So many posts about "I want to get into hiking, what do I need to buy?" As David Duchovny told us in his appearance on Sex and the City, it's just walking! If you're thinking about getting into hiking, go do it. Maybe even during lunch tomorrow. Definitely this weekend.
The pics are from last week when I was visiting home. My brother said he and his friend "might explore around a bit." I didn't bring a lot of gear because it wasn't for sure and that didn't sound ambitious. It ended up being a little short of 11 miles, though not much vert. To be fair, I got some blisters (they got better) but that's about it.
I don't recommend starting with 11 miles. But I bet you already have everything you need for 2-3 and a couple hundred feet of climbing, to have a good time, and to start figuring out what, if anything, you really need to buy.
Here's what I think you need for your first hike. I bet you already have almost everything.
Shoes. They should fit and your feet shouldn't move around in them. Old running shoes are totally fine! Also, socks. Wool or synthetic socks are great if you've got them.
Underwear and pants that tolerate being sweated in. So probably not cotton and jeans. I have synthetic boxer briefs from the sports section. I have "real" hiking pants but khakis work fine in dry places and running pants work fine too.
Probably a shirt? I usually wear a base layer that covers my shoulders. But nothing terrible will happen in an hour if you're wearing a tee shirt.
More layers, maybe? I actually didn't ever end up wearing a jacket on this hike but it's good to have one along. Think windbreaker. This time of year, maybe also a fleece or down jacket, especially if you brought a sit-down lunch.
A hat, probably. Sunglasses, probably. Maybe sunscreen. I don't usually do sunscreen if I cover my shoulders and wear a hat, especially for an hour. Ymmv.
Yes, a backpack. Do you not already have one? You don't need much to walk around in the woods for an hour with an extra layer.
A snack or lunch maybe. You don't really need it for an hour but you do for longer and maybe you wanted to walk somewhere with a view to have lunch.
Water! We're talking about an hour, so one bottle is probably fine. You should probably figure out how much you drink on more ambitious trips.
A map! A pleasant day out can go badly sideways if you get lost. Lately for me this is Gaia on my phone. Alltrails is also very popular. If you'll be leaving cell phone reception, make sure it works without a signal.
Now get off the Internet and start your new hobby!
by Fun_Apartment631