While SectionHiker is a backpacking blog, I also do an enormous amount of day hiking and like it because it can be such a social experience. Here are some tips that I provide day hikers who are just getting started and contact me seeking advice, to set them on the right path.

1. 10TipsforBeginnerDayHikers
 Philip Werner  Day Hiking, For Beginners
While SectionHiker is a backpacking blog, I also do an enormous amount of day hiking and like it because
it can be such a social experience. Here are some tips that I provide day hikers who are just getting started
and contact me seeking advice, to set them on the right path.
1. Find a Group or Club to Hike With
Group hikes are fun and organized hikes take the guesswork out of trip
planning if you’re unfamiliar with an area.
The fastest way to become a good hiker is to hike with other people because it’s fun and motivating. If you
live on the Atlantic seaboard there are many regional chapters of the Appalachian Mountain Club that lead
frequent hikes you can join. The same goes with the Washington Trails Association and the Sierra Club on
the west coast and throughout the country. Meetup.com is also a tremendous place to find local hiking
groups, meet people, make hiking friends, and plan your own hiking adventures.
2. Hike once a Week at a Local Park

2. Open Forest in the Middlesex Fells
Day hiking takes practice and conditioning if you want to build up to more strenuous and challenging
hikes. Try hiking at least once a week at a local park, either by yourself or as part of a group. You’ll develop
your footwork skills, get practice planning hikes, test out new gear, and build up your physical endurance.
It doesn’t matter where you hike, as long as you hike. Make it easy on yourself and find a nice park with a
few trails that isn’t a big distance from your home. If you keep the barrier to going low, you’re more likely
to go.
3. Learn to Hydrate Properly
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3. My Hydration System
Beginner hikers often don’t carry enough water on hikes. Plan on carrying about 1 liter for every two
hours, although this can vary based on time of year, weather conditions, your pace, body weight, and the
difficulty of a hike. Learning how much water you need in these conditions is an important skill, so pay
attention to what your body needs.
4. Carry the 10 Essentials
Essentials Up to 4 Hours More than 4 Hours
Map and Compass Local Map Local Map
Suunto A-10 Compass
Sun Protection Billed Cap Billed Cap
Dermatone Tin Dermatone Tin
Sunglasses Sunglasses
Long Sleeved Synthetic or Wool Shirt
Insulation Fleece Sweater Fleece Sweater
Rain Jacket and Pants Rain Jacket and Pants
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4. Essentials Up to 4 Hours More than 4 Hours
Beanie Hat
Insulated Jacket
Illumination Rechargeable Headlamp Rechargeable Headlamp
First Aid Kit Adventure Medical Kit Adventure Medical Kit
Fire Small box of Wooden Matches Small box of Wooden Matches
Light My Fire Fire Steel Light My Fire Fire Steel
Vaseline Coated Cotton Balls Vaseline Coated Cotton Balls
Tools and Repair Kit Swiss Army Classic Knife Swiss Army Classic Knife
Duct Tape, Safety Pins Duct Tape, Safety Pins
Nutrition Nuts, Dried Fruit, Bars Nuts, Dried Fruit, Bars
Sandwich
Hydration 2 Water Bottles or 70 oz Reservoir 2 Water Bottles or 100 oz Reservoir
Sawyer water filter
Emergency Shelter Emergency Bivy Emergency Bivy
Foam Sit Pad
Tarp and paracord
Other Emergency Contact Info Emergency Contact Info
Loud Whistle Loud Whistle
Toilet Paper and Trowel
Learn about the 10 essentials (see 10 Essentials Guide), why you need them, how to use them, and start
bringing them on your day hikes. The wilderness begins as soon as you leave a trail head: on average it
takes emergency responders an additional hour to reach a victim for every 15 minutes of hiking away
from a trail head parking lot. Don’t underestimate the need to hike prepared, even in a more urban
setting.
5. Find Comfortable Hiking Footwear
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5. Asolo TPS 520 Hiking Boots
Finding comfortable footwear that doesn’t cause blisters may take you a while. Focus on finding boots or
shoes that work for you instead of putting up with ones that hurt or fit poorly. Be patient and keep trying
ones until you dial in footwear that works. Everyone’s feet are different. Boots, mids, or trail runners: it
doesn’t matter which you choose. They are all have advantages and disadvantages.
6. Develop Your Layering System
Dress Like and Onion – Pinkam Lodge Ready Room
Learning how to dress like an onion, or layering, is an important moisture management and heat
regulation skill for hikers to master. Everyone’s metabolism is different, so try different base layers, mid-
layers, insulation layers, and shells until you develop a system that works for your needs in most three
season conditions. Hint: wearing many thin layers gives you better control over temperature regulation
than integrated component garments.
7. Leave a Trip Plan with a Trusted Friend or Relative
Whenever you take a hike by yourself or in a group, leave a trip plan (see How to Plan a Day Hike) with a
trusted friends or relative that details where you are going, the trails or route you plan on hiking, where
you’ve parked your car, when you expect to be return, and who to call if you’re overdue. Short hikes or
long: this is a very important trip preparation step.
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6. 8. Learn How to Read a Topographic Map
Topographic Map of North and South Doublehead
Learn terrain-to-map association so you can identify the landforms you see outdoors in order to find your
position on a map. This is an even more basic skill than using a compass and one that you’ll use much
more frequently.
9. Learn by Imitation
Imitate more experienced hikers, and
eventually you’ll be as experienced as they
are
I’m not proud. I learned how to dress like a hiker, hang a bear bag, and many other skills by watching
more experienced hikers and backpackers and then imitating them. People are happy to teach you new
things whether they know it or not!
10. Volunteer to do Trail Work
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7. Shaping Stone
When you become a hiker, you join a community of people who love the outdoors and hiking.
Volunteering to do trail work will help you understand how precious our hiking trails are how important
their preservation is for future generations.
What advice would you give to a beginner day hiker?
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