Hard Core Hiking: Some Tips To Make It Easier

By Kamryn Mattson


For those who love to hike, you might be thinking about taking your day treks a bit further and enjoy some overnight and multi-day hikes. This is a great way to enjoy some spectacular scenery that is only accessible by foot. It's definitely a challenge to backpack for many days, but here are some tips that can make it easier.

Preparation for these long, multi-day adventures is highly important. You can't simply hop from simple weekly hikes and then expect to be ready to spend a week or more traversing the Pacific Coast Trail or the Grand Canyon. It takes time to build up the stamina that you will need for these big hiking trips, so be sure to begin training months before you go. If your hike will be taking place at a high elevation, it is wise to train at higher elevations prior to the big trip. Elevation can be quite difficult, so in addition to training at higher elevations, work on improving your cardiovascular health.

Proper footwear is imperative and this probably seems obvious, but even the tiniest blister or sore spot can transform a wonderful experience into days of horrible pain. Your boots need to fit extremely well, and you need to train in them in the weeks prior to your big hike to ensure that they are very comfortable and supportive. Great hiking socks and items such as moleskin or Leukotape are great items that will help you remain comfortable.

When you go shopping for your backpack, avoid the impulse to just buy it online. You need to be fitted for this item and ensure that it is exactly the right size. After all, you will be wearing for many hours at a time, so it not only has to hold all of your items, it needs to be comfortable to wear. So take the time to get fitted and discuss your needs with a knowledgeable salesperson.

While exercise is good for your body, sometimes you do suffer from exercise-related pains and strains. When you are hiking, the limits of your pack weight and the remote location in which you are hiking make it difficult to pack braces or tapes or medicines to help you deal with pain. In addition, you have to keep going; you cannot simply stay on the trail, so the RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) cure isn't exactly realistic. However, you can pack a few physiological hybrid shapes to help you manage if muscle pain begins to be a problem.

A physiological hybrid shape is a medicine-free pain relief product that you place directly on the skin, covering the sore muscle group. The shape's design protects a sore area and reaches out to nearby muscle groups to borrow strength. They are extremely lightweight and easy to apply and can stay in place for many days, providing support and pain relief. There are physiological hybrid shapes for many parts of the body, providing knee pain relief, back pain relief, shoulder pain relief and more. While you might not have room in your pack for a brace or a roll of tape, these shapes are easy to bring along and easy to apply, as well, making them perfect for the long-distance hiker or backpacker.




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