Hiking Guides and Resources - coolhikinggear.com

What’s The Best Jacket For Hiking In The Winter?

A good quality winter hiking jacket is a must for any serious hiker. As with any major purchase, it’s well worth going over your needs, budget and must-have features beforehand to help decide what’s the best jacket for hiking in the winter months.

Let’s take a look at the types of winter jackets you should be considering to keep warm and active on the trail this winter.

Benefits of a Good Winter Hiking Jacket

A good winter hiking jacket is about much more than just keeping warm in cold conditions, it should enable you to stay active throughout the coldest months in comfort. A winter hiking jacket needs to have two main qualities: it should be breathable and weatherproof.

Breathability is an essential quality for any kind of hiking jacket. The more challenging your hikes are, the more you’ll perspire.

Even in minus temperatures, you’ll still appreciate a jacket with good breathability that will help regulate the temperature around your torso, rather than stopping to adjust layers, fiddling with gloves and interrupting your hike. The same goes for wet weather, you don’t want to have to remove your outer layer and risk getting drenched.

Most modern winter hiking jackets are made from advanced materials that have weather resistant qualities, to ensure that you stay warm and dry.

Depending upon your level of activity and where you do most of your hiking, you’ll probably be best off with a robust hard shell jacket or a quality rain shell jacket used in conjunction with appropriate layering. This will offer extra protection against the wind and rain, as well as insulation.

A good winter hiking jacket will keep you warm, but more importantly dry, allowing perspiration to pass through micro pores away from your skin, whilst keeping the elements out. Many people new to hiking envisage thick padded coats.

However, thanks to advances in modern technology and the creation of new lightweight, robust materials alongside the tendency to layer jackets with clothing for an adjustable level of warmth and freedom of movement, winter hiking jackets are much less bulky than your average winter coat.

Features to Look For in a Winter Hiking Jacket

Now that you know what kind of jacket you’ll need, time to take a look at some of the top-rated features, to help you to really make the most of your winter hikes. Whilst these aren’t strictly essential, they can make a huge difference to your comfort and performance.

Adjustable Hood

When it’s cold and wet, or snowy, you’ll need a hood that adjusts to keep the elements out. Adjustable hoods allow for bulkier headwear and stay up in strong winds. A nice addition is a brimmed hood which can be very useful to keep your line of sight clear while you hike, read a map, etc. in very bad weather.

Air Vents

Although most jackets are breathable, if your trail features challenging sections of intense activity, you’re going to need to cool off quickly and easily. Air vents are the best way to do so in bad weather as you don’t need to remove your protective outer layer, or indeed any layers.

Especially popular are full torso vents for rapid cooling and armpit vents, also known as pit zips. If you’re considering any kind of strenuous hiking in colder weather, you’ll definitely want to make sure you have vents in your winter hiking jacket

Large Zipped Pockets

This may sound like a minor detail, but when you’re out in the cold with thick gloves, large pockets with zipper pulls will make your life a lot easier.

The size and number of pockets depends on your personal preferences, what you keep on your person and what goes in your backpack. Just make sure you can easily open and close with gloves.

Adjustable Cuffs

Adjustable cuffs help keep warmth in and allow you to put gloves under or over your sleeves. This also sounds like a minor detail, but you’d be surprised just how much heat you can lose from ill-fitting cuffs and if its wet you risk the rain getting in.

Recommended Layering with a Rain Shell Hiking Jacket

Now that you know what to look for in a winter hiking jacket, how do you wear it to optimize warmth whilst allowing for episodes of perspiration and heat generation?

It’s highly recommended to start with an absorbent base layer next to the skin that will wick sweat away to the outer layers. Your base layer should be tight fitting and as lightweight as possible. This will allow it to wick better and to dry faster, keeping you drier.

The following layers can be multiplied if required, depending upon temperatures and activity levels.

Mid-Layer

In winter you’ll likely need a mid-layer or two, typically a long sleeved top. This layer should also be lightweight with good wicking properties to ensure moisture flows away from the skin.

After your mid-layer, the standard outer mid-layer would be a fleece or similar garment, that will add extra warmth, without weighing you down, and finally you have the outer layer, your hard shell or rain shell jacket to protect you from the elements.

Layering allows you to alter the level of warmth depending upon the temperature. It is important to choose merino wool, silk-based or synthetic-based materials for clothes close to your skin, as they help to ensure that moisture is wicked away to the outer layers so you don’t get wet from the inside.

Cotton is to be avoided where possible, especially near to the skin as cotton absorbs and holds moisture, quickly becoming and staying wet and weighing you down. Ever wonder why bath towels are usually made from cotton? Yep, because they’re so good at absorbing and retaining moisture!

In terms of wearing cotton clothes hiking, this can also contribute to you getting very cold e.g. if you sweat when hiking, when you stop the sweat absorbed into the cotton will rapidly cool down, and it will be like wearing a wet and cold towel after a while … not good!

If you were unfortunate enough to become immobilized for some reason, your chances of getting hypothermia will also shoot up if you have damp clothes close to your skin in very cold temperatures.

Conclusion

What’s the best jacket for hiking in winter? In short, we think a good hard shell jacket or a quality rain shell hiking jacket that’s lightweight, strong, breathable and weatherproof is the way to go.

Whether you choose the hard shell or the rain shell, really depends on the toughness of the conditions you plan to hike in.

If you’re a regular year round hiker, it is worth investing in both so you have the option and you can try out different combinations of layering in different conditions to see what works well for you.

When used with appropriately layered garments and accessories you’ll have a jacket that will be suitable for a huge range of hiking in winter weather and temperatures, as well as for practical day-to-day use should you need that.

What’s a Hiking GPS Emergency Locator?

Whether you loathe them or love them, there’s no denying that high-tech gadgets are becoming increasingly common in all areas of life – including hiking.

