Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments. For a lot of people, hiking is a great outdoor pastime. It is a perfect way to keep fit and also enjoy the scenery. But most importantly, you must be prepared for the hike. Even if you are going for a short hike in your local woods or range for a few hours there are some essentials that you must have to enjoy the hike. There is nothing worse than being not prepared and have something ruin your hike. Just like getting a blister on your foot. Every hiker who got one will tell you how it will ruin the hike. When you go hiking, pay particular attention to three things: keeping hydrated, having dry clothes, taking care of your feet. If you are planning on covering any significant distances, I can't stress enough how important it is that you make sure you have the proper footwear, and that you've properly broken it in before your trip.

You will need, first and formost, a good hiking boot or a hiking shoes. The other essentials are, a map, a compass, water and ways to purify it, extra food, rain gear and extra clothing, fire starter or matches, first aid kit, army knife or a multi purpose tool, flash light and sunscreen and sun glasses. You will also need items such as a back pack, a hand held GPS, hiking poles or hiking sticks as some people like to call it, some food and maybe a wide brim hat to cover your head from the sun. If you decide to include camping with your hike, than it will always be good to take a tent, a sleeping bag or a sleeping pad and a camping stove as basic essentials. Of course there are numerous other things that one could take as per their personal requirements and the location of the hike.

It is always highly recommended to seek knowledge about the place you want to go hiking. You will no doubt encounter great challenges. Information is readily available on the internet and there are books that you can buy or find in your local library. Even better is go with someone who is experienced. Plan your hiking trip thoroughly before you leave home. Know your physical limits. Don't go on a hike that invovles going up and down steep terrains, if you are not physically capable, but the fitter you are the better. Keep up the fluid and snack intake. But most of all enjoy Going Hiking.