Ten things to avoid when hiking
Manuel Andrack reports on his hiking no-gos
1. No-Go: Inappropriate footwear
From my own experience, I have to say that blisters on your feet are a real nuisance. What causes blisters? Friction in the wrong place. Where do blisters occur? On the ball of the foot, on the heel, and between the toes. How can you prevent blisters? By wearing comfortable shoes—I recommend BÄR shoes (who would have thought it?). Toe freedom prevents friction while walking.
Hiking shoes from BÄR:
2. No-Go: Route too strenuous
The following applies especially to beginners: Less is more. Please don't start by hiking a route longer than ten kilometers. Feeling underchallenged on such a short route? No problem—then you can extend the stage or take a second short loop. That's better than getting into trouble with a route that's too long. And please pay attention to the elevation gain. For every 100 meters of elevation gain, you have to add one performance kilometer. A nine-kilometer loop with 400 meters of elevation gain is equivalent to 13 performance kilometers.
3. No-Go: Hiking boring trails
A wide, gravel-covered forest road. Dead straight, with the horizon already showing where you'll be the day after tomorrow. A dense spruce forest stands to the left and right like rows of soldiers at attention. This is: Boooooring! Premium trails (information at wanderinstitut.de and premiumwanderwelten.de) and quality trails (information at wanderbares-deutschland.de) were invented as an antidote to boring hiking.
4. No-Go: Leaving trash in the forest
Many novice hikers wonder why there are no trash cans along the trails, especially on premium trails. They aren't missing; that's the principle: Whatever you take into the forest, you shouldn't leave in the forest. Not even in a trash can, which often creates more, rather than less, litter.
5. No-Go: Too little water
Especially on sunny and hot days, you should carry at least a liter of water with you. When hiking, you sweat, and dehydration is no fun. Water while hiking, wine or beer after the hike. Unless you stop somewhere along the way. Then wine or beer is fine in between, too.
Hiking gear from BÄR:
6. No-Go: Hiking at the Wrong Time
In principle, hiking is great at any time. But walking on a popular trail in the afternoon of a sunny public holiday in May is only advisable to a limited extent—it’s as crowded as a Japanese subway. That’s why I recommend hiking during off-peak hours on Sundays and public holidays, early in the morning or late in the evening. Or, if possible, setting off directly on a weekday.
7. No-Go: Hiking Too Fast
You’re not running for your life. Don’t let yourselves be rushed. Hiking is about enjoyment, relaxation, and recreation. You don’t have to break any time records. I recommend planning half an hour of rest for every hour spent moving.
8. No-Go: Wearing Inappropriate Clothing
Freezing in winter. Getting soaked to the skin in a rain shower. Sweating in clothes that are too warm in midsummer. There’s no need for that! Before your hike, take another quick look at the weather app to see what weather to expect, and choose your clothing accordingly. By the way, you can also find many useful hiking accessories—not just shoes—in the BÄR Shop.
9. No-Go: Not Stopping at an Inn
There are still hikers who detest stopping at an inn during or after a hike and swear exclusively by provisions from their backpacks. I consider that a mistake. You’re missing out on the regional specialties served in local inns. Besides, as a hiker who doesn’t have to pay anything to use the trails, you should support the local economy in the truest sense of the word.
10. No-Go: Forgetting Spare Socks
Socks are a particular weak point when it comes to moisture. Even the best hiking sock—if it gets wet during a shower—dries only relatively slowly. And it doesn’t take long to develop blisters from hiking in damp socks. That’s why I recommend always taking spare socks with you on a hike.