Even if you have no intention of purchasing or using such items, it’s still useful to know how they work, as you never know what the future may bring. So, what’s a hiking GPS emergency locator, how does it work, and do you need one?

What is it?

Hiking GPS emergency locators, as the name suggests, use GPS to locate hikers in an emergency. They are also known as PLBs, or personal locator beacons.

They are compact hand-held units, with a switch to signal an emergency and your location. Once the alert has been sent, a rescue team will be instructed to travel to your location to attempt a rescue.

It is important to note that these devices are only to be used in a real emergency i.e. a life-threatening scenario. Once sent, there is no way of canceling an alert.

The search and rescue team may put their own lives in danger trying to reach you or delay another rescue whilst completing yours. The decision to make use of a PLB is, therefore, not to be taken lightly.

How Does it Work?

Your hiking GPS emergency locator relies upon a vast network of satellites to function. It is important to bear in mind that you will need to be in an unobscured place to ensure efficient sending and localization.

Once you send the alert, the device will send out a signal which will be picked up by satellites and then sent on with your GPS coordinates to search and rescue teams. PLBs come with a lithium battery that has a minimum life of 24 hours. The battery lies dormant up until you send the alert.

When you purchase a PLB, you will need to register it. Upon registration your personal details that you provide such as your name, phone number and medical history are linked to a number identifying your PLB. This information is passed on to rescue services along with your location when you use it.

Positive Aspects

PLBs save lives and make rescues safer, saving resources by pinpointing the location of the emergency. The time that is saved searching also means that the search and rescue team are available for more rescues.
Having your medical details sent to the rescue team before they set out to find you, means they can personalize the equipment and supplies that they bring with them if you have any conditions that are likely to require extra attention. This could help to save your life.
Hiking GPS emergency locators are extremely accurate and can locate you to around 500 meters accuracy.
The majority of PLBs have a built-in light to help to attract the attention of search and rescue team when they are near. This can save even more time and means you will exert yourself less trying to alert them to your presence.
PLBs can provide peace of mind for yourself, as well as friends and family who may worry about the dangers of certain trips.
There is no subscription fee or any kind of recurring fee for a PLB, you only pay the purchase price.
You can quickly and easily register your device online and update your personal details, this is important if you develop a new medical condition.
PLBs empower more people to experience backcountry hiking and to try places they may previously have thought were too remote.

Negative Aspects

Emergency GPS locators are fairly expensive, averaging around $300 for a standard model and they can only be used once.
If you use it accidentally or your situation changes, you cannot cancel the alert, a search and rescue team will arrive as soon as possible.
Satellite coverage can vary and obscured areas such as caves or areas of heavy vegetation can cause problems sending your alert effectively. You will have no way of knowing that your request to be rescued has been processed until the rescue team arrive.
PLBs may encourage some people to take unnecessary risks or to engage in irresponsible practices if they see it as a safety net. Search and rescue teams still take time to arrive and although they will arrive much sooner, there is no 100% guarantee they will be able to save a life.

Do you Need One?

If you’re thinking about purchasing a hiking GPS emergency locator, you should first consider when and how often you are in environments where a PLB might come in use. PLBs can be useful for extra peace of mind, especially for solo hikers and those who go on long expeditions into the wild.

They can also provide reassurance for loved ones at home, just knowing that you have a way to request emergency assistance can make them more accepting of your risk-taking needs.

You may also consider purchasing a PLB if you hike with family members, especially children who may get into trouble more easily than an experienced adult.

If on the other hand you are an occasional hiker and you tend to stick to well known trails, you probably don’t really need an emergency locator.

However, if having one in your backpack gives you greater security and allows you to enjoy exploring the great outdoors, then you should go ahead and purchase one regardless. It’s true that we cannot predict the future and sometimes bad accidents can happen even on what seem like the easiest of trails.

Conclusion

Now that you have the answer to what’s a hiking GPS emergency locator, it’s time to make your own assessment of whether you need to purchase one for your future hiking trips.

With a one-off purchase fee and free registration, the benefits by far outweigh any negatives, especially if you are the more cautious type and you value extra peace of mind.

However, in many cases, good planning before you set out will be enough to keep you safe and a mobile phone can be enough to get help if you get into difficulty.

Always do your research well in advance, and obviously, if you’re heading deep into the remote wilderness where contact with the outside world will be difficult if not impossible, then a device like this makes sense.

How To Get a Backpack Zipper Unstuck

The humble zipper. Like many other inventions that are practically indispensable to our daily lives, we frequently overlook just how useful zippers are. That is, until they become stuck.

If your jacket zipper starts playing up on the way to work, it’s annoying to say the least, but it’s not such a big deal.

However, if you’re miles from civilization, the weather’s turning and you’re desperately wondering how to get a backpack zipper unstuck, the situation can seem pretty serious. Let’s take a look at what may cause zipper malfunctions and some of the easiest ways to get stuck zippers unstuck.

Why do Zippers Get Stuck?

Zippers are, by their very nature, the most fragile part of a backpack. Backpacks are increasingly made from strong, durable materials, reducing wear and tear and extending their lifespan.

Although certain zippers may be stronger and more reliable than others, the mechanism remains the same, and where there’s a possibility of things going wrong, that possibility often becomes a reality.

Zippers are made up of a series of interlocking teeth on opposite side of the zipper tape. The slider, when pulled up or down, either locks the teeth together or forces them apart.

While the zipper’s design allows for quick and easy opening and closing, it is often subjected to a variety of situations that are likely to cause malfunctions.

Common Zipper Problems

Common zipper problems often come down to faulty manufacturing, or a poor-quality product. With a top-end backpack, this is less likely to be the case.

Zippers may also get stuck due to overstraining, trying to squeeze in that one extra piece of gear that just won’t fit while tugging hard on the slider pull. Over time this can deteriorate the regularity of the teeth’s alignment or the slider’s inner mechanism.

