I am an avid kayak camper that is just getting into the hiking scene. I have the gear (which is totally different from kayak camp gear) but not the "skill". This video helped. Thank you.
Great video. Excellent points especially on nutrition- folks need to factor for the proper calorie intact factoring for calorie burn. Agree nut butters, nuts, protein in general are critical vs high carbs. Electrolytes are a very good point as well to minimize cramps.
Thanks for the kind words! Nutrition is a very controversial topic. I think the difficulty is we are all very different and have very specific requirements. Take care.
I'm from the midwest, 50 years old, and just starting to get into hiking. I grew up in a rural area, so I basically lived outside as a kid. Life got busy as a grown up, and aside from walking the dogs, I forgot how much I love being outside, in the trees and the dirt. After some big changes in the past few years, I'm very ready to get back outside. I've been going on day hikes on local trails with my dog and it hasn't taken long for me to want to take longer, over night trips. Finding channels like yours has been a huge help. I'd love to travel out west for a hike someday. Is there a first hike out there for a midwesterner you can recommend? Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Hello YetiGirl, and welcome to the channel! I love how you used a capital letter for Yeti and Girl just like I did for the three words in my TH-cam Cannel name. I am so excited for you to get started hiking again. Life certainly happens and then all of a sudden, we are much older than we should be. Have you done any overnight trips yet with a backpack? Unfortunately, this is not the best time to be a beginning hiker out west. However, there are a lot of great overnight hikes in southern Utah or Arizona you may want to try. I would just get on Google and start there for hikes. AllTrails is also a great source to start with and you can look up many trails for free. I am just now finishing up my part I video for older (no offence) beginning hikers. Hopefully out tomorrow. So good to hear from you and good luck getting out!
Hi, just found your channel. You offer a lot of good advice that I discovered the hard way. I might add to work on balance. Hiking the PCT two years ago at the age of 71 I had to cross many water crossings on fallen trees or slippery logs. I discovered my balance wasn't what I thought it was.
I know what you mean. Balance and the loss of strength due to the muscles getting smaller and weaker are the main problems with aging, especially for men. I have a balance board in my kitchen and I am on it all the time when I am talking to my wife and kids. I also practice balance 3 to 5 days a week by balancing on one foot and reaching back for the opposite foot. You make a very good point and I hope to cover this in an upcoming video on exercise. Take Care.
I really appreciate this film! At 48 years old, I haven't been hiking for three decades. However, I'm feeling a strong desire to get back into it and explore the trails in my home country. Your tips will definitely come in handy!
I got you beat I'm 62 and the reason I am attempting hiking is I had 2 knee replacements, and walking is so basic to life that I have gotten myself fit, not easy from walking, and the real kicker is diet. I have all winter and spring to get ready. And your video really hits the main points.
I would love to hear more about your journey before and after the replacements. I no longer have over half of my minicus in my right knee and a torn miniscus in my left knee, but it seems like the more I hike and bike the better they do. One thing for sure is that inactivity makes them much worse. Are you training just by walking? Can you weight train your knees without doing any damage? I am so impressed with your determination, keep it up and thanks for reaching out.
@ Osteoarthritis, falling arches, 1st knee in August 6 wks later the 2nd knee. I do body weight squats, and resistance bands for lateral movement, I was walking 3.5 miles every other day, but I find myself more comfortable walking 2.25 miles everyday, you don’t want to overdo it because the pins have to set in. Outside of that, I am instructed to body weight squats and climbing stairs, for the next 6 months at which time I can weight train. It takes about a year to recover and be 100%. As for the pain in my knees from osteoarthritis is gone. I’m at a point where I can walk like everyone else but it’s still tender. I’ll be close to that year mark around Summer time. The question I ask myself is “Why didn’t I get this done sooner?”
Every tip seems just as applicable to younger backpackers. I started long distance backpacking at 61. Now 80 with 17,000 miles under my boots/trail runners. I’d add another tip in the HYOH category: don’t try to match your pace to someone who goes faster or slower than you--especially when you’re 61 and they are 20. if you’re hiking with someone like that consider agreeing to meet up at points along the way (water source, trail junction, top of the climb.) --Handlebar
Amazing, and you are certainly an inspiration for me! I have my permit to hike the CDT. This July SOBO! Sounds like 61 years old is a great starting place! Take care.
That was a useful video. I’m looking to move up from scout leader to something closer to a real backpacker. So any further hints you have about taking g that first multiday hike alone would be great for me.
