{"id":38801,"date":"2015-04-03T07:15:45","date_gmt":"2015-04-03T11:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=38801"},"modified":"2021-05-13T11:11:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-13T15:11:16","slug":"urban-hiking-burn-calories-walking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/urban-hiking-burn-calories-walking\/","title":{"rendered":"Urban Hiking: 8 Tips to Burn Calories by Walking"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Urban
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bust out your boots: Hiking burns more calories than your standard stroll, and allows you to soak in the benefits of the great outdoors. But getting out into the wilderness, especially for a multi-day trek, isn\u2019t always doable. Urban hiking is changing that though, one adventure at a time. This growing sport turns sidewalks into hiking trails to re-create the feel of a long-distance nature hike, smack dab in the middle of a city.<\/p>\n

Just because you\u2019re not scaling rocky terrain<\/a> doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s a walk in the park: The pros hoof it for a week or more at a time, averaging 20, 30, or even 50 miles daily. Intrigued? Use these tips from Liz Thomas, a distance hiker who holds the women\u2019s unsupported speed record of hiking the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail (in 80 days and 13.5 hours), to hit the road and explore a new city. That, or just see your hometown in a way you\u2019ve never experienced it before.<\/p>\n

8 Urban Hiking Tips for a Calorie-Burning Walking Adventure<\/h3>\n

1. Get The Right Gear
\n<\/strong>Pounding around on pavement all day can be harder on your feet than trekking on dirt, so choose your shoes and socks carefully. Thomas hikes in Altra Olympus for women<\/a> (also for men<\/a>) because they\u2019re sturdy and cushioned, and wears Darn Tough socks<\/a>, which are slightly cushioned and don\u2019t bunch up or cause blisters. She keeps a few extras in her pack, too, and often switches to a fresh pair in the afternoon. \u201cOver time, sweat on your feet can mix with dirt or dust and can increase friction, leading to hot spots and eventually blisters,\u201d she says. \u201cPlus, the moisture and dust in your shoes can compact the microfibers, making your socks feel less soft and cushioned.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to make sure you\u2019ll be protected from the elements if inclement weather hits. Carry along some good rain gear, like the NW Alpine Eyebright jacket<\/a>, the Montbell Tachyon jacket<\/a>, and an easy-to-stash umbrella such as the REI compact travel version<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important thing is to go places you\u2019d otherwise not walk, visit neighborhoods you otherwise wouldn\u2019t see, take the same adventurous wonder you\u2019d have in the backcountry…\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Also consider having sunglasses and bandages for any blisters that pop up.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The Best Shoes for Running, Hiking and Sports<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Stack Your Pack
\n<\/strong>Buying snacks and water on the way will probably be easier, but it\u2019s a good idea to bring a bit of each with you in a pack<\/a> just in case. Having a paper map is smart as well, even if you\u2019re planning to rely on a GPS function on your phone to help you navigate. There\u2019s always the chance that service will be spotty or your battery gets drained. You can likely leave the compass at home, though. \u201cI always carry one during nature hikes, but in urban areas, you can generally follow landmarks to ensure you\u2019re headed in the right direction,\u201d says Thomas.<\/p>\n

3. Safety First<\/strong>
\nTry to always use crosswalks when crossing streets, and in sections where there aren\u2019t sidewalks, hike against traffic, advises Thomas. \u201cI often route myself along bike lanes, through parks, or on paths where cars aren\u2019t allowed for extra safety,\u201d she says. Wear clothing with reflecting detailing and to be extra cautious (especially during dim hours in the early morning or evening). Try the Mountain Hardwear Carinae running cap for women<\/a> or Quasar cap for men<\/a>, which have built-in sun protection and reflective trim and logo. The Helly Hansen Aspire jacket for women<\/a> or the Pace Block jacket for men<\/a> has glowing details and can be stashed in your bag without taking up much room. You might also wear a neon vest to ensure you\u2019re visible. A head lamp, like the Coleman CHT 4<\/a> (worn on your forehead), can help you see and be seen as well.<\/p>\n

