Despite what many Google results will tell you, if you want
to try out hiking, you don’t need to buy much of anything. Honestly, if you’re
on a well-maintained trail and go on a day with mild temperatures, you probably
already have everything you’ll need. Let me break it down for you.
On Your Noggin
Sun protection is your top priority every time you’re outside.
Slathering yourself in sunblock is a must, even if you think you will be in the
shade most of the time. It’s better to have sunblocked unnecessarily then to be
a red, crispy, mess.
Ladies – many BB creams, and even some regular foundations,
have SPF in them now, but usually only up to SPF 15. This can be a good base,
but I like to put on some extra sunblock just to be safe. If breaking out is an issue for your skin (this goes for either gender), try a sunblock specifically for your face. It can be a
little bit more expensive, but definitely worth it. You can save a few bucks by
going generic – the CVS and Walgreens impersonations of Neutrogena’s face
sunblock are equally nice.
Beyond sunblock, a hat or headband is always a good idea.
This comes down to personal preference. Hats keep your head/hair protected from any
odd plants or low-hanging branches you might rub up against, keep hair out of
your face, and obviously provide shade as well. If you’re hiking anywhere that
has some sort of overlook, you’re going to want a hat or sunglasses.
If you go the sunglasses route, try to wear some that are a
little sportier so that they will stay on your face. This doesn’t mean you have
to sacrifice fashion – I picked up some regular looking sunglasses for $15 at a ski
shop that have sporty-ish sides to them so they don’t move or become loose on
my face.
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| Cute and functional sunglasses! |
Any athletic-type headband will do – your head will probably
start to hurt if you just wear a regular plastic one. Sweaty Bands are the
best headbands, hands down, and my go-to for hiking. And life. Seriously. I never thought I could justify spending $16 on a headband (especially one that I routinely lose), but consider this just a general PSA for the ladies: Sweaty Bands are the bomb. They come in awesome colors, multiple widths, and they never slip. EVER.
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| Squinty McGee in Estes Park, wondering why I didn't follow my own advice. No hat, headband, OR sunglasses. Squint City. |
There are plenty of hiking/technical fabric hats to choose
from, but really any old baseball hat will do. Obviously, if you’re hiking in
the cold weather (in which case I wonder why you decided to try hiking and not
skiing), you’ll want to wear some sort of beanie, preferably a moisture-wicking
one. The one I have from Under Armour has been a trusty partner for me; unfortunately I can't find it online since it's June. I'll update with a link once I have it!
On Top
Throw on an old t-shirt. Seriously, you’ll be fine on a
short little day hike. Or, if you’re already sporty in some other way, use some
of the activewear you may already own.
If you prefer a more technical fabric on a budget, then hit up
Target’s athletic apparel section. Their Champion brand includes these fantastic t-shirts, which are also pretty cheap. I can’t personally speak for the men’s shirts, but I’m sure they’re just as nice.
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| The 'V' has gotten considerably deeper since I bought mine... |
My fellow females, you will want to wear a sports bra. There
is no place for vanity in hiking, and you don't want your boobs pushed up to
your chin, even if you’re just walking. You will sweat. And you will curse
yourself for wearing a bra with an underwire. Target’s sports bras are also
awesome, plus come in a million fun colors. Don’t be tempted by the ones with
the thin straps, even if you are not particularly well-endowed in the chest
region. The thin strap ones are awful. Yes I've seen how cute the colors are. It doesn't matter!
Layers are important. Make sure to bring a sweatshirt or
other appropriate weight long sleeve shirt if you are hiking in early spring or
fall weather. If you’re hiking in a national or state park, you can usually
look up the location on Weather.com and pack appropriate layers for the
temperature.
Down Below
Same as the top – any old athletic shorts will do. I
actually even just wore regular shorts the first few times I went hiking and
was totally fine. Keep in mind these were not booty shorts. There is also no
place for booty shorts in hiking.
In the summer months, try not to wear anything too thick.
Even if it’s cool out, jeans are a mistake. Sweaty denim is about as enjoyable
as wet denim, which is completely miserable. Wear sweatpants, leggings,
anything that qualifies as pants that are not denim or restrictive in any way.
Keep in mind you do want to have pockets in some part of your outfit, whether
it’s in a sweatshirt or in your pants. You need a place to hold your keys and
phone (which you only brought for pictures and emergencies right? This is a
no-tweeting zone).
Feeties
If you are going on a short (an hour or less) hike on a
well-maintained trail, wearing your best sneakers is not going to be a tragedy.
I totally understand not wanting to shell out the cash for hiking boots before
you even figure out whether you like hiking. If you decide to wear sneakers, do
be careful since you will not have as much tread or ankle support as a hiking
boot will give you. This means keep an extra eye out for any rocks or divots in
the ground, and go verrrry slowly on any portions of the trail that are muddy
or require you to scramble over rocks. I survived the Billy Goat Trail in
Maryland in sneakers – as long as you’re careful, you’ll be fine.
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| One of the tamer sections of the BG Trail. These guys were much more prepared than I was! Photo from Howard County Sierra Club. |
Please please PLEASE get some hiking socks, regardless of
how dorky you may think they look with sneakers. If you don’t want to get
hiking socks, just get something that’s not 100% cotton. Again, Target pulls through here. Men's socks are here.
Hiking socks are super comfortable, so if you decide to go
that route, you can consult my guide to socks to find your perfect pair. Whether
you go to Target or REI, or can pull something out of your drawers, just
remember that cotton socks are your mortal enemy on the trail. They will give
you blisters and make your feet beg for mercy. If you listen to nothing else in
this entire blog, listen to this one tip.
Other Things You Don’t
Want To Forget
Bug spray. Even if it’s cool out! It was in the
fifties at the campsite we went to last weekend, and there were still bugs
everywhere. Get the backwoods/deep woods edition of your preferred brand (try
to ignore the fact that you’re spraying harsh chemicals all over your skin). If
you hate the greasy feel that bug spray leaves, try out OFF’s dry feel spray.
WATER. Camelbak has the best water bottles, but any water bottle will do. Just make sure you bring a
full one!
Now that you’re ready to go, have a blast! And if you fall
in love with hiking, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.
For help finding your first pair of hiking boots, click here.
Happy Hiking!
