Hiking vs Trekking
What is hiking? What is trekking? Are both terms the same? Or is there any difference between hiking and trekking? There is a lot of confusion in defining these among people. Most people take it in the same way and think that both are the same things. Is this correct?
No! It’s not correct. There is some difference between both terms. You can also say that both terms are different in terms of slight variation. Before explaining these, first, we put a glance at the definitions of hiking and trekking that will define their actual meaning.
Hiking: The outdoor activity of walking on a pre-charted trail across the country to enjoy the natural scenery is called hiking.
Trekking: The outdoor activity to complete a journey along the long arduous trail is called trekking.
From the definition, it gets clear that hiking indicates casual walking while trekking involves a whole journey. It means that hiking is simpler than trekking.
You can define hiking as a walk to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery. It is something related to relaxing, jovial, and entertaining activity. The whole hike can be done within one day. There is always a pre-charted track for the hiking plan. Furthermore, the whole track doesn’t involve the hectic and long walk that makes you get very tired. The main theme for planning hiking is to refresh your mind after a tiring week.
On the other hand, the word “journey” for trekking shows that it involves frenetic walking or activity. It is related to something adventurous from exploring a remote area to summiting the highest mountain. The usual trekking path is hectic and you have to cover it on foot. There is no proper resting place during the whole journey and you have to stay in camps at night. One may have to face multiple issues while moving on this adventurous journey. With this, it takes multiple days or even weeks.
Hiking & Trekking: Modern Use of Term
According to the old use of these terms, it seems quite a stretched and minuscule difference between hiking and trekking. So, it gets complicated to define it shortly and clearly.
In modern terms, when a person or company plans for a weekend tour that is related to something pleasant walking across a naturally attractive and spectacular scenery. There is no hectic walk or tiresome activity involved in it. The track that follows is not arduous. You simply go for a day hike or more than one day and come back with the iconic memories. It ultimately refreshes your mood and has a positive effect on your health.
On the other hand, trekking is all about exploring and wandering in the jungles, mountains, and somewhere adventurous. One has to follow the long restless path that is more demanding and feverish. Furthermore, the track usually followed involves the one that is less accessible for hiking. Like hiking, it is also multiple days walking but mostly it extends to the weeks and even months.
In international terms, hiking is considered as simple and casual walking, and trekking is something similar to backpacking. Many other terms describe the difference between them and multiple companies use them according to their choice. Some may take hiking as only a one-day walk and strictly relate the multiple days of outdoor walking to trekking.
Hiking and Trekking Equipment
You read out above that what is the difference between hiking and trekking? Now, need to know about good quality equipment that is useful for both purposes. Hiking and trekking both depend on the weather condition. Good weather enhances the beauty of nature and makes a more memorable time for you. Maybe you make a plan for hiking or trekking for a day, a few hours, or overnight but you will need some essential equipment for both.
As you know, good and high-quality hiking and trekking equipment are essential that will give you a better way to enjoy your hikes and treks. It would be so good for you if you choose all the essential equipment and bring it with you before going out. You will keep safe, and warm no matter what the weather is. So, no need to worry just take a look at the following equipment list below.
Hiking Equipment List:
- Good Hiking Shoes or Boots (Preferable Waterproof)
- Water Bottle or Water filter, and Food like Snacks
- Compass or GPS Device
- Waterproof Gear
- Hiking pole
- Hiking Survival kit
- Weather-appropriate Clothes
- Waterproof Jacket
- Hat or Cap
- Sunscreen
- A Trail Map
- Daypack
- Headlamp
- Utility Knife
- Hiking First aid kit and Medicine
- Raincoat
- Fire Starter
- A good Rucksack
Trekking Equipment List:
- Survival Kit
- Camping Gear
- Trekking Boots or shoes (Ankle Support)
- Backpack and Backpacking Tent
- Compass / Map or GPS Device
- First-aid Kit
- Insulated Water Bottle
- Water Purifying Tablets and Food
- Torch, flashlight or Headlamp
- Emergency Thermal Blankets
- Multi-tool knife
- Duct Tape
- Lightweight Tent, Sleeping Pad, and Bag
- Stove, Fire lighting tools either Flint or Matches
- Trekking Pole
- Insect Repellent
Health Benefits of Hiking and Trekking
Here is good news for you that hiking and trekking bring some wonderful benefits for your health. As well as fun activities, you can improve your mental and physical health by hiking or trekking for a day, an hour, or on a weekend.
Just 30 minutes of walking per day as hiking or trekking can protect you from many diseases, high blood pressure, cancer, premature death, can improve your mental health even make a significant impact on your health.
Let’s take a look at what the health benefits of hiking and trekking:
1-The Risk of Heart Disease and Improves Blood Pressure:
CDC recommends more walking steps such as hiking or trekking at least once an hour on a daily basis. This is a best way to get exercise in which your whole-body workout from head to toe.
Both hiking and trekking reduce the risk of heart disease, stress level, hypertension even improve your heart health, control blood pressure, glucose tolerance, and control cholesterol level.
2-Better Fitness:
Hiking and trekking both of these activities bring up some strength into your muscles, thighs, lower leg muscles, hip muscles, and hamstrings even make you stronger and help to fit your body. It’s a good way to improve your body fitness, bone density. It also helps to reduce backbone pain, joint pain and make your core stronger.
3-Improve Your Mental Health:
In the present time, stress, depression, and anxiety are the cause of mental illness. These things are part of life for every person. But spending your quality time in the great outdoors activities by hiking and trekking can decrease stress, depression, and anxiety. You can boost your mood, control stress levels, and improve your sensory perception and mental health, and even get a peaceful life.
4-Burn Your Calories:
Do you want to lose weight? Or are you worried about gaining weight? Hiking and trekking both are the best activities to burn your extra calories. When you hike, 400 to 550 calories are burned in just an hour. You can burn extra 100 calories by carrying a lightweight backpack during trekking. Now imagine how many calories are burned when you go out for a day, weeks of hiking and trekking. In this way, you can lose your weight naturally, improve your weight, reduce body fat, and strengthen your muscles.
5-Self-Improvement and Creative Mind:
Hiking and trekking make you more creative physically and mentally even give you a great chance to improve yourself. When you go out and get all the Vitamin D from the Sunlight that makes a source to improve your mind, increases attention span, and improves the ability to focus. By doing just five minutes of outdoor exercise, you can feel more confident, stronger, more capable, independent, and can even follow some actions for self-improvement.
Make New Friends and Healthy Relationship:
Hiking and trekking is a great way to meet new people and build a strong community. Hiking with friends, or family members give you group and social support. With a partner, or in a group, you can improve your relationship and make it healthy and strengthful without any feelings of doubt, worry, or fear. Hiking and trekking on a difficult path can be a difficult challenge for you if you go alone on any outdoor adventure for many days but you can face any difficult challenges without fear when you go out with friends or any family members.
