This is something that I always think about and often ask other hikers when I meet them or speak to them about the outdoors – what is your biggest hurdle when it comes to hiking?
The responses I get vary but are usually one, or all, of the following:
- Time
- Lack of gear
- Cost of gear
- Not knowing where to go
- Having no one to go with
Time is a tricky one to get around because if you live a busy life, then getting out every weekend to hike can be hard. But if you’re interested in hiking on a regular basis, you can always find time for it.
And it’s important to remember that not every hike has to be some epic experience that takes all day or all weekend. Some of the best hikes I’ve been on have only lasted a couple of hours.
The point is to get out and enjoy the outdoors as much as you can. Even if it’s only once a month.
Not having gear can be a problem, but as outlined in my article about day hiking gear, you really don’t need a whole lot of stuff.
A backpack, appropriate clothing (cotton is a big no), some food and water, and a sturdy pair of shoes are more than enough to get you started.
I find that this issue is particularly common among people who are new to hiking.
The cost of gear is such a pain point for most. I’m all for quality gear, but some of the prices out there, particularly in the mainstream stores, can be a bit much to begin with.
There’s a saying I heard a long time ago about the cost of hiking and camping gear – “pay like a millionaire to live like a homeless person”.
So my advice to you would be to look at ways that you can get the gear you need as cheaply as you possibly can and then, if you find yourself enjoying your new outdoor pursuit, you can start to upgrade.
The location of trails and good spots to go was part of the reason why I started this website. Some people just don’t know where to go. Or, more accurately, don’t have the confidence to go exploring.
Which makes complete sense to me. The outdoors can be a dangerous place if it isn’t treated with the proper respect and if you approach it unprepared (which many people do), the results can be disastrous.
But if you are stuck for places to go, you could always reach out to family, friends or colleagues who are already into hiking.
Having no one to go with is a reason but it’s a reason that comes down to the preference of the individual. I reckon I have done 90% of my hiking by myself and was happy to do so.
But that’s me and everyone is different.
There are plenty of upsides to it, but the main downside to it is that you have no one to talk to or share the experience with.
There’s nothing quite like going for a hike with someone or with a group of people to a really cool place with great scenery.