Your video just popped up in my window. I love everything you said. I am soon to be 73. My young wife of 65 and I have been dabbling in day hikes. We are researching light weight gear due to our bodies limitations and health issues we each have. We hope to start over nite hikes this spring. One of the subjects I have yet to find anyone really dive into is couples hiking. Maybe in a future video you can shed some light on that topic. I would start with gear. One tent versus two, two kitchen sets or one, hike your own hike challenges, etc. Thank you for this very helpful video.
Thank you so much for the kind words Mark! I have done a fair amount of couples hiking (my wife and I), but most of it was with the 50 pound pack I was referring to in the video🤣. It actually works out well to split the weight of the tent between two of you if you opt for a free standing tent. There are also a lot of great trekking pole tent options as well. I think Justin of Justin Outdoors covers some of the 2 person tents because he hikes with his wife. I have always had a single cooking system for the two of us. Thank you for the suggestions and I will see what I can get on the channel. So excited for you two!
Great tips thank you. The reason I am into ultralight (and quality) gear is that I am getting older and would rather have a wonderful time in the back country than risking an injury from a poorly conceived set of gear. So. Keep the tips coming! I think there are more of us doing this fabulous activity in retirement than is widely known.
I have come across numerous thru-hikers older than me. In fact, on my last section hike of the CDT I was the youngest one at 60 for 3 days straight (of the 6 people I saw )😅 . So I think you may be correct. Thanks for reaching out!
Walking is certainly the key to staying healthy, overall. Certainly nutrition is just as important and a subject of great controversy. Keep up the walking and thanks for the comment.
61!! 😮 I'm 45 and sometimes I feel 75 😅 Your food advice is on point btw 💪🏽 Just discovered your channel. May our Father, upstairs, shine his light upon you, brother!
Tip 8 most important I am 68 and rediscovered hiking in Ireland and UK after 45 year break - I see people go stupid light or spend fortunes on outdoor trendware and its so tempting to follow them. I have a light weight pack some budget stuff and wear my running gear and do my pace my schedule😀
I have questions. If I am in my late 40's and I am trying to start this hobby of camping, backpacking, and hiking where do I begin? The thing that really puts me off is the cost. Why is everything $200+? I mean I get if you want ultra-light you are going to pay for it but regular backpack should not be $200+, sleeping pad should not be $160+, and sleeping bag should not be $400+. Is it just me or are those prices outrageous? I don't mind spending money if the gear is going to last years and years. I guess what I need to know is this not the hobby for me because I feel the price is too much. If it can be done for a reasonable price, can you help guide me? It seems every channel talks about spending $1000's of dollars on their gear and I just can't do that. Lastly, is a tent necessary? It seems like a huge cost in dollars and weight. Can I get away with a tarp?
Hello Jay! Great questions. I do believe the cost of almost any sport is expensive for the best gear. However, I am an elementary teacher supporting a family of 5 and I feel your pain. Yes, I do buy some very expensive gear when I can, but most of my gear is purchased used. You can find some great gear through facebook marketplace for example. I know a lot of TH-camrs have done some great videos on budget gear from Amazon, Walmart etc. Look up Miranda Outdoors, Justin Outdoors (what's up with all the outdoors people anyway 🤣) and Eric Hansen for reviews on some great gear at a great price. Also, if you are just starting hiking, begin with day hikes with almost any pack you have lying around. I think your first investment should be a great pair of cross training shoes. I wish you the best of luck on this adventure and I truly do believe you can have a whole lot of fun and stay safe on a limited budget! Take Care, Mark.
Also, on the tarp. Tarps are great and work very well, but I really like to have a way to get away from insects and mosquitos. Especially since I do not use bug spray. They are cheaper and lighter, so do an overnight with one and see what you think. They also take a lot of practice to become efficient at setting them up. Start in your back yard then work up to an actual hike.
Ditto that! And now that I've watched the full video, good information! I guess I'm an older hiker at 50+ and I would have to say that your advice is spot on.
I am an avid kayak camper that is just getting into the hiking scene. I have the gear (which is totally different from kayak camp gear) but not the "skill". This video helped. Thank you.
You are quite welcome, and welcome to the channel 😀!
Great video. Excellent points especially on nutrition- folks need to factor for the proper calorie intact factoring for calorie burn. Agree nut butters, nuts, protein in general are critical vs high carbs. Electrolytes are a very good point as well to minimize cramps.
Thanks for the kind words! Nutrition is a very controversial topic. I think the difficulty is we are all very different and have very specific requirements. Take care.