Aside from misalignment from straining, zippers, especially those used in hiking products, can get stuck because of dirt buildup.

Small particles like sand, earth, dust, grit and bits of vegetation can clog up the inner mechanism leading to a malfunction resulting in slider and teeth distortion. Fabric from either side of the zipper can also become trapped with similar results.

Ways to Unstick a Stuck Backpack Zipper

If your backpack zipper is refusing to budge, as tempting as it may be to start pulling hard to release it, it’s important to stop and assess the situation.

Is any of the surrounding fabric trapped? Was the zipper working fine up until now? Are you going to be relying on your backpack for the next few days?

Before possibly irrevocably breaking your backpack, taking the time to examine the problem can help to provide a solution.

Snagged Zippers

If the zipper is snagged on the surrounding fabric, gently try to reverse it. The more gently you can do this the less likely you are to cause any lasting damage.

Sometimes a good deal of patience will be required, holding the trapped fabric a millimeter to the left or right can help to release the slider while slowly reversing it.

Trapped Dirt

If you can’t see any obvious reason for your backpack zipper to be stuck, it could be caused by a buildup of trapped dirt within the slider. Try blowing hard to get any loose particles out before they cause any further problems.

Gently try to manipulate the zipper, stopping immediately if there’s any sign of it straining. You may want to try wetting or submerging the zipper area whilst gently jiggling it to remove any trapped dirt.

Other Scenarios

If the zipper is clean, there’s no trapped fabric (remember this could also be on the interior), then your zipper may be faulty. Some people recommend greasing zippers, and you could try it if you happen to have any kind of lubricant to hand.

However, this can often be a bad idea as it can attract dirt and grit causing them to stick inside the zipper, making the problem worse, or creating a new one. However, this is a great last-ditch option and could save your backpack.

If your backpack zipper is well and truly broken you should consider your options and upcoming needs before breaking it further.

If you’re going to be relying on your backpack for the next few days, you should consider cutting through from another internal compartment with a functioning external zipper if possible. This will maintain the integity and functionality of your backpack, enabling you to continue your hike with the least inconvenience.

If this isn’t possible, decide if you want to rip or cut open your backpack at the zipper opening and try to replace it later upon returning home, or if there’s another more convenient place to cut into your backpack.

This opening should be created in a position where it would be easier to tie or somehow fasten shut for the rest of your hiking expedition.

Replacing and Mending Broken Zippers

It can be a waste to throw away a good backpack because of a broken zipper. Zippers themselves are relatively inexpensive and if you can’t fix the zipper yourself, you should be able to find a local company that can replace it for you.

If your zipper is faulty, you may be entitled to a new backpack under your manufacturer’s guarantee. In any case it’s often worth contacting them, you never know, they might at least offer you a discount even if the product itself wasn’t faulty.

How to Avoid Future Zipper Problems

Zipper problems often occur because of misuse, by taking good care of your zipper you will reduce the chances of it getting stuck and extend your backpack’s lifespan.

Helpful hints to keep your zipper from sticking:

Don’t overfill your backpack. Not only is it going to be heavy, trying to squeeze in extra items will strain the zipper. Plan before packing.
Always open the zipper fully when putting your stuff inside. You may just need to quickly slip a container in, but if the opening isn’t wide enough this will cause the teeth to tear apart and increase the likelihood of your zipper getting stuck in the future.
Don’t ever force your zipper, you will cause it to become (even more) stuck. If you’re not the patient type and you don’t urgently need access to your backpack contents, give it a few minutes and try again later.
Clean your zipper after every hike, especially in dirty conditions. Give your backpack a good shake out and wipe over in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Pay attention to the quality of zippers, their positioning and how well they function on future purchases. When possible try before you buy or ask questions online.

Conclusion

It’s not always easy to figure out how to get a backpack zipper unstuck, but a bit of patience and common sense can make all the difference and may save your backpack from unnecessary destruction.

If not, you might just have to make the best of a bad situation and look forward to treating yourself to a new backpack, there are worse things that could happen 🙂

What Are The Best Hiking Boots With Ankle Support?

Hiking? That’s our kind of thing! Running and sports shoes are very light and serve an excellent purpose if you intend to cover long distances on flat and even surfaces like roads, tarmac, etc.

The question is, is that the kind of shoes you need for your hiking expeditions? Will they protect your feet and ankles adequately? In short, no, we definitely do not think so.

When you’re hitting the trail, you need hiking boots, or for less difficult terrain, trail shoes. As a general rule, we recommend hiking boots over trail shoes (although we of course use both), as they provide more stability and support, particularly around the ankles.

Before we review this subject further, if you just want to know where to find great hiking boots, check out our top hiking boot recommendations for men and our top hiking boot recommendations for women, they all offer great ankle support.

Why you Need Good Ankle Support

When you’re out hiking, typically you will go over a wide variety of terrain. Everything from flat and even trails to rocky ridges are on the cards for the more adventurous hiker.

This is all good and the reason why hiking is so enjoyable. However, when you’re on that kind of varying terrain, you are of course running a greater risk of turning over on your feet, slipping, etc. and heaven forbid, twisting or even breaking your ankle.

Ankles, as well as feet and knees, are one of the typical areas of the body prone to suffering when you have a nasty twist or fall on the trail. Enter hiking boots with good ankle support!

It’s Happened to me Many Times!

I can’t count how many times I’ve put my foot down onto a grassy piece of ground, only to find that there is a hole there, and my ankle has jerked off to the side as I adjust my body to find stability.

Likewise, I’ve walked up plenty of wet rocks on ridges in my hiking career, and once or twice, I’ve had a bit of a slip.

All was fine though, as I had solid hiking boots that had appropriate protection for my ankles. So while I certainly felt a tug when I slipped, my sturdy boots kept my ankle secure enough so no ligament, muscle or bone damage was done.

