Author: Daniel Globe

Hiking sticks and trekking poles can make a trip safer and more comfortable, but airport rules depend on the pole’s tip, the country where you are screened, and your airline’s baggage limits. Folding a pole makes it easier to pack, but it does not automatically make the pole acceptable in a carry-on bag. Quick Answer Yes, but the tip matters. TSA allows blunt-tipped hiking poles in carry-on and checked bags. Sharp-tipped poles must go in checked baggage. Your airline can still reject an oversized pole, and the TSA officer has final authority at the checkpoint, so checking sharp or uncertain…

Building endurance for hiking means training your heart, lungs, legs, core, balance, and ability to stay comfortable on your feet for hours at a time. A long hike can be much harder than an ordinary walk because elevation gain, steep descents, uneven ground, heat, altitude, and a loaded backpack all increase the work your body must do. The best preparation combines regular aerobic exercise, hiking-specific strength work, hills, longer practice hikes, good recovery, and gradual exposure to the conditions you expect on your goal trail. Quick Answer Build hiking endurance by combining regular moderate aerobic work with hill-specific walking, two…

Hiking can burn a meaningful number of calories while building endurance and getting you outdoors, but there is no single “calories per hour” number that applies to every hike. Your body weight, pace, trail grade, terrain, pack weight, and total effort all affect how much energy you use. Quick Answer For a 155-pound adult, hiking may burn about 270 calories per hour at a slow pace, about 370 on rolling terrain, around 420 cross-country, and roughly 490–620 on sustained hills depending on grade. Loaded backpacking can be higher. These are estimates; actual calorie burn varies from person to person. Key…

HOKA, historically known as HOKA ONE ONE, was founded in France in 2009 by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard. The brand first became known for highly cushioned running and trail shoes, then expanded into hiking footwear. That running-shoe heritage still shapes how many HOKA hiking models feel: cushioned, relatively light underfoot, and designed to keep your stride moving smoothly. That does not mean every HOKA is the same. Current hiking and trail models use different midsoles, uppers, lug depths, waterproof membranes, and levels of protection. Choosing the right model matters more than simply choosing the HOKA name. Quick Answer Yes,…

You do not need to become an experienced athlete before you start hiking. If you feel out of shape, the safest approach is to choose a trail that fits what your body can handle today, move at your own pace, and increase the challenge gradually. A short, easy hike that leaves you wanting to go again is a much better first step than an exhausting climb that puts you off hiking altogether. Quick Answer You can start hiking even if you are out of shape. Begin with a short, well-marked trail with little elevation gain, walk at a pace that…

The most comfortable hiking boots are not simply the softest or most heavily cushioned pair on the shelf. Comfort comes from getting the right fit for your foot shape, then matching the boot’s support, traction, weight, waterproofing, and stiffness to the trails you actually hike. A boot that feels excellent on an easy day hike may feel completely wrong under a heavy pack on rocky terrain. Quick Answer The most comfortable hiking boots are the pair that match your foot shape and the hike you plan to do. Look for a thumb’s-width of toe room, a secure heel, no pressure…

Choosing where to stay for a Mt. Washington hike is less about finding the fanciest hotel and more about picking the right side of the mountain. Pinkham Notch is the most convenient base for the Tuckerman Ravine and Lion Head routes, while Bretton Woods and the western side work better for Ammonoosuc Ravine and Jewell Trail hikers. Around the mountain, you can choose from hiker lodges, campgrounds, historic resorts, inns, motels, vacation rentals, and hike-in AMC huts. Quick Answer For the easiest trail access, stay at Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham Notch for eastern Mt. Washington routes or in Bretton…

Training at sea level can make you much better prepared for a high altitude hike, even though it cannot fully acclimatize you to thin air. The best preparation combines cardiovascular conditioning, hill or stair workouts, leg and core strength, progressively longer hikes with your pack, good recovery, and a carefully planned ascent once you reach the mountains. The key is understanding that being fit helps you handle the workload, while gradual exposure to altitude helps your body adjust to lower oxygen pressure. Quick Answer To train for high altitude hiking at sea level, spend about 6–8 weeks building aerobic fitness,…

A hiking backpack should feel secure and balanced without pinching your shoulders, restricting your breathing, or moving around every time you take a step. Getting that fit right starts with choosing the correct torso size, then positioning the hip belt and adjusting the harness while the pack is loaded. A few minutes of fitting before a hike can make a noticeable difference in comfort and control on the trail. Quick Answer A hiking backpack should sit snugly against your back with the padded hip belt centered over your hip bones. The shoulder straps should wrap smoothly around your shoulders without…

New hiking boots should feel comfortable and secure before you ever try to break them in. Breaking in a good-fitting pair can soften stiff materials, reduce minor pressure points, and help the footwear move more naturally with your feet. It cannot fix boots that are fundamentally too short, too narrow, too wide, or the wrong shape. The safest way to speed up the process is gradual wear—not heat, soaking, freezing, or other aggressive shortcuts. Quick Answer To break in hiking boots faster, start with the correct fit, wear the same socks and insoles you will use on the trail, and…

Wearing a hiking backpack correctly can make a long trail feel much easier. The goal is not simply to tighten every strap. You need a pack that matches the trip, a load that stays close to your center of gravity, and a fit that transfers much of the weight to your hips while keeping the pack stable as you walk. Quick Answer To wear a backpack for hiking, place the hip belt over your hip bones, tighten it first, snug the shoulder straps, then adjust the load lifters and sternum strap. Pack dense gear close to your back, balance the…

Wearing a hiking pack correctly can make a long trail feel much easier on your shoulders, back, and hips. A good setup starts before you tighten a single strap: the backpack must match your torso length, hold the gear your trip requires, and be packed so the load stays close to your center of gravity. Once those basics are right, a few careful strap adjustments can create a stable, comfortable fit. Quick Answer To wear a hiking pack correctly, start with a pack sized to your torso. Center the hip belt over your hip bones and tighten it first, then…