Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiking
Kind of the opposite of a how to guide this month – mistakes that have been made so you don’t have to!
1. Don’t just rely on your phone!
I repeat myself about this but it really is number one for hiking safety (the most important thing after all). I don’t usually advocate for printing things, but out in the most scenic parts of country phone signal takes a serious dive. And batteries drain faster in low signal areas. Always take a physical map (at the very least), and ideally a printed copy of the walk. You can keep using it every time you go so it’s not a waste!
2. Don’t forget food and water.
If you don’t eat/drink it, never mind – you can always save it for tomorrow. Its really important to take sup plies. OK, if it’s a short, familiar local walk, then maybe not. But generally – you might get lost, the weather might turn hot (in our dreams!), you might underestimate how long it’ll take you. (All these things have happened to me! Sometimes on one walk LOL). We all love a good tea/cake stop but have an emergency back-up – especially these days its not always obvious if they’ll be open, and you might accidentally get there after closing time.
3. Don’t just wear one giant mega coat.
When it comes to what to wear to hike, everyone has their preferences. Its invariably most useful to dress in layers. Even if it’s a bit chilly (goodness knows this year we’ve waiting long enough for it to warm up), don’t put all your eggs in one basket. What works for me is: a thin t-shirt, a fleecy/warm layer (usually a wind stopper) and a thinish waterproof layer (waterproofs usually also act as a bit of a wind stopper too), with one extra layer in my bag in case of cold. Often you feel a tad chilly when you set off, but soon get hot hiking uphill (hence the t-shirt layer). On the top of fells the temperature is colder and wind is stronger, so you want to bundle back up. If you only have one mother-of-all coats you end up being too hot or too cold and it’s a pain to carry around in between!
4. Don’t scrimp on footwear.
I’m definitely not advocating that everyone needs £200 hiking boots – however the right foot situation will make things a lot more enjoyable. I find trainers ok for shorter, local walks but they crumble at the first sign of mud (no one likes walking on wet, cold sponge for miles). Boots will cope much better with wet terrain, and be sturdier on rocky and uneven ground – I find my feet better protected in sturdy soled boots. I know I would say this – but socks are important too. Your average multipack from the supermarket might be cheaper but will wear through in no time, probably leaving blisters in their wake. Our Made in Britain cotton socks are a great mid weight for all seasons and keep feet cosy all day. Hike further and see more with happy feet.
5. Don’t start too late in the day on an unfamiliar walk (especially if it’s a long route).
New routes tend to involve some degree of way finding, even with route descriptions (the number of time a gate has been switched to a stile, or the field boundary has been changed!) and it will take longer than usual. I don’t need to explain that getting lost in the dark is not a great idea, and sometimes it might even be difficult to find the car again if you are really out in the sticks.
Do you know someone that's getting into hiking? Share this post to save them the trouble of making these mistakes . . .
