Walk somewhere worth the effort, at whatever pace suits you.
You can start hiking in the sneakers and gym clothes you already own, on a marked trail close to home. Hiking is walking on natural paths, from a flat one-mile loop in a county park to an all-day climb to a summit. The appeal is simple: steady exercise that does not feel like a workout, real quiet, and a view or a waterfall at the end that you earned on foot. Gear only starts to matter as your hikes get longer, steeper or farther from the car.
Difficulty
beginner-friendly
Startup cost
$110-$500
First result
Your first finished trail on day one, and a comfortable 5-mile hike within a month
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A hike
Pack total$0.00
01
What a hike actually looks like
A typical beginner hike is 2 to 4 miles and takes one to two hours, including the stops. You drive to a trailhead, follow painted blazes or signposts along a dirt path, and either loop back to the car or turn around at a landmark and retrace your steps. Plan on about 2 miles per hour on gentle ground, and add an extra 30 minutes for every 1,000 feet the trail climbs. That climbing number, called elevation gain, tells you more about how hard a hike will feel than the mileage does.
02
Your first month on the trail
Sign the trail register as you go
A daypack and a marked trail
03
Where hiking can take you
Four ways down the same trail
Local trail walksShort loops in nearby parks, done in an hour or two with almost no gear. This is where everyone starts and many people happily stay.+
Start here
Search for trails under 3 miles with less than 500 feet of elevation gain within 30 minutes of home, and walk one this weekend.
Summit and long day hikes6 to 12 miles with real climbing and a peak, lake or overlook as the goal. Same kit as a short hike, with more water and food.+
Start here
Once 5 miles feels easy, pick a trail that gains about 1,000 feet, start before 9 a.m., and set a turnaround time you will stick to even if the top is close.
Winter HikingThe same trails under snow and ice, with empty parking lots and no bugs. Needs traction on your shoes and protection for your lower legs.+
Start here
Repeat a trail you already know from summer, add traction to your shoes, and start with a short out-and-back so you can turn around the moment your hands or feet get cold.
Bear CountryHiking in grizzly or dense black bear habitat such as the northern Rockies and Alaska, where carrying a deterrent is standard practice.+
Start here
Read the park's bear page before you go, carry spray on your hip belt where you can reach it in two seconds, and hike in a group that talks.
Nothing here is needed for your first short walk. The essentials are what turns a walk into a safe hike of a few hours: a pack, enough water, socks that prevent blisters, a light and a first aid kit. The recommended lines are what you add as hikes get longer and rougher, starting with shoes, since footwear is where spending more makes the most difference. Winter traction and bear spray only matter in those conditions, so they sit behind their own add-ons. Poles and a water filter are for later, once long descents or all-day routes become your normal.
Late light at an overlook
09
Load the pack
Compare the options below, then set your tiers and check out from the pack. Clicking a card selects it there. The essential and recommended lines start in the pack. The Winter Hiking and Bear Country lines join once you switch on that add-on, and the optional lines wait until you pick one.
Hiking daypack (20 to 30 liters)
essential · Core equipment
Keeps water, food and layers on your back so your hands stay free on uneven ground. A chest strap and hip belt stop it from bouncing.
✓ In kitbudget
Small Hiking Backpack - 25L Travel Daypack Lightweight Bag Water Resistant Hiking Backpacks for Women Men
Switch between Men's and Women's above the cards or in the pack. Buy half a size up from your street shoes so your toes do not hit the front on descents. Low-cut shoes suit most trails. Choose over-the-ankle boots only for very rocky ground or heavy loads.
Packable rain jacket
recommended · Clothing
Doubles as a wind layer at breezy overlooks and keeps you dry when the forecast is wrong. Getting soaked is how people get dangerously cold, even in summer.
✓ In kitbudget
Mens Packable Rain Jacket Lightweight Waterproof Raincoat with Hood Outdoor Rain Gear Travel Hiking Cycling
Switch between Men's and Women's above the cards or in the pack. It should pack down small enough to live in your daypack all year. Size up if you plan to wear a fleece underneath.
Wide-brim sun hat
recommended · Clothing
Trails above the trees and along ridges have no shade, and a brim protects your face, ears and neck for hours without reapplying anything.
✓ In kitbudget
Wide Brim Sun Bucket Hat, Waterproof Boonie Hat for Men & Women
Packed snow on a popular trail turns to ice, and steel spikes that stretch over your shoes are what keep you upright on it.
✓ In kitbudget
Crampons Ice Cleats Traction Snow Grips for Boots Shoes Women Men Anti Slip 19 Stainless Steel Spikes Safe Protect for Hiking Fishing Walking Climbing Mountaineering
UDAP Pepper Power 12VHP Safety Orange Bear Spray Self Defense Deterrent with Hip Holster and Belt for Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Powerful Blast Pattern, 30 feet Fog Barrier, 7.9 oz
Some listings include a belt holster and some do not, so check before you buy. Check the expiration date, and note that it cannot go on a plane. Some parks restrict it, so read the park rules first.
Trekking poles (pair)
optional · Core equipment
For later, when long descents start to bother your knees. Poles shift some of that load to your arms and steady you on stream crossings.
✓ In kitbudget
Trekking Poles – Lightweight 7075 Aluminum Hiking Poles for Women, Men & Seniors – Collapsible Walking Sticks for Travel, Trails & Balance
