Get Started Hiking 101/Tips & Tricks For Beginners

If you're just starting the best pack is the one you own. Most folk I know already have a back pack somewhere. Just pull that one out of the closet. You don't need fancy gear to start day hiking

Just came into Utah from Texas. Been planning big trip for months. Decided to go on a solo hike up a mountain on day 3 and now I can barely move. Ran through a gallon of water 3/4 of the way through.... Barely made it down. 4200 foot elevation gain real quick from 5k foot elevation. Fell twice on the way down due to very loose gravel on 60 pluse degree decent in places. Definitely learned lessons. No amount of gear will make you a super hiker. After it was all done I have no regrets. Most beautiful views I've ever seen in my life.

very good information for beginners. but I have one point I disagree with. for not much more than the cost of the Nalgene, you can get a 40 ounce Kleen Canteen, I have several, and I have dropped them from more than 8 feet, and only had them dent, you can also put them in a fire to purify water, and they are much easier to clean if they get funky. I have been involved in hiking and longer term woodscraft for almost 50 years, and still teach the same things you bring up to people just wanting to get started. Another point you didn't mention is, if you are going to go hiking, even if you are experienced, it is always good to 1) tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return, and 2) put a note on your dashboard of which trail you took, and when you plan to return so if your vehicle is in a day use area after dark, the park Rangers will have an idea where you might be,

Nice on the wipe shot! That really had me thinking!

Agree with everything; from the trauma kit, to the Bic, to the Mora. Awesome round up. I’ve said it before (quite likely in your comment section!) and I’ll say it again: do not blow off getting high quality footwear. Might not need the space blanket, might not need the tourniquet, but you will — 100% guaranteed — need good footwear. Don’t try to cheap out with the $25 pair of “hiking boots” from Shanghai via Big 5. It’s not always true with everything in life, but I can tell you with boots, you get what you pay for. You don’t want to be ten miles from your car when you realize your boots, and your feet, aren’t going to make it. Then you might need that space blanket after all.

1:06 i was like NO WAY!!!..lol..

Good info. One thing I would recommend is that if you use a bladder system, have a spare bottle of water with you. It is difficult to monitor your water supply with a baldder and you can tent to over hydrate. A few times I've ran it dry long before the hike was over.

Great advice. I have purchased a few items based on your re commendations in last videos and have been very happy with them. As a personal preference, I would also include trekking poles. Mine have saved me from a few spills and twisted ankles.

i’ve been wanting to do some hikes with my sister and i just got some new boots from my grandpa that he used for a lot of outdoorsy activities so thank you so much for this!!

I go with a 31 liter jakari savoy ya medium bag tons of options Molle but not super military chest and waist bands good padding and super tough 1000 to 1500 denier though it is pricey at $220 to $240. I use a pair of top of the line salmon hiking boots and sometimes I bring my hidden woodsman haversack and a good medical dry bag and a wool blanket that sits nicely on the bottom of my pack and a tarp plus I carry like 3 to 5 options for fire and a compass. I do carry the T1 lightweight flashlight phone a pier bank and a titanium whistle and a mid weight knife and a multitool along with some paracord tweezers titanium toothpick along with a backup keychain flashlight for water I use a lightweight version of the canteen used in the 1st and 2nd world wars and a water purifier in case I need more water. I’m also bald so a hat is a must for me.

The hands-free light is a great recommendation. I use it a lot during camping trips; it is so valuable.

Excellent video. Good list. May I suggest a SmartWater bottle and a Sawyer Mini. The total of the two is about $20 and I can filter with that from a spring, stream or puddle. I also take a small trowel and toilet paper. Never know...

Nice elbow! 💪 Good thing you didn’t show the “real” thing there’s no emoticon for that one. Dude, you got freckles! Freckles are the coolest skin color effect.

Thanks for your insight! One can never stop learning about our sport.

very good advice. Just some suggestions, 1) get rid of the swat-t, get a CAT, it's extremely hard to put on a swat-t one handed. 2) add a SAM splint (I actually had to use one ), 3) for 35 bucks off amazon get a Baofeng UV-5R HAM radio and an ABREE antenna (YOU don't need a license to use it in an emergency and can be programed for NOAA) hope that helps.

I don't know if anyone has suggested it, but a CAT tourniquet is better than the SWAT-T, as it doesn't stretch like a rubber band can.

Great info as always. But living near where you live I cringe with the “mountains are too the west” thing. They are only to the west if you aren’t in them. Keep up the awesome work!

LOL!! I really was grossed out until i saw it was your arm good one !

a glock 17 for the rakes

Be careful carrying a lighter loose in your pack. I've had more than one that had released all of the gas, I carry them in small rigid containers. Also inventory and inspect your gear regularly.