Explore nature's beauty on foot, from local trails to challenging peaks.
Reviewed May 18, 2026
Social
Pairs
Where
Outdoors
Depth
Quick-rewarding
Sessions
1–3 hr sessions
Physical
Moderate activity
Learning
Easy to start
Starter cost
~$785 to start
Outdoor conditions matter · Portable
Getting started
Choose and complete your first trail
Start with a waymarked trail of 5–10 km with less than 300 m of ascent. UK: National Trails and waymarked walks on OS Maps. US: AllTrails. Choosing a route with a clear endpoint avoids navigation anxiety on the first outing.
Get footwear that fits correctly
Trail shoes (low cut, flexible) for easy paths in dry conditions. Walking boots (mid or high cut) for rough terrain, wet conditions, and carrying a pack. Try on with the socks you'll wear; feet swell on long walks.
Learn the ten essentials
Navigation (map, compass), sun protection, insulation (extra layers), illumination (headtorch), first aid, fire (lighter), repair tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter. These apply to every hike, not just extreme ones.
Long trails and leadership
Complete a long-distance trail of 100+ km
A trail that takes multiple days with wild camping or hut-to-hut staging. The experience of managing a continuous route — resupply, weather over multiple days, physical recovery — is qualitatively different from any day walk.
Lead a group on a planned route
Briefing the route, managing pace for the slowest member, making decisions about weather and turnaround, and conducting a basic debrief afterwards. Leadership on the hill is a distinct skill from personal competence.
Take a beginner Hiking course
A structured course is the fastest way past the awkward beginner stage. Browse highly-rated hiking classes for beginners.
Take the free quiz to rank the full catalog by your time, motivation, and setup — about five minutes.
From the blog
5 stages · 20 milestones
Tick off milestones as you go — from first session to confident practitioner. Progress saves to your account so you can pick up where you left off.
Choose and complete your first trail
Start with a waymarked trail of 5–10 km with less than 300 m of ascent. UK: National Trails and waymarked walks on OS Maps. US: AllTrails. Choosing a route with a clear endpoint avoids navigation anxiety on the first outing.
Get footwear that fits correctly
Trail shoes (low cut, flexible) for easy paths in dry conditions. Walking boots (mid or high cut) for rough terrain, wet conditions, and carrying a pack. Try on with the socks you'll wear; feet swell on long walks.
Find gearLearn the ten essentials
Navigation (map, compass), sun protection, insulation (extra layers), illumination (headtorch), first aid, fire (lighter), repair tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter. These apply to every hike, not just extreme ones.
Find gearJoin a hiking community
r/hiking and r/ultralight cover route planning, gear, and trail reports. Local walking clubs (Ramblers in the UK, AMC in the US) run group walks and are excellent for building confidence on new terrain.
Join r/hiking~$785
Core gear to get going. Estimates from curated picks; actual spend varies.
+~$130
Nice-to-have upgrades once you know you are sticking with it.
Links open Amazon with your affiliate tag. Prices are ballpark catalog values.
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