Also, typically when you hike, you carry a pack of some kind, be it a day pack when day hiking, or a backpack if you’re out hiking for longer.

This extra weight on your back makes you more prone to losing stability and falling, should you have a minor slip i.e. it’s harder to maintain your balance with a heavy load, when you take a small slip. Good hiking boots with good ankle support help greatly with this problem.

What Provides Good Ankle Support

In short, it’s the construction of your hiking boots that provide the stability and support in them. This is why investing in quality hiking boots is, in our humble opinion, so important.

You need hiking boots that have a well-constructed upper that works well with all the other constituent parts of your boots e.g. midsole, shank, etc. The upper will typically be leather or textile or a mix of the two.

Leather can be a very good option for providing more stability around the ankle, but there are also excellent leather and textile mix options too.

The outsole of course must have good grip to help prevent slipping, Vibram soles are excellent for that, and you of course want good cushioning around the feet and ankles. Cushioning around the ankle will be held in place by a good lacing system, which of course holds your boots in place as you hike.

All these things put together provide the sum total of the level of ankle support you can count on, while out on the trail.

What About Hiking Shoes?

Obviously, it’s all in the name 🙂 Hiking shoes, or trail shoes, are shoes, and so do not provide any ankle support, so they’re a non runner in that regards.

Don’t get me wrong, they are great and they have their function, but if you are heading off to hike in places where you need good ankle protection, they’re not the way to go in our opinion.

Top Hiking Boots with Excellent Ankle Support

We recommend you check out our top hiking boot recommendations for men and our top hiking boot recommendations for women, they all have great ankle support to one degree or another.

However, as mentioned at the start of this article, we’ve singled out two top performers in this area in case you want to get straight to it.

Best Hiking Boots with Ankle Support for Men

The Meindl Vakuum GTX, pictured below, for men are an excellent pair of leather hiking boots. They are top of the range, and so are at the higher end of the scale in terms of price, but you can rest assured they will hold your ankle securely over a wide variety of terrain.

The only downside is that they are probably too much boot for hiking in warmer times of year, as they can be too warm. That being the case, we think the Lowa Renegade GTX are also an excellent option.

Best Hiking Boots with Ankle Support for Women

We think the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX hiking boots, pictured below, provide excellent ankle support and are a top of the range pair of boots. While not as pricey as they Meindl Vakuum above, they’re still an excellent pair of hiking boots.

As a second runner, we again recommend the Lowa Renegade GTX hiking boots, but obviously the ladies version of this fantastic pair of hiking boots.

And the Lesson is?

Hiking just isn’t as enjoyable as it can be, without having proper hiking boots on. When you have the proper boots, you naturally hike with more confidence and so have more bandwidth to enjoy the trail, as you’re not overly worrying about where you are putting your feet.

The above features we touched on are key elements in choosing the best hiking boots with good ankle support for you. However, as mentioned, we only touched on them here.

If you are planning to buy a pair of hiking boots, check out our hiking boot buying guide, as it covers everything you need to consider when buying a new pair of hiking boots, and all of the constituent parts that go into making up a good pair of hiking boots, in much more detail.

Conclusion

Suffice it say, we think good ankle support is a must in hiking boots, and the good news is, most decent hiking boots available on the market today offer a good level of support to your ankles. Like anything though, some provide more than others.

Remember to take the type of hiking into consideration too. If you typically hike on flat and even well marked trails, you likely have less need for very serious ankle protection, and you may even get away with trail shoes if the ground is very flat and even.

However, if you enjoy a bit of off trail, it is worth investing in good hiking boots that have adequate ankle support.

Remember, always be safe on the trail and wear the appropriate gear. Happy hiking! If you found this article useful, please like and share 🙂

How To Adjust Trekking Pole Height

If you’re thinking of trying out trekking poles, or maybe you already own a pair, you may be wondering how to best adjust them.

When used correctly trekking poles can help reduce fatigue and joint strain while improving stability, however, if they are not correctly adjusted to your height they can be cumbersome and more of a hindrance than a help.

Let’s take a look at how to adjust trekking pole height correctly for the different types of poles and why it’s important to do so.

If you’re new to trekking poles or if it’s something that you’ve just never quite ‘got the hang of’, you may find that this could lead you to change your mind and possibly make your hiking trips go even better.

Reasons To Adjust Trekking Pole Height

Firstly, although you can buy fixed height poles, as each and every one of us is different to the next person, it makes sense to be able to customize our accessories whenever possible.

Adjustable trekking poles allow you to fine tune the exact length of your poles, thus maximizing your levels of comfort and support. Most adjustable trekking poles have an alterable length of 24 to 55 inches.

Secondly, trekking poles are a huge help when negotiating difficult terrain. They can make the almost impossible, possible and a good deal easier, especially on the joints.

Once you have adjusted your poles for your height and you’re using them with ease, you will find them even more useful for ascending and descending if you shorten and extend them accordingly on the go.

Rugged hillside terrain may even require you to lengthen one while shortening the other for perfect balance and comfort while contouring a hill with narrow paths.

In fact given the simplicity and efficacy of trekking pole adjustment, you may find yourself adjusting them for any kind of rough terrain, streams and sand dunes.

Thirdly, and best of all, it takes seconds to do. So let’s take a look at how it’s done.

How To Find The Right Height

To find the optimum length for your trekking poles, hold your pole with its tip touching the ground. When you will have adjusted the height as necessary, either increasing or decreasing, your lower arm will be parallel with the ground with your upper arm at a 90 degree angle.

This will be the main height that you will need for flat terrain. Once you’ve done one pole, don’t forget to make sure that the second one is the same length by comparing them.

Some people find it useful to mark this height on their poles or to adjust the lower level(s) then use the upper level for changes when they’re on the trail.

I’d say to hang on a bit and just get comfortable, once you’ve got a few hikes with them under your belt, then you will get a feeling for how they work best for you and what, if any changes you will be making on a regular basis.