I'm from the midwest, 50 years old, and just starting to get into hiking. I grew up in a rural area, so I basically lived outside as a kid. Life got busy as a grown up, and aside from walking the dogs, I forgot how much I love being outside, in the trees and the dirt. After some big changes in the past few years, I'm very ready to get back outside. I've been going on day hikes on local trails with my dog and it hasn't taken long for me to want to take longer, over night trips. Finding channels like yours has been a huge help. I'd love to travel out west for a hike someday. Is there a first hike out there for a midwesterner you can recommend? Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Hello YetiGirl, and welcome to the channel! I love how you used a capital letter for Yeti and Girl just like I did for the three words in my TH-cam Cannel name. I am so excited for you to get started hiking again. Life certainly happens and then all of a sudden, we are much older than we should be. Have you done any overnight trips yet with a backpack? Unfortunately, this is not the best time to be a beginning hiker out west.
However, there are a lot of great overnight hikes in southern Utah or Arizona you may want to try. I would just get on Google and start there for hikes. AllTrails is also a great source to start with and you can look up many trails for free. I am just now finishing up my part I video for older (no offence) beginning hikers. Hopefully out tomorrow. So good to hear from you and good luck getting out!
Hi, just found your channel. You offer a lot of good advice that I discovered the hard way. I might add to work on balance. Hiking the PCT two years ago at the age of 71 I had to cross many water crossings on fallen trees or slippery logs. I discovered my balance wasn't what I thought it was.
I know what you mean. Balance and the loss of strength due to the muscles getting smaller and weaker are the main problems with aging, especially for men. I have a balance board in my kitchen and I am on it all the time when I am talking to my wife and kids. I also practice balance 3 to 5 days a week by balancing on one foot and reaching back for the opposite foot. You make a very good point and I hope to cover this in an upcoming video on exercise. Take Care.
I really appreciate this film! At 48 years old, I haven't been hiking for three decades. However, I'm feeling a strong desire to get back into it and explore the trails in my home country. Your tips will definitely come in handy!
Fantastic!! I am so happy to inspire you (or talk you into 🤣) getting out there. Wait, I wish I was 48!
Thanks friend! I have watched dozens of hiking videos before today. This is the best info I’ve heard.
Thank you Roger for the kind comment and welcome to the channel! 😀
I got you beat I'm 62 and the reason I am attempting hiking is I had 2 knee replacements, and walking is so basic to life that I have gotten myself fit, not easy from walking, and the real kicker is diet. I have all winter and spring to get ready. And your video really hits the main points.
I would love to hear more about your journey before and after the replacements. I no longer have over half of my minicus in my right knee and a torn miniscus in my left knee, but it seems like the more I hike and bike the better they do. One thing for sure is that inactivity makes them much worse. Are you training just by walking? Can you weight train your knees without doing any damage? I am so impressed with your determination, keep it up and thanks for reaching out.
@ Osteoarthritis, falling arches, 1st knee in August 6 wks later the 2nd knee. I do body weight squats, and resistance bands for lateral movement, I was walking 3.5 miles every other day, but I find myself more comfortable walking 2.25 miles everyday, you don’t want to overdo it because the pins have to set in. Outside of that, I am instructed to body weight squats and climbing stairs, for the next 6 months at which time I can weight train. It takes about a year to recover and be 100%. As for the pain in my knees from osteoarthritis is gone. I’m at a point where I can walk like everyone else but it’s still tender. I’ll be close to that year mark around Summer time. The question I ask myself is “Why didn’t I get this done sooner?”
@dcmsr5141
It had to be a little scary to commit to the first one, I would think. Can't wait to hear how the summer goes for you!
Every tip seems just as applicable to younger backpackers. I started long distance backpacking at 61. Now 80 with 17,000 miles under my boots/trail runners. I’d add another tip in the HYOH category: don’t try to match your pace to someone who goes faster or slower than you--especially when you’re 61 and they are 20. if you’re hiking with someone like that consider agreeing to meet up at points along the way (water source, trail junction, top of the climb.) --Handlebar
Amazing, and you are certainly an inspiration for me! I have my permit to hike the CDT. This July SOBO! Sounds like 61 years old is a great starting place! Take care.
That was a useful video. I’m looking to move up from scout leader to something closer to a real backpacker. So any further hints you have about taking g that first multiday hike alone would be great for me.
Thank you so much. Thank you for the suggestion as well.😀
Your video just popped up in my window. I love everything you said. I am soon to be 73. My young wife of 65 and I have been dabbling in day hikes. We are researching light weight gear due to our bodies limitations and health issues we each have. We hope to start over nite hikes this spring. One of the subjects I have yet to find anyone really dive into is couples hiking. Maybe in a future video you can shed some light on that topic. I would start with gear. One tent versus two, two kitchen sets or one, hike your own hike challenges, etc. Thank you for this very helpful video.
