How to Start Hiking When You Have No Idea What You’re Doing

Key Points

You do not need to be fit, outdoorsy, or spiritually aligned with moss to start hiking.
Start small. Like… embarrassingly small.
Comfort beats performance. Always.
Basic prep prevents dramatic trail meltdowns.
You will feel awkward at first. That’s normal.

So. Let Me Confess Something.

The first time I went hiking, I wore Converse.

Converse.

On a gravel incline.

I brought one tiny water bottle, no snacks, and the confidence of someone who had watched exactly three survival videos and thought, “Yeah, I get it.”

I did not get it.

About twenty minutes in, I was sweating, thirsty, and dramatically questioning my life choices like I was in the season finale of a reality show called Who Let Them Leave the House?

But here’s the thing.

I kept going.

And that’s how hiking starts.

Step 1: Lower the Bar to the Ground

You do not need:

Fancy boots
A $300 backpack
A hydration system that looks like medical equipment
The thighs of a Marvel superhero

You need shoes that don’t betray you. That’s it.

Seriously. Start with a local trail. A park loop. A path near your house. Something you could escape from in under 10 minutes if things feel weird.

Oh, that reminds me…

If you’re nervous about “getting lost,” pick a well-marked trail. Not something labeled “advanced ridge scramble.” If it sounds like it could be a CrossFit class, skip it.

Step 2: Pack Like a Slightly Paranoid Adult

Not apocalypse-level prep. Just… sensible.

Here’s a simple beginner list:

Water
Snack
Phone with battery
Light layer
Basic common sense

That’s it. You’re not summiting Everest.

Although, side note, if you rip your jacket on a branch because you got overconfident and tried to shortcut through brush, having something like AzenGear Down Jacket Repair Patches in your pack is weirdly empowering. They’re tiny, pre-cut, and save you from walking around looking like a feather explosion victim. Ask me how I know.

Anyway.

Keep it simple.

Step 3: Accept That You’ll Feel Dumb for 15 Minutes

There is a very specific beginner phase where you feel like everyone else on the trail knows something you don’t.

They’re gliding past you with trekking poles and mysterious calm expressions.

Meanwhile, you’re like:
“Is this incline… legal?”

Here’s the secret: most of them felt exactly like you at some point.

Even my friend Daniel, who now owns three compasses for no reason, once brought a full-size bath towel on a day hike. A bath towel. Why? “In case.”

In case of what, Daniel?

We don’t know.

Step 4: Go Slow. Slower. Slower Than That.

You don’t win hiking.

You experience it.

If you need to stop every 7 minutes to “admire the view” but really you’re catching your breath, that’s called strategy.

And listen, if someone passes you? Let them.

You are not in a race unless you personally signed up for one. And if you did, why? Who hurt you?

Wait, where was I going with this?

Right. Pace.

Your pace is correct. Even if it feels like a shuffle.

Step 5: Notice One Thing

Don’t try to be poetic. Just notice one thing:

The sound of gravel under your shoes
A weird shaped tree
How the air feels different from your living room

You don’t have to become a forest philosopher overnight. Just notice something.

That’s how it starts.

Step 6: Don’t Overcomplicate Gear

The internet will try to convince you that you need layers engineered by space agencies.

You don’t.

Start basic. Upgrade later if you love it.

And please, for the love of sanity, don’t fall into the “I need to look like a hiking influencer before I deserve to hike” trap.

You deserve to hike in mismatched socks.

Yes, I’m talking to you.

Beginner Mistakes That Are Totally Normal

Wearing cotton and realizing why people complain about it
Overpacking “just in case” items
Underpacking snacks
Checking the map every 4 minutes
Thinking a 3-mile trail is basically a marathon

It’s fine. It’s all fine.

A Quick Pep Talk

You do not need:

Experience
Expensive gear
Outdoor credentials
A tragic backstory involving mountain goats

You need curiosity.

And maybe decent socks.

That’s it.

Final Thoughts From Someone Who Still Gets Confused by Trail Maps

Starting hiking when you have no idea what you’re doing is actually the best way to start.

You learn by doing. By walking. By messing up slightly and adjusting.

You’ll get better at:

Reading signs
Packing smarter
Judging distances
Not panicking at every rustling bush

Or you won’t. And you’ll still enjoy it.

Hiking isn’t about mastery. It’s about movement. About stepping outside your normal bubble and realizing you’re capable of more than you thought.

Even if that “more” is just 1.5 miles and a granola bar on a rock.

So here’s my question for you:

What’s actually stopping you?

Because honestly, the trail doesn’t require perfection. It just requires you to show up.

And if you liked this rambling mess, check out my other stuff? No pressure though.

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