\"Urban
Photo by Brian Davidson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Take the Stairs
\n<\/strong>Urban hikers tend to focus on climbing as many stairs as possible<\/a> on their route, to mimic the incline of a traditional hike. The goal isn\u2019t just to climb steps in a park or any old building but stairways that connect public roads. \u201cThese are essentially roads for pedestrians \u2014 hidden sidewalks in the hills,\u201d says Thomas. By hiking them, you should become more aware of public infrastructure for pedestrians and see parts of the city you might not have otherwise. Want to locate more stairs? Many are marked on Google Maps, and Thomas suggests looking behind dead end signs \u2014 you\u2019ll often find a set of steps there. Also try doing an online search of stair-walking in your destination; many major cities have websites devoted to finding and mapping all their public staircases and sites like publicstairs.com<\/a> reports steps findings world-wide.<\/p>\n

5. Don\u2019t Look Back
\n<\/strong>The second big rule of urban hiking is no backtracking or walking the same street twice \u2014 you should always be covering new ground, as you would on long-distance route<\/a> out in nature. This often means you end up making roundabout loops, and that\u2019s OK. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely not the most efficient way to go, but it provides a true long-distance-like-hike so that you always get to see new things,\u201d says Thomas.<\/p>\n

6. Pave Your Own Way<\/strong>
\nYes, as mentioned, stair-climbing is a general rule of urban hiking, but you should feel free to plan your route however you like. Stairs don\u2019t always have<\/em> to be your main priority, says Thomas. She recently completed the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail<\/a> in Alabama, using her route to retrace the journey that Civil Rights activists marched and this summer she\u2019s creating a hike based around a theme of following rivers and water. \u201cThe most important thing is to go places you\u2019d otherwise not walk, visit neighborhoods you otherwise wouldn\u2019t see, and to take the same adventurous wonder you\u2019d have in the backcountry into the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>14 Trail Running Adventures to Try Before You Die<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Urban
Photo by Steven Shattuck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Find Shelter
\n<\/strong>While not all urban hikes involve an overnight, for those that do, it\u2019s important to know where you\u2019ll rest and recover. Finding a safe place to sleep can feel easier in a city than on a remote trail<\/a>, but it does take some forethought. \u201cBefore heading out, reach out to friends or family who live in the area and map your route by connecting their addresses,\u201d suggests Thomas. Don\u2019t know anyone in the city? Hotels, hostels, and homes listed on Airbnb<\/a> can also all be good options. Finally, always consider the location of where you plan to lay your head<\/a> when determining your route, suggests Thomas; you don\u2019t want to get to the end of the day and find yourself stuck miles away from your resting place.<\/p>\n

8. Hang Tough
\n<\/strong>In some respects, hiking the streets of a city can be simpler than trekking out in nature: You don\u2019t have to carry a tent on your back, for one, and finding food and drink is usually easier. It does have its own challenges, though, says Thomas. For one, locating a decent public bathroom (behind a tree doesn\u2019t count) can be a struggle. And it can be tough to push yourself to keep moving after walking three-plus hours<\/a>. \u201cToward the end of the day, there\u2019s always a great temptation to give up and take a bus or taxi back to a friend\u2019s house or a hotel,\u201d she says. \u201cSo in some ways, urban hiking actually requires more mental stamina<\/a> than a wilderness hike,\u201d and discipline, too. Make it easier to go the distance by repeating a favorite mantra, breaking up the miles into manageable chunks, and asking a friend to join you for sections or the entire journey.<\/p>\n

For more insider tips about gear, training and hiking trends, check out <\/em>Thomas\u2019s website<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Disclosure: All products featured on our site are hand-picked by our editorial team in the hopes of getting you closer to your health and fitness goals. We only recommend products we love and believe that you will, too. In some cases, you might come across an affiliate link on our site, which means we receive a small commission should you decide to make a purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Want to go on an adventure? All it takes is a trip outside. Urban hiking turns sidewalks into trails, while helping you burn calories along the way. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":38808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6],"tags":[141,341,357,100],"class_list":["post-38801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","tag-sports","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2running","tag-workout"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38801\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}