Most poles come with graduated markings so you should be able to keep track of which height works best for you.

How To Adjust Your Trekking Poles

Although trekking poles may differ in terms of looks, materials and price, in general there are two main types of adjustable ones, telescopic poles and foldable poles.

Telescopic Trekking Poles

Also known as telescoping poles, these trekking poles are made up of sections that store inside of one another when not in use.

Foldable Trekking Poles

Foldable poles, also known as tri-fold or z-fold poles, are made of separate sections that are connected by a cord. These sections fold next to one another when the pole is not in use.

To adjust the height of your poles:

Unlock the pole from its collapsed/folded position.
Hold the pole by its grip with its tip touching the floor. Make sure your shoulders are relaxed and your grip is comfortable.
Decide if you need to lengthen or shorten the pole to achieve the correct height (as discussed in the previous section).
If your pole uses a twisting mechanism, twist to loosen or tighten as appropriate. If it has a lever or catch mechanism, extend or shorten until the desired length is achieved, then close or release the lever or catch. Double check that the pole is locked, and repeat for the second one.
Try both poles and adjust again if necessary.

If you have any difficulty adjusting your trekking poles, check the manufacturer’s notice or website for product-specific information, see this example. The vast majority of poles are extremely simple to adjust and self explanatory.

Once you’ve adjusted your trekking pole height you may like to check it again with a pole in each hand, to check that you have the right weight distribution and that they feel comfortable.

Having done each pole individually the first time allows you to be familiar with the process and to arrive at the stage where only very fine tuning should be needed.

Also, make sure that you have the correct pole in the correct hand, most brands have left and right hand poles that are slightly different to one another.

Conclusion

Trekking poles are often invaluable aides for hikers, they are extremely useful for navigating difficult terrain, improving stability and reducing the risk of a slip or fall.

They can also help to reduce fatigue, improve cardiovascular fitness by increasing upper body movement and circulation, and they help to reduce joint strain.

However, in order to fully benefit from all of the positive aspects that trekking poles can offer, it is essential that you know how to adjust trekking pole height correctly.

Trekking poles that are not correctly adjusted can cause muscle pain, joint pain and general discomfort, so it’s important to check that your poles are adjusted to the right height.

Adjusting trekking pole height is extremely simple and it can be done quickly and easily, making difficult ascents and descents much easier and safer, and general hiking a lot less tiring.

If you’ve never quite taken to using trekking poles, or you’ve just got your first pair, take a few moments to double check that they’re the right height for you, it will definitely be worth your while.

Finally, if you’re looking to invest in a pair of trekking poles, check out our top trekking pole recommendations.

How Many Calories Do You Burn Hiking?

One of the many benefits of hiking is that it’s a great physical workout, helping you to stay in shape and burn off calories. There are many reasons that you may want to find out how many calories you’re burning while hiking.

For example, if you’re looking to combine your love of the great outdoors with losing weight, finding out how many calories you use can help you to effectively plan your weight-loss goals.

Alternatively, you may want to make sure you’re optimizing your nutrition for performance, or to work out how much food to take with you on a long hiking trip.

Here’s a breakdown of the main factors that affect the number of calories you go through on a hike, to help you to answer your question – how many calories do you burn hiking?

Body Weight

Your body weight affects how many calories you use up, the heavier you are, the more you will burn off per hour.

When hiking, rather than just walking on the flat, it is estimated that a person weighing 155 lb will burn around 446 calories per hour, with someone who weighs 185 lb using 532 calories per hour. However, this is really only an approximate amount to be used as a guideline. .

If we consider the same two persons but for an hour’s walk at 3.5 mph, the estimates drop to 298 and 356 respectively. From looking at these two sets of figures it’s clear that the hiking estimates account for much more calories than simply walking and body weight alone.

In order to find out how much more you will need to add on to make your own estimate of how many calories you burn while hiking, you will need to take the following factors into consideration.

Distance

This speaks for itself, the greater the distance you cover, the more calories you burn.

Once you’ve decided on your trail, you can begin to work out the number of calories that you’ll be burning by factoring in any variables that will affect this, such as how long you intend to take, your pace and what types of terrain you’ll cover.

Speed

The faster you go, the more calories you burn. Let’s compare the calories burnt per hour for someone who weighs 185 lb at walking pace (3.5mph) 356 calories, at a brisk walk (4.5mph) 444 calories, and jogging (5 mph) 710 calories.

As you can see, increasing your speed and intensity greatly increases the number of calories burnt. While you don’t have to go full out speed hiking or fastpacking, if you are looking to burn off extra calories or to raise your cardiovascular fitness you could increase your speed, terrain and stamina permitting of course.

What’s more, research has found that a strenuous hike can temporarily raise your metabolism for several hours afterwards.

This can mean a general increase in the number of calories you burn for up to 14 hours following your hike, so it can be worth putting in the extra effort to really maximize your caloric consumption.

Terrain

Steep inclines and more challenging terrain will greatly increase the number of calories that you use during your hike.

It is estimated that a 5-10% gradient will increase the number of calories you burn by as much as 30-40%. Differences in terrain will help to work out different muscles and contribute to an effective calorie-busting workout.

The beauty of hiking is often found in the huge diversity that you come across in nature and you may not fully appreciate just how many different types of terrain you’re actually navigating.

If your local hikes are mostly flat grasslands you always have the option to increase your speed if you’re looking to increase your caloric consumption.

Trekking Poles

Using trekking poles will increase your upper body movement, this will use more calories as you are moving more of your body, whilst increasing circulation and reducing fatigue.

Although using trekking poles as hiking aides will not burn off quite as many extra calories as going in for the full Nordic walking regime, hiking with trekking poles is likely to burn off at least an extra calorie per minute.

Backpack

Carrying a backpack while hiking will add a lot to the number of calories that you go through. A heavy load for a long trip can easily burn as many as 200 calories an hour more than hiking without a backpack.

