Ten things to avoid when hiking
Manuel Andrack reports on his hiking no-gos
1. No-go: The wrong 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, the heel, and between the toes. How can you prevent blisters? By wearing comfortable shoes—I recommend (who would have thought it) BÄR shoes. Toe freedom prevents friction while walking.
BÄR hiking shoes:
2. No-go: A route that's too strenuous
Especially for beginners, the rule is: Less is more. Please don't start with a route longer than ten kilometers. Are you underchallenged by such a short route? No problem—you can extend the stage or take a second short circular route. 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, add one performance kilometer. A nine-kilometer circular route with 400 meters of elevation gain is equivalent to 13 performance kilometers.
3. No-go: Hiking boring trails
A wide, gravel-covered forest road. Straight as an arrow—you can already see on the horizon where you'll be the day after tomorrow. A dense spruce forest stands on either side like soldiers at attention. This is: Boooring! Premium trails (information at wanderinstitut.de and premiumwanderwelten.de) and quality trails (information at wanderbares-deutschland.de) were invented as an antidote to boring hikes.
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: Anything you take into the forest should not be left there. Not even in a trash can, which often creates more mess than it prevents.
5. No-go: Too little water
Especially on sunny and hot days, you should carry at least one liter of water with you. When hiking, you sweat, and dehydration is no fun. Water while hiking, wine or beer afterward. Unless you stop somewhere to eat or drink during the hike. Then wine or beer is also fine along the way.
Hiking equipment from BÄR:
6. No-Go: Hiking at the wrong time
In principle, hiking is great at any time. But going out on a popular trail on a sunny public holiday afternoon in May is only recommended 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 on the run. Don't let yourselves be rushed. Hiking is about enjoyment, relaxation, and recreation. You don't have to break any speed records. I recommend planning a half-hour break for every hour spent on the move.
8. No-Go: Not wearing suitable clothing
Freezing in winter. Getting soaked to your underwear in a rain shower. Sweating in clothes that are too warm in midsummer. None of that has to happen! Before your hike, take another quick look at the weather app to see what weather is expected, and choose your clothing accordingly. By the way, you'll 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 dislike stopping at an inn during or after a hike and swear exclusively by food from their backpacks. I consider that a mistake. You miss out on the regional specialties served in local inns. What's more, 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 dries only relatively slowly once it has become wet during a shower. And it doesn't take long to get blisters from walking in damp socks. That's why I recommend always taking spare socks on your hike.
