A Guide to Hiking for Beginners

What Is the Difference Between Walking and Hiking?

While walking and hiking are both year-round activities that involve getting out and about to walk in the great outdoors, they are technically quite different. Walks are typically shorter than hikes and tend to be enjoyed for leisure on a casual basis. They can take place over several different terrains, from an urban environment to a paved walking trail.

Hikes, on the other hand, are usually much longer and take place in more rugged locations like mountains or hiking trails, and often include gaining elevation. This distinction is important when planning to go hiking for beginners, as hikes are often much more strenuous than a regular walk in the park.

How to Prepare for a Hike: A Beginner’s Guide

There is a hike out there to suit every beginner, whether you're near the coast, in an extremely rural area or near a national park. It's a good idea to start by thinking about what’s inspired you to start walking or hiking before you decide on a route. Have you recently talked to a friend or coworker that mentioned the benefits of walking, been thinking about getting more in shape, or have you been listening to a local podcast that got you wondering what hikes are accessible to you? Understanding what kickstarted your attraction allows you to research a route best suited to your interests.

How to Find a Hike for Your Level

For those starting hiking for beginners, rest assured: With over 21,000 combined miles of trails to explore in the US National Park Service, you'll definitely be able to find a suitable hike no matter what. If you’re looking for more of an outdoor stroll or running route, try the parks and green spaces in your local area or around your state. To get started with basic but supportive footwear, check out our men’s and women’s sneakers and sneaker boots.

A quick online search will give you plenty of hiking locations for any skill level, with many providing detailed information about each route. Some websites even include a comprehensive guide to walking or hiking in each location, listing amenities, types of terrain, parking, and different routes. If you find a trail within a national park, the routes might also be graded by difficulty level, enabling you to select a route best suited to your ability.

Searching for a suitable hike can be overwhelming because of the amount of information online. Rather than a general Google search, it might be better to use a hiking app like AllTrails to help you find the best hike for you.

For those starting hiking for beginners and looking for local groups to join, it's a great idea to look at local social media groups. These days, there's a group for just about everything. Use websites and apps like Meetup to connect you with other hikers in your area.

Joining a walking tour is a great way to discover a new location or explore one of the country's national parks. Check out the National Park Service website to see what guided tours and hikes are available. Alternatively, organizations like the American Hiking Society offer volunteering programs where you can join the community to help maintain trails.

The AllTrails app is ideal for hiking for beginners, allowing you to browse hiking trails across the country, filtering by location, length, difficulty, and even elevation. It's a great place to start for those new to hiking.

What Equipment Do You Need for Outdoor Explorations?

Footwear is one of the most important pieces of equipment you'll need for any walk. For those starting hiking for beginners, we suggest some sneakers or boots to keep your feet comfortable. 

Depending on your preference, you could opt for a sneaker with a good grip or a walking shoe for casual outdoor strolls, especially if you prefer low-top shoes. There are lots of Timberland® sneakers, hiking shoes and hiking boots that perfectly mix functionality with style. Always look at the outsoles to see what kind of grip or traction a particular shoe will give you on varied terrain - the more lugs and texture to the outsole, the better the shoe will perform in the great outdoors!

Depending on the season and location, you may become exposed to several weather conditions on the same day. As we’re based in New England, we’re used to crazy changes in weather and temperature - so our first tip for hiking for beginners is to BRING LAYERS. We suggest packing a lightweight jacket, such as a raincoat or shell. Dressing in layers when you’re heading out on the trail ensures that you’ll be better prepared for anything that could happen. We recommend long-sleeve thermal shirts or fleece tops in the winter, such as our men’s sweatshirts, and light layers in the summer, such as our women's t-shirts. 

Ensuring you've got the right clothing and the best shoes for hiking and outdoor wandering is the first step to taking on any weather condition. If you're heading out on a longer adventure, it’s crucial to bring along plenty of water, a charged phone and power bank, sun protection (if it's sunny), and high-protein, high-fat snacks to boost your energy while you’re burning all of those calories.

What Equipment Do You Need for a Hike?

Wondering how to prepare for a hike? Well, it requires much of the same equipment as light outdoor exploring, but you'll need a few additional items depending on your hike.

You'll need quality hiking boots to support your feet for the duration of your route. Timberland’s hiking boots for men and women often offer a padded collar for ankle cushioning and a lightweight feel that ensures your feet are comfortable the whole time, plus plenty of other comfort and tech features that take long hours spent outside into consideration.

Your outerwear should always include a pair of quick-drying waterproof pants and a lightweight waterproof jacket. Fitted stretchy bottoms make a great addition to your hiking wardrobe, especially if you're hiking through rugged terrain. An extra layer to protect you from scraping against bushes will make a big difference. Get prepared for your next hiking trip by browsing from our selection of men’s jackets and women’s jackets today.

At a minimum, we’d also recommend a good winter hat and gloves if it’s cold out, energy-boosting snacks, an extra pair of socks, plenty of water, a map, a medical supplies kit, and a sturdy backpack.

The size of your backpack will depend on what you'll be carrying. We'd suggest something durable and water-resistant with plenty of pockets and compartments. A larger hiking backpack is a good choice if you're looking for something multi-functional with ample space for everything you need on a long or overnight hike. The capacity of backpacks is expressed in liters - for novice hikers, a pack in the 20-30 liter range is totally fine to hold everything you’ll need. 

Whether you're an experienced trekker or starting hiking for beginners, having the right gear to support you is essential. At Timberland, our products pair style with practicality to suit every explorer.