Our guide to being prepared for a summer hike

The sun is shining, everyone is feeling a lot happier and it’s the perfect time to be outside on a hike. Hiking in the summer months is when the numbers rise, and you will see a lot more people out and about on trials – and why wouldn’t you be, it’s the perfect weather conditions.

When hiking in the sun, whether on a local adventure or a hiking holiday, it’s important you take the necessary precautions to make sure you are safe and that the trip you are on is enjoyable. Getting heat stroke, for example, isn’t pleasant and is very avoidable as long as you are hydrated, have sun protection on and monitor how long you have been in the sun for.

Below is our guide to being prepared for a summer hike

Stay hydrated

In life, staying hydrated is very important and it is recommended you drink around two to three litres of water a day. When hiking, you should be constantly topping up your water levels to avoid dehydration. The more you move and the more active you are, the more you will sweat and lower your water levels in your body. Being fully hydrated also benefits you in other ways, it increases your energy levels, helps reduce tiredness and helps with your concentration. Our recommendation would be to bring a water backpack with you or to bring a two-litre water bottle as this way you will have enough water to last your journey.

Dress the part

As with any winter or summer sport, it’s important to dress the part in order to perform your best and this is certainly the case for hiking, whether it’s summer or winter. In the summer, you want to be wearing durable, lightweight shoes as well as a lightweight sports top. You can purchase specialist hiking shorts as well as hiking socks as these will reduce the chances of the shoes rubbing on your feet. If you need to buy new shoes for your hike, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to wear them in, as you don’t want to get blisters on your hiking trip. Depending on your budget, you can often get some really good deals on second-hand sites like Facebook marketplace for hiking gear, helping you save money.

Pack the essentials

Put a packing list of essentials together for your summer hike and make sure you have everything ticked off before leaving. Items that should be on your list include sun cream, energy-boosting snacks, a compass, a torch, a mini-first aid kit (which is very important, although we hope you don’t need to use it) and a battery pack to recharge your phone with, should it run out of power. If you need help with what to bring, there are many in-depth guides online that you can use to help you put one together.

Summer hiking is a lot of fun and as long as you come prepared you shouldn’t be worried about anything bad happening. As the saying goes, fail to prepare, prepare to fail. What tips would you recommend to someone who is going on a summer hike? Which of the above tips do you think is most useful? Is there anything missing that you think we should include? Let us know in the comment box below. We would love to hear from you.