Thank you so much for the kind words Mark! I have done a fair amount of couples hiking (my wife and I), but most of it was with the 50 pound pack I was referring to in the video🤣. It actually works out well to split the weight of the tent between two of you if you opt for a free standing tent. There are also a lot of great trekking pole tent options as well. I think Justin of Justin Outdoors covers some of the 2 person tents because he hikes with his wife. I have always had a single cooking system for the two of us. Thank you for the suggestions and I will see what I can get on the channel. So excited for you two!
Great tips thank you. The reason I am into ultralight (and quality) gear is that I am getting older and would rather have a wonderful time in the back country than risking an injury from a poorly conceived set of gear. So. Keep the tips coming! I think there are more of us doing this fabulous activity in retirement than is widely known.
I have come across numerous thru-hikers older than me. In fact, on my last section hike of the CDT I was the youngest one at 60 for 3 days straight (of the 6 people I saw )😅 . So I think you may be correct. Thanks for reaching out!
@@PapaBoiOutdoors Lol. It's an underground movement. Seriously. I think that. Also, I am a huge Durston fan, mostly for the sticker collection...!
@mobius9818
Dutstan makes great gear at a relly fair price!
Informative and beneficial video!
Thank you so much.
I have been walking 5 miles per day for almost 3 years - not quite every day. Very helpful and motivating.
Walking is certainly the key to staying healthy, overall. Certainly nutrition is just as important and a subject of great controversy. Keep up the walking and thanks for the comment.
Well said.
Thank you!
61!! 😮 I'm 45 and sometimes I feel 75 😅
Your food advice is on point btw 💪🏽
Just discovered your channel.
May our Father, upstairs, shine his light upon you, brother!
Thank you so much and welcome to the channel! Keep on moving (hiking) and eat well and you may feel 44 in no time 😄.
Tip 8 most important I am 68 and rediscovered hiking in Ireland and UK after 45 year break - I see people go stupid light or spend fortunes on outdoor trendware and its so tempting to follow them. I have a light weight pack some budget stuff and wear my running gear and do my pace my schedule😀
That is fantastic advice! I can't afford too much high dollar gear anyway. Thank you for sharing.
For myself, the most important thing is to know how to fit your rucksack so your legs do the work and not too tight on your shoulders.
Absolutely true. For some that means a robust frame, for others, just very supportive shoulder straps. Take Care.
I have questions. If I am in my late 40's and I am trying to start this hobby of camping, backpacking, and hiking where do I begin?
The thing that really puts me off is the cost. Why is everything $200+? I mean I get if you want ultra-light you are going to pay for it but regular backpack should not be $200+, sleeping pad should not be $160+, and sleeping bag should not be $400+.
Is it just me or are those prices outrageous? I don't mind spending money if the gear is going to last years and years.
I guess what I need to know is this not the hobby for me because I feel the price is too much.
If it can be done for a reasonable price, can you help guide me? It seems every channel talks about spending $1000's of dollars on their gear and I just can't do that. Lastly, is a tent necessary? It seems like a huge cost in dollars and weight. Can I get away with a tarp?
Hello Jay! Great questions. I do believe the cost of almost any sport is expensive for the best gear. However, I am an elementary teacher supporting a family of 5 and I feel your pain. Yes, I do buy some very expensive gear when I can, but most of my gear is purchased used. You can find some great gear through facebook marketplace for example.
I know a lot of TH-camrs have done some great videos on budget gear from Amazon, Walmart etc. Look up Miranda Outdoors, Justin Outdoors (what's up with all the outdoors people anyway 🤣) and Eric Hansen for reviews on some great gear at a great price. Also, if you are just starting hiking, begin with day hikes with almost any pack you have lying around. I think your first investment should be a great pair of cross training shoes. I wish you the best of luck on this adventure and I truly do believe you can have a whole lot of fun and stay safe on a limited budget! Take Care, Mark.
Also, on the tarp. Tarps are great and work very well, but I really like to have a way to get away from insects and mosquitos. Especially since I do not use bug spray. They are cheaper and lighter, so do an overnight with one and see what you think. They also take a lot of practice to become efficient at setting them up. Start in your back yard then work up to an actual hike.
Jupiter is an inspiration.
As well as a wonderful human ❤️
@@PapaBoiOutdoors and a planet
As a 44-year-old, some days I’m 20 some days I’m 60.
44 can't qualify for grandpa, can it?😁. I do know what you mean though. Take care and good to hear from you.
YOU DON'T LOOK 61! 🤔🤣
Thank you so much. There are some mornings I feel 61. 😁
Ditto that! And now that I've watched the full video, good information! I guess I'm an older hiker at 50+ and I would have to say that your advice is spot on.
@jenniferbuynitzky412
You are too kind.☺️
@PapaBoiOutdoors we're the same age,and I don't look a day over 70 ! 😉