Good planning and local knowledge can help you to pack light to avoid having to carry huge amounts where possible.

Lighter backpacks that contain a minimum of equipment and supplies for a day’s hiking will probably cause you to consume an extra 50 to 100 calories per hour.

If you’re looking to add extra weight to a short hike to burn a maximum of calories, carrying extra water is a good option as you can always lose the extra if you change your mind along the way or if you need to get back quicker, without causing any damage to the local environment.

Conclusion

So, how many calories do you burn hiking? There are many factors to take into account and in the majority of cases it’s usually a lot more than you realize.

Once you’ve factored in for a full day’s hiking, with a body weight of around 185 lbs, a heavy backpack and some challenging terrain, the average amount of calories burnt is going to be around 5,000.

On the other hand, if you go for a 2 hour hike with easy-going terrain and a very light load, you’re probably looking at about 900 calories.

If you take into account the factors that we’ve looked at you can easily reach a ballpark figure for your requirements. Overall though, hiking is a great exercise for your heart, mind and general health.

Just as each and every hike is different, the number of calories you burn off hiking will vary each time. There are plenty of variables that you can control in order to alter the amount.

You might find it useful to choose trips with more gradient, to carry extra weight or to alter your pace if you’re looking to increase the number of calories that you consume.

However, don’t let your calorie counting get in the way of your enjoyment, explore, let your mind wander freely and immerse yourself in the great outdoors.

Trekking Pole Benefits

What is your hobby? Hiking or mountain climbing? If yes, then we both have an idea of what is involved and the tools we require to have a successful day out on the hills.

Trekking poles are strong poles, kind of like walking sticks, that support or give stability when you are hiking and / or backpacking. Their main aim is to ease the strain of your leg muscles and greatly reduce the impact on your knees whether you are going uphill or downhill.

Hopefully that gives you a rough idea of what we are talking about. If not, don’t worry! Buckle up as we take you through the main trekking pole benefits you can enjoy when you hit the trail with them on a hike.

Benefits

Hiking is a wonderful activity, it not only helps to rejuvenate your body but also compliments general fitness. All this is fun until you cannot walk or bend, or do anything the next morning after a full day of hiking due to all sorts of body aches. This can and does happen, to novice and experienced hikers.

Trekking poles can play a very important role in countering this, ensuring that hiking remains enjoyable at all times and helps to ease off on the aforementioned aches after a hard day out on the hills.

Walking Rhythm

Sounds a little odd perhaps, but learning and understanding how to use and choose the correct hiking poles, even on the rough or rocky ground, really help establish a good walking rhythm.

When synchronized with your arms, this can help balance the load so that no muscle is excessively strained on a consistent and repeating basis. With that in mind, it really is worth investing in the best poles you can get.

When we talk about setting a perfect rhythm, we refer to the pace at which you walk. Hiking poles propel your body forward when walking so you can end up walking quite a bit faster when using them.

The coordination of your arms and legs improve your stride distance and you end up covering more distance within a shorter time.

Aches and Strains

Hiking poles help reduce the strain on your knees and leg muscles. As mentioned above, they help balance the load of your body across all your limbs, which in turn helps reduce the likelihood of aches and strains.

Balance

A really important one. When walking through generally rough terrain, trekking poles are excellent for helping you to maintain your balance. This is very useful when hiking over uneven or undulating terrain.

Heaven forbid … If you get injured …

In case you are unlucky enough to get injured on a day out on the hills, trekking poles can be more help than you could ever imagine. For instance, a sprained or twisted ankle is almost impossible to walk on. Trekking poles can be used to help lift of weight off of your injured leg.

Though the hike may take a little longer due to the slower pace, the poles may just be a life saver if you just need to get that last few hundred feet back to your car to get yourself out and to help.

Bushwhacking

Isn’t that an Australian thing? I think so, but it kind of fits the bill for this point. Trekking poles can be used to mark your trail when walking through bushy paths.

That is, if you have a lot of vegetation in your way, you can use them to help whack any troublesome plants and shrubs out of your way. In extreme circumstances, although I have never done this and hope I ever have to, you could use it to scare off wild animals in your path.

We all agree that the chance of coming across a wild and very dangerous animal in the middle of a human used trail is unlikely, but it could happen, right? And if it did, any kind of implement to fend off a wild beast, could come in handy.

Ground Testing

A personal favorite of mine and one I use my poles for often. If you’re hiking over wet ground, say like bog, or deep snow, you can use your trekking pole to test the ground before you step on it. Very useful and one that has saved me from sinking down into the ground on many an occasion!

Resting

Sometimes, heading up a steep incline that seems like it will never end, can make your tired, both physically and mentally. If the terrain is too tricky to get a chance to sit, leaning on your trekking poles for a moment can actually be relieving to your tired muscles.

Your backpack may also be a little heavy, say if you’re backpacking for a few days, and tiresome and on wet surfaces, you may not be able to sit, so using your poles to lean on can help take the pressure off. Resting for a moment on your poles as you stand can help relieve the strain on your leg muscles.

Breathing Efficiency

Not sure how else to call this one, but to explain what I mean. How do you feel when you walk hurriedly during a hot day? You end up sweaty and breathing very heavily right?

As noted above, trekking poles can help increase your walking pace, as you can walk more efficiently, and with faster breathing, it improves your lung capacity by allowing more oxygen during inhalation. The poles help you maintain an upright posture that is ideal for proper breathing.

Posture

Something that is often overlooked … Frequent hiking, especially on mountains where you walk uphill for long hours, may affect your posture. The possibility of walking in a funny shape is much higher due to the nature of hiking.

The weight of your backpack can easily force you to hunch forward and this will distort your upright posture with time. The trekking poles can really help prevent this, helping you keep a more upright position and better posture as you hike.

