Three of the Best Exercises to Get in Shape for Hiking
Hiking seems easy – after all, it’s just a walk for a while – but it can be a big challenge. From the changing and sometimes challenging terrain to the fact that you use different muscles for longer periods of time than usual, a good hike takes work up to. Here are three exercises you can do to make sure you are on the go.
Aside from being able to travel hilly terrain without stopping every few feet to catch your breath, it’s important to be in shape so you can quickly get to safety in the event of a change in weather or an emergency. Add these exercises to your workout to be ready for whatever your hike has to offer.
- Lunges : Work your legs and balance. Take this exercise to the next level while holding the weights.
- Poor Man’s Leg Curl : Strengthens the core muscles and helps maintain balance and coordination.
- Walking with a strap : improves coordination, core and leg strength. Watch the video above from the Mountain Tactical Institute for a visual demonstration of side walking.
If you plan on doing really long hikes, you should also work on your endurance by lengthening your workouts or adding cardio. Since you usually carry a backpack, even if it is small, add a weighted bag during your workouts to better simulate hiking conditions.
Getting in shape for hiking “wiki useful Backpacker.com