Love this? Share it!

Let’s be honest: we’re not all the best hikers, right? (Unless you’re a triathlon competitor or regular mountain climber… and if that’s the case, what are you doing here?) But what if you’re sh*ttier than most due to some easy to overcome personal problems? I’m laying out all the ridiculous reasons you suck at hiking so you can get to climbing more mountains ASAP.

5 Ridiculous Reasons You're a Sh*tty Hiker (and How to Be Better!) | The Wanderful Me

Psst. This post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure.

Hello, I’m Sophie (aka The Wanderful Me) and I’m a sh*tty hiker.

Heck, I’m not afraid to admit it.

As someone who grew up in the pancake flat lands of the Midwest USA, hiking wasn’t something I did until I ventured to Southeast Asia and traveled to Wales to meet up with my boyfriend, Dan, back in 2017.

(Yes, that’s right. I pretty much avoided all things hiking until I was the ripe age of 22.)

But, with that said, in the past couple years I’ve gotten a helluva lot better (mostly thanks to Dan pushing me and getting me out into the fresh air).

Why?

Because I manned up (womened up?) and faced all my personal problems that were holding me back from improving. And now I’ve hiked all over the UK, USA, Asia, and more!

So, are you ready to face these ridiculous reasons you’re a sh*tty hiker so you can get to climbing more mountains? (Psst, it’s easier than you think!)

Let’s do dis.

5 RIDICULOUS REASONS YOU’RE A SH*TTY HIKER

1. You don’t wear the right shoes.

Or heck, even good hiking gear at all.

Let me share a little secret with you… a major key to becoming a better hiker is wearing the right shoes!

In fact, I’d go as far to say you could wear the most uncomfortable clothing but if you opt for awesome hiking shoes, you’d probably do pretty good.

As someone who’s personally chosen incredibly awful hiking shoes over the past couple years (which, thankfully, I’ve finally upgraded), I’ve learned firsthand your feet need to be comfy for you to actually enjoy and successfully hike anything.

If you’re in dire need of a hiking shoes upgrade, check out this page on Amazon (make sure to read the reviews!).

OR, if you’re a vegan like me and are looking to sport some cruelty-free shoes, definitely give this post on 11 awesome vegan hiking boots to keep your lil’ feet supported and comfy!

Sophie's legs and shoes in the foreground with the mountains of Wales in the background. — Sh*tty shoes and stellar views. (Worth the blisters.)

Psst, the photo above was taking in Wales! The incredible mountain views are one of the many reasons to visit…

2. You don’t hydrate enough.

…or you never bring enough water.

Similar to any other sort of activity, you need to stay hydrated!

Hiking can be pretty strenuous and water is essential for staying sharp… in fact, if you don’t get enough you could potentially suffer from:

Inflammation
Cramps
Lethargy
And an incredibly overwhelming thirst sensation

Don’t do that to yourself! Make sure you frequently hydrate and for goodness sakes, bring enough water.

Whenever I venture out on a hike, I always carry my GRAYL filtering water bottle with me so I have 24/7 access to clean water (given there’s a water source).

Want one for yourself? (They are AWESOME.) Click here to check it out.

I filled up on clean water from this itty bitty waterfall using my GRAYL 😏🤘🏼

3. You think taking breaks is for wimps.

Don’t be THAT guy.

Don’t push yourself past your limits and end up suffering from a torn muscle, extreme exhaustion, or even a serious injury because you weren’t smart enough to know when to take a breather.

Unless you’re a pro or doing some sort of hiking competition, chill out and stop to smell the roses (or, in many hiking situations, stop to enjoy the view and your surroundings).

Took a break to admire the views and snap a quick pic!

4. You never do your research.

**Slowly hanging my head as I’m completely guilty of this one**

There’s nothing worse than heading into a hiking setting where you are completely clueless of the route, activity level, or even the weather forecast.

(Anyone else been caught in a torrential downpour while hiking, making you extremely irritated? No… just me?)

To set yourself up for success, make sure you do your research. This is particularly essential if you’re a beginner, as you should scout a hiking route that’s suitable for your particular fitness level.

Or, even better, go with an experienced friend!

In the UK, I have Dan to follow, as well as a cool friend named Kaz who is an all things pro at hiking in Snowdonia and Wales. She is my go-to for hiking recommendations!

Additionally, if I’m scouting out a hiking route, I use the apps and websites AllTrails, ViewRanger, and Trails.com to read reviews and check out the difficulty level.

Super awesome mountains in **Death Valley National Park**.

5. Your persistence levels are subpar.

To be completely honest with you… you could do everything right while hiking — comfy shoes, good clothing, enough water, etc. — but if your persistence levels are subpar, you won’t get anywhere.

Hey, I get it… I’ve dealt with sh*tty persistence levels myself and it didn’t do me any favors.

Dan can attest to this. If we’re hiking and I see the route is too far or I’m too tired to continue (aka I’m too lazy), I’ll just give up and turn around. Not cool, eh?

Thus, I believe the biggest key to becoming a better hiker is improving your persistence levels. This is true whether you’re on the trail or when motivating yourself to get back out there.

As one of my favorite authors, Ryan Holiday, said in his book The Obstacle is the Way (which is an awesome book BTW),

“It’s okay to be discouraged. It’s not okay to quit. To know you want to quit but to plant your feet and keep inching closer until you take the impenetrable fortress you’ve decided to lay siege to in your own life — that’s persistence.”

Easily one of the most challenges hikes of my life… but I pushed through and it was totally worth it!

BONUS: You consistently have a sh*tty attitude.

Okay, okay… I’ve also suffered from this, too. I’ll admit I’ve not always been the most positive or enjoyable hiking partner…

But, with that said, I’ve gotten remarkably better. Mostly due to learning how to love the adventure and enjoy the outdoors!

If you consistently have a sh*tty attitude with hiking, you’re going to ultimately be a sh*tter hiker.

Perk up, admire the views, and breath in the fresh air!

Heck, if you aren’t enjoying the activity, at least know you’re doing your health a favor (because even science says getting outdoors is ridiculous good for you!).

Who wouldn’t have a cheerful attitude with a view like this?

With those reasons all laid out on the table, are you ready to face whether or not you’re a sh*tty hiker? You know what they say… once you admit and accept your situation, you can overcome it. 😉

But, in all seriousness, if you have an aversion to hiking (like I did at first), keep at it! There are many beautiful places and wild adventures one can only have by venturing out on foot.

Tell me, are you a sh*tty hiker? Or do you avoid hiking at all costs? Share in the comments below — I want to hear your thoughts!

Sophie xx

Like this post? Pin it!

Have you ever wondered... am I a sh*tty hiker? Well, take a look at these 5 ridiculous reasons you might be! Hiking isn't hard but you might make it harder than it needs to be. | #hiking #tips

Want to get better at hiking? Here are 5 ridiculous reasons you might be sabotaging your hiking experience (and how you can become a better hiker). | #hiking #tips #mountains

As mentioned above, this post contains affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through the links, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us continue bringing you wanderful inspiration! Read our full disclosure here.