Weight distribution

Imagine being asked to carry a heavy load up 20 flights of stairs to the top of a building several times in a row. Most probably, the next day will be stiff and possibly painful for you.

The pain on your muscles is what we call fatigue. The most fatigued part of our body after a long day of hiking is our legs and lower back.

When you use a hiking pole, weight is evenly distributed all over the body since both the upper and lower body share the weight more.

Each step on weight affects the muscles and if the poles can reduce the weight more evenly on your body muscles, then it will take longer to fatigue right? Yet again, trekking poles can really help with this.

If You’re Overweight

We all agree that hiking is not only done as a hobby, but can also be a great part of a weight loss program for people who are overweight. Walking for long distances, definitely burns a considerable amount of fat from our bodies.

Burning of calories can help us feel better as well as being healthy for our physical health. Overweight individuals may find it a little challenging to walk on more challenging terrain e.g. rocky surfaces, due to their weight.

Trekking poles are the ideal option for such circumstances. They will help folks propel their bodies forward and evenly distribute their weight better all over the body.

Accidents Anyone?

Instances of accidents are thankfully rare enough if you hike responsibly. However, sometimes you can just get unlucky. What would happen if your hiking partners backpack fell into a deep hole?

If the hole is a little deep you could tie one of your hiking poles onto a rope, hook the backpack and pull it out of the pit. Easy right?

Or say, your hiking partner gets a little nervous about hiking up over a steep stone that is a bit wet. You could use your trekking pole to help them up over it.

The main point here is just that there are plenty of unplanned for situations, where a strong trekking pole could come in very handy.

Conclusion

The use of trekking poles over the years has been a great development in the hiking world, and the quality of poles available gets better and better, year on year. They really are one of the best and most helpful gear items any hiker can add to their kit.

Whether you are a regular hiker, or just someone who dips their toes in and out of hiking from time to time, incorporating trekking poles into your hiking strategy going forward, will only help you enjoy your days out on the trail even more.

We feel it is important to acknowledge the trekking pole benefits for a hiker. It’s really worth investing in a pair and learning how to use them properly, so you can get the most from them.

If you are interested in buying trekking poles, please check out our top hiking pole recommendations, to see some great options available on the market today.

Happy hiking!

How to Filter Water in the Wild: Finding and Drinking Safe Water Anywhere

There are approximately 50,000 different search and rescue missions held in the USA every year as a result of hikers, backpackers, or general outdoor enthusiasts getting lost or being unprepared when they head into nature.

Even though we like to assume that as humans, we have an evolutionary advantage over most things, you’ll never have the ability to predict Mother Nature accurately and what she has in store. So, you have to learn a lot of survival hacks like how to filter water in the wild.

If you ever find yourself in a position where you are lost in the wilderness, the first thing you need to do is find a source of water.

The average human can only last three days without water and three weeks without food, and it’s important to note that just because water might look clear, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe to drink.

In this guide, we’ll discuss five things to do if you’re stuck unprepared in the great outdoors and need to find a way to have access to clean drinking water.

How to Filter Water in the Wild: The Recommended Steps

Step 1: Look for Signs of Water

There are plenty of unique ways that you can use your surroundings in order to find a reasonable water source without having to rely on extracting a few drops here and there off of vegetation.

If you’re unable to hear a running stream or rolling river anywhere near you, consider these tips for finding signs of water.

In most cases, you’ll want to pay close attention to the type of plants that are around you as they can be a clear indicator as to whether there might be a river or stream in your general vicinity.

Reeds, cordgrass, willow trees, cattails, and sycamore trees are all types of vegetation that grow very close to sources of water.

Animals are another great indicator of whether there is water nearby and although it might seem intimidating at first, you can guarantee that wildlife will know where the nearest water source is.

If possible, watch where birds are flying first thing in the morning and just before sunset. Deer are also a great tool to use to find water, all you will have to do is follow their trails to the nearest river.

You can also pay close attention to any rocks that might have cracks or crevices since they may have pools of water that have collected over time. No matter where you find your water, be sure to proceed to step two before you even consider drinking it.

Step 2: Search for Potential Contaminants

It’s commonly known that you’re going to want to purify your water before you drink it, but even before you use your filtration device, you’re going to need to do a brief search for any potential contaminants.

Even though you might like to assume that you have the highest quality filter possible, there are trace elements that everyday filters can miss.

You’re going to want to keep your eyes out for dead animals that are in or near the water source, as they could be harboring illnesses that have now transcended into the stream and you certainly wouldn’t want to drink downstream from any carcasses.

In terms of dead or dying life, also pay close attention to whether the surrounding vegetation is flourishing or failing, as well as if there are signs of dead fish in the area. Other obvious contaminants would be empty containers that once held chemicals or oil slicks on the surface of the water.

Step 3: Use a Water Filter

If it appears that the water you’ve found is safe to drink, it’s time to take out your trusty water filter and use it as instructed.

Depending on the type of filter you have, the way you use it may differ; for example, water filter straws give you the ability to drink directly from a source, whereas water filter pumps enable you to either drink directly or pump purified water into a container.

It’s also important that you take the steps to fill any type of container that you might have on hand with as much water as possible, as you never know when you’ll find another water source.

Step 4: Making a DIY Water Filter

It’s impossible to predict whether you’ll have a manufactured water filter on-hand, as you might have left it at home, lost it on your trek, or perhaps it broke. Luckily, there are ways to know how to filter water in the wild without relying on pre-made equipment.

