Hiking has been a very common hobby for men and women all over the world for many years now. So if you are thinking of trying out hiking or just starting with the hobby, here are some reasons why it may be the best thing you could do!

Hiking is for anyone! Hiking gives you a serotonin release, which means that hiking is extremely beneficial for looking after your mental health. This is the main reason for such a large growth in the hiking community in the past two years, especially after the lockdown blues. So whether you prefer a steep hill or a flat ground, this article will make sure you are ready to take on your hike!

As most people already know, you can shape your body while hiking by burning calories. However, what most people don't always understand is the difference between hiking and walking. The main differentiation between hiking and walking is that hiking is walking up an incline and walking is mainly walking on a flat area of land. If you will be hiking to burn calories you should know that the steeper the slope, the more calories you will burn.

If you enjoy the beautiful views of nature, then hiking will definitely be for you. You can always see them on your phone and take pictures but nothing will ever beat seeing an amazing view in person. You will also feel more in tune with nature just by being away from the bustling towns and cities. It's so much nicer to hear birds tweeting and singing throughout the day in comparison to listening to car exhausts and builders at work in the city. If you're lucky you may even spot some rarer wildlife!

Throughout your hike you will grow closer with yourself and discover what kind of hikes you enjoy or what you think you would prefer to do next time, just remember that no hike is the same! Each route has something unique to it! Whether it is a forest with thousands of trees or a hill overlooking a city, there will always be something to remember from every hike. Even when you repeat a route it's highly likely that you will find something new that you hadn't noticed the first time around doing the hike!

You will also meet and gain lots of new friends from hiking. Hiking gives you a chance to improve your relationship with yourself and can also mean meeting new people and improving your relationship with new and existing friends. It is great to go hiking with friends because you can share your favourite routes with each other and try new routes together.

Hiking is also a relatively low-cost hobby. When you first start out hiking, this is when the hobby will seem the most expensive because you will need to purchase appropriate clothing, a rucksack and other accessories. However, the majority of hiking equipment is very durable and long-lasting. This means the only expense when you go hiking will be using fuel to get to your location.

You don't have to plan in advance to go hiking. When you get a bit of free time you can just pick up your rucksack, hiking boots and go hiking!

Here is a list of some essentials you should make sure you have for when you go hiking:

• Walking Boots
• Breathable Walking Socks
• Hats & Gloves
• A Rucksack
• A First Aid kit
• A Mobile Phone
• A map & Compass (in case your phone runs out of charge or you have no service)
• A torch
• Sun cream
• Sunglasses
• Spare Laces
• A bottle of water
• High Energy Snacks
• Emergency Contact Details

And the most important thing of all... Have fun!