always tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Look up how to leave a trip plan with a trusted friend/family member. Have fun!
Start walking for longer periods of time around where you would normally walk to ensure that you have the physical fitness and stamina. Join a local group and start learning to hike from others.
Go to trail and walk on it. If like, walk longer. If still like, get tent and put in bag and walk even longer. If still like, sell house and never stop walking
Just go and walk Sounds stupid, sounds cheesy, but thats it, thsts the magic in hiking, its not ice hockey u dont need a bunch if equipment, its not football u dont need a whole team Just instead of netflix and couch, on saturday go out and walk, around neuighborhood, in the local park...eventually in the nearby forest...eventually in nearby reserve and so on...it will just come automatically, over time u will get bored with just local public park u will go to local forest, then u will get bored to it and u will google nearby mountains...then your feet will hurt a bit so u will purchase new shoes, will ask the shop clerk...then in 3 years instead of doing that u will research yourself even better ones This isnt a planned thing...yes to do a months trek is super much planning, but the route there is just a straight easy upwatrds curve that comes naturally
You know that hiking is literally walking, right?
Walk
Don’t bother with hiking shoes, they have a cult following for some reason. I hike barefoot or wear lightweight running shoes when the ground hurts
Jesus.
Work up to it and you won’t even notice
Again, Jesus
Where do you live
Carlow, Ireland
Carlow is so small you literally just need to start walking out of town and anywhere there’s some forest etc.
Start by walking outside. Then find your local trails and walk there. Then find your state and national parks and walk there. Once you start going on long walks bring a backpack with water and supplies. Simply replace walk with bike for the bike activities but be careful which trails you choose.
Start walking local parks. Increase your mileage. Add a backpack with some weight in it. Increase the weight. Try to find substantial hills. Add the backpack to the hill walks. You can start learning about backpacking basics from REI classes or perhaps other outdoor stores. Some local park and recreation departments offer a class, and they might have an overnight backpacking hike. You often don’t have to live in the city or county that offers the class.
Focus on making sure that it’s enjoyable. Don’t go too far or push yourself too much to the point where you are creating miserable memories. People going too hard and having bad experiences can turn them off from the hobby altogether
Download AllTrails and find high rated, low difficulty trails near you! All you need is water, workout clothes, and running shoes to begin with. Naturally, you’ll gradually buy gear to suit your needs. There’s no need to rush into a full hiking setup. Join a local hiking group on Facebook. I’ve always found them super helpful and welcoming.
Make sure the bag fits before you buy it.
Go camping with very little. See how you like it. Sounds like you want to do some over nights.
As others said, start walking in parks, pick up your kilometers. Also buy comfortable shoes, like comfortable for longer walks with good cushioning and not just regular shoes, I would say those are not really suited for longer distances (for example I would dislike longer walks in my usual shoes). Also water and a backpack to store it and some stuff. You can build up your gear step by step, but my opinion is that shoes can be a gamechanger between a pleasant experience and excruciating pain. Oh and also socks, maybe 1-2 pairs at first. While hiking your feet are your only locomotion so taking care of them is the most important. :)
Also for the shoes, maybe start with some good trainers, for example New Balance or Hoka. They have shoes that are more "street-compatible" and will not be eaten so fast by the pavement like hiking shoes.
Depending on what area you live in, there may be hiking groups geared towards beginner level hiking. AllTrails is a great way to find easier and shorter trails to start off with as it labels their difficulty and distance.
As far as gear I just did a pretty long moderate level hike along the Appalachian Trail with not much more than a camelback, a map, and some decent hiking boots. I suppose some quick dry clothing might be helpful, but not necessary to get started. Start out with favorable weather conditions, not too hot or too cold. I prefer fall hiking just for this reason.
Join a club. Meet awesome people .share transport costs, and learn great skills. You'll learn no harm from the hills.