Catching rain: If you’re in an area that is prone to rain, as you set up camp, you’ll want to place open containers around your area to help catch any rainfall that might occur. You can also use plastic bags to attract more moisture into your containers.
Using vegetation: You can always extract water from the plants themselves by sucking on their leaves or cutting the stems open (as long as they are not poisonous or unidentifiable). Another neat trick for finding water on plants is to tie a plastic bag around their leaves and wait for vapor to collect on the inside of the bag. Dew is a phenomenal source of water that you can use to your advantage.
Solar stills: By digging a three-foot deep hole that is wide enough to fit a leafy branch and a container, you can construct a solar still. Once you have the container and your water source in place, put a plastic sheet on top of the hole and secure it with the use of stones. Put a lighter stone in the middle of the sheet so that it’s directly over the container and as water from the ground evaporates and sticks to the plastic, it will roll to the lowest part of the plastic (where the stone is placed in the middle), and collect into the container.

Step 5: Seek Medical Attention

Once you have reached safety, it’s always advisable that you seek medical attention right away, as you’ll want to make sure that if you have any contaminants in your system, they are removed quickly and professionally.

Not to mention, you’ll also want to make sure that your body won’t be affected by exposure or shock. Even if you think that you feel fine after being stuck in the wild for a long period of time, there could be internal issues that you aren’t aware of.

The Importance of Knowing How to Filter Water

At the end of the day, there’s nothing more important to your survival than water, shelter, and food, and in order to make sure that you don’t succumb to exhaustion, dehydration, and exposure, you’re going to need to find a source of water that can easily be purified with the help of the previously mentioned tips.

Even if you don’t have a manufactured water filter on hand, extracting clean water from surrounding sources can be easier than you think with a little bit of know-how. Just be sure to be really careful and know excatly what you are doing, don’t ever risk drinking contaminated water!

Can Walking Tone Your Body?

If you’re not particularly the archetypal sporty type, the idea of team sports or spending your weekend sweating at the gym probably won’t sound too appealing.

Getting active will not only control your weight, help to beat stress and keep you healthy, toning your body can also boost your self esteem and encourage you to keep up an active lifestyle.

Getting started is the hardest part, so let’s take a look at an activity that’s easy, fun and free, walking. It’s proven to have huge psychological and physical benefits but can walking tone your body? Let’s find out.

The benefits of walking

Walking, especially hiking in the great outdoors can work wonders for the mind and body. However, even if you’re not the outdoor type, a walk around the block, a walk to the shops instead of taking the car, walking the dog, it can all add up.

Because we naturally walk, it’s easy to rule it out as a sport, however, if you plan to walk to lose weight, it can be extremely effective, with a little planning and by staying on top of your goals. Best of all, it’s free and requires no specialized skills to get started.

Walking regularly can help you to get active, serving as a springboard to other activities, or other types of walking, more on that later. Walking can help to control your weight, build up and strengthen your muscles and boost your morale.

Of course, if you are strictly looking only to define your muscles then you’d be better off doing certain specific exercises. However, walking can still help you to stay on top of your weight, meaning any muscle definition you have will be revealed.

For the rest of us, walking is a great start, a gentle learning curve that can be gradually built up and complemented if desired by other activities.

Getting started

If you’re in reasonable shape you might want to skip this step, if you need to start small, read on. To burn off calories, get in shape and start to tone up your legs, hips and buttocks, you’re going to have to take walking seriously and combine it with any necessary dietary changes, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to outwalk a bad diet.

However, getting out and about more often and slowly building up your stamina will give you the opportunity to make a real go of it.

Find a pleasant local walk or pick a destination and enjoy your time outdoors. Slowly increase your distances and when you feel ready try picking up the pace.

This isn’t going to happen overnight but walking regularly will have huge benefits and you will see and feel the difference.

It’s important to incorporate walking into your daily life, not just scenic strolls, but making walking part of your lifestyle, that way you end up being active regardless of what day it is or how you feel.

Step further

If you’re in reasonable shape or you’ve already started to walk regularly, you’ll probably want to increase the intensity of your activity. Short hikes over varied terrain are an excellent way to progress.

Not only will you get to see more of the great outdoors and reconnect with nature, a varied terrain will increase your balance, keep you interested longer and burn more calories.

Hills are an excellent way to test yourself and increase the number of calories you burn off, while working out your muscles.

You Usually Don’t Have to go Far …

Look up local hiking trails and test yourself, while remembering to stay active at home on a daily basis, walking as much as possible. As you begin to build up your stamina, you could give backpacking a try.

If you aren’t ready to try out a trip into the wilderness or if you prefer short day hikes within easy reach of civilization, you could always try weighing down a backpack with water bottles.

You’ll be surprised how much more of a workout you get even with a small weighted backpack. Carrying a backpack weighing 15 lbs could increase your calorie burn off by 15 % and improve your balance.

Try walking with trekking poles for a great upper body and increased cardiovascular workout, there’s plenty of scientific research into the benefits of Nordic walking.

If that’s not for you, you could also try longer hikes over more challenging terrain at a fast pace. Fastpacking, as it’s commonly known, is a sort of speed hiking.

It’s a great, intense workout consisting of trail running, hiking over difficult terrain and camping, travelling long distances rapidly carrying ultra-light gear, with the aim of being completely self-sufficient.

If you prefer to keep things local and simple, you could find that briskly walking as part of your daily lifestyle, with a few toning exercises thrown in on the go, could help you to lose weight and in doing so reveal a more toned, healthier you.

Conclusion

Walking is an excellent way for most people to get active, lose weight and boost self-esteem. While walking alone is not going to have a huge toning effect, getting out and active will undoubtedly build up muscles and increase weight loss which will in turn reveal the muscles that were concealed behind extra body fat.

To make walking work for you, you’ll need to make it a part of your everyday routine and whenever possible, take the opportunity to increase the pace, difficulty or terrain, to ensure you’re actually getting a thorough work out too.

There are many walking activities and groups that can help you to get started or you can make your journey truly your own.

So, can walking tone your body? Yes, although it might be less effective than exercises developed to target certain muscles, but any exercise is better than none, and walking with its psychological and physical benefits combined with the sense of wellbeing that comes from reconnecting with nature, is definitely an excellent way to get started.

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