Thinking of trying out hiking this summer season? Great choice! Not only is hiking a great way to better your physical fitness, it's also good for your mental health because you get lots of vitamin D (the happy vitamin),it’s a great way to get some pics of some amazing views, and you can use hiking as a way to spend time with family and friends. Hiking can definitely be intimidating for beginners because there’s lots to know in terms of keeping yourself safe and healthy and there’s lots of different gear that can be associated with hiking. Luckily for you, Ponyback has created a guide for beginners looking to get into the world of hiking and we hope it helps!
Choose your gear
Obviously there’s no dress code when it comes to hiking. It’s most important that you feel comfortable in what you’re wearing so that you can endure the long road ahead. However there are a few clothing items that you’ll need to bring with you. Firstly is a brimmed hat. This is really important for keeping your head dry, and also protected from the sun. Traditional sunscreen will not keep your face and scalp protected enough from the sun during your hike, because it will be sweated off fairly quickly. Ponyback’s Adventure fit is the best hat for hikers for many reasons. It's made with a durable recycled polyester material that can withstand exposure to UV rays and lots of outdoor time. This means that your Ponyback’s color will never fade. Recycled polyester is also a great material for protecting your skin from the sun since it can act as a UV barrier, and it's great for the outdoors due to its moisture-wicking abilities. This means that when you’re sweating in the Adventure Fit Ponyback, your sweat evaporates faster and produces a cooling effect that’s perfect for hot hiking days. When preparing for a hike, make sure you’re thinking of all the ways you can protect yourself from the sun so it doesn’t hold you back in the long run. Another important thing to bring with you on a hike is a pair of comfortable running/hiking shoes. Your shoes don’t need to be anything too fancy, but they should give you lots of support and protection from surfaces like sharp rock. Your shoes should also have good traction on wet and dry conditions to assure you aren’t going to be slipping and sliding everywhere. Lastly, if you know it’s going to rain or be chilly, make sure you bring some sort of jacket. A good rule of thumb is to find a jacket that is packable, and bring it with you at all times. You never know what the weather is going to do, so it’s a good idea to always come prepared!
Find a hiking partner
Hiking with a partner or in a group comes with a lot of benefits. It’s likely to keep you more motivated, it can make the experience more enjoyable, and overall it's a lot safer. When hiking, it's especially easy to get lost. So, if you haven’t yet mastered the route you’re planning to take, it's probably in your best interest to bring a friend along, or even create a larger hiking group. This way you can help each other to stay on the right track. Remember, it’s often difficult to find cell service when hiking so don’t rely on your cellphone to help you find your way home! Another big benefit of bringing a friend along on your trip is the photo opportunities! Hikes are always a great way to get a cute and outdoorsy photo-op. Now you have someone to take the pictures for you, don’t forget to wear your Ponyback hat for hikers to spice up the pic even more!
Choose your route
When it comes to choosing your hiking trail, make sure to do your research ahead of time. Find some nearby trails online and pay attention to the trails stats such as distance, elevation, and difficulty level. Consider what kind of hike you’re looking for and how much time you have on your hands to complete the hike. The trail you choose should match your fitness level but also slightly challenge you. Another thing to consider when deciding which trail is best for you is the climate and terrain. This is important because some terrains in certain climates can become extremely slippery and dangerous. If you’re hiking with a friend, you should also consider what they’re looking to get out of their hike and their fitness level. A great way to find more information about trails online is by reading the reviews. This will hopefully give you a more in depth view of what the trail is really like. When you pick your perfect trail make sure to download/print any maps that are available to avoid getting lost.
Trail etiquette
When you’re first getting into the world of hiking, it’s important to learn some basic trail etiquette. So here are a few basic etiquette tips to follow in order to keep everyone and the environment safe:
1. Know who has the right of way
A commonly asked question when beginning hiking is do uphill or downhill hikers have the right of way? The answer is that downhill hikers should always give the right of way to uphill hikers. This is because the people hiking uphill have a much more narrow field of vision compared to the downhill hiker. They are also much more likely to be out of breath so they need the momentum they already have to keep going. It's simply common courtesy to give uphill hikers the right of way.
2. Leave no trace
Leave no trace means to not leave anything behind that could have an impact on the trail/environment. So, don’t litter when you’re on the trail, and also don’t leave anything that you think might be fine such as food scraps because they are foreign to that environment. This rule also pertains to the rule of not feeding wildlife. It’s important to not feed the wildlife while on the trails because it harms the ecosystem, and wild animals cannot eat human foods. It’s also important that wild animals aren’t relying on hikers for their daily meals.
3. Music
It’s super important when you’re on a hike that you don’t play music out loud. It can be very distracting and disturbing to your fellow hikers. Instead, use earbuds or headphones.
4. Stay on the trail
The trails are where they are for a reason, so it’s important to make sure you’re only walking on the trail that was created. If you go off the trail it could potentially harm the environment and wildlife.
Once again, hiking is a really good activity to get into during the warmer months. It keeps you active and you get to experience some truly breathtaking views. The Ponyback baseball cap is the best women's hat for hiking because you can really express yourself through your hairstyle while hiking and the Ponyback design allows you to wear any updo hairstyle comfortably while also protecting yourself from the sun. It truly gives you the best of both worlds. We hope that you test out hiking this summer and try out a Ponyback hat for hiking!
