Hiking Essentials and types of hiking

Hiking can be a very enjoyable and relaxing activity, but you need to be properly outfitted and prepared to insure the best possible outcome. One of the most obvious pieces of gear that any hiker will need is a pair of athletic shoes either sneakers or hiking boots depending on the rigor and type of hike. I personally have only hiked in sneakers even on more strenuous trails while most of the other hikers were wearing bulky hiking boots. If you're in moderately decent shape and don't need any ankle support I'd recommend just wearing sneakers for most of your hikes. For hikes that'll last for more than a day, usually longer than 20 miles, wearing hiking boots is advised due to their greater durability and protective qualities. For me personally the longest hike I've ever been on took eight hours so I've never had to wear hiking boots. Other pieces of essential gear are the clothes you choose to wear. For any hike that you choose to pursue you want to make sure your wearing the proper clothes. Any kind of clothing that is moisture wicking is usually the best choice since hiking is a physical activity. For summer hiking I tend to wear just a polyester t-shirt and a pair of polyester shorts. If your hiking in cooler weather or climbing a lot of elevation I recommend wearing a long sleeve polyester shirt and convertible nylon pants with zip off bottoms. Some other pieces of gear that people like to use but aren't completely necessary are hiking poles and camelbaks. I personally have never used either, but whenever you go on a hike you'll see at least a couple people using them. For older adults who need a little assistance with their balance and keeping upright hiking poles are a nice insurance. For water carrying some people like to use a camelbak which is a large plastic bag that you fill up with water and carry on your back. I personally prefer just using a plain old nalgene to carry my water. For the different types of hiking the one that a majority of people partake in is day hikes. For the casual hiker day hikes of a couple hours in length are ideal. Most people just want to take a day off from work and enjoy nature for a couple of hours which day hikes are perfectly catered to. The great thing about day hikes, and any type of hike in general, is that they can range from really easy to really difficult depending on the terrain and topography. Over the course of my life I've been lucky enough to hike local, easy trails at Audubon sanctuaries as well as challenging trails up Mt. Katahdin, all while enjoying the stunning natural beauty that comes along with each hike. For more adventurous and daring hikers backpack hiking is another option. Backpack hiking is much more involved and intensive as you end up hiking for many consecutive days and need to carry all your supplies, usually over 50 pounds of gear and equipment, on your back. Backpack hiking can be more rewarding though than day hikes as you get to experience the full extent of the nature surrounding you. I hope to someday go backpacking, maybe in college.