7 tips for the new hiker

In my last post I provided 7 travel tips for the new backpacker, so for this post I thought I would continue the trend.  Having done quite a few hikes now in my three months of travel, I have learnt some tips that should make your hike a lot more enjoyable and much less frustrating.  

These tips are outlined below, but first I would like to give you a call to action: if you haven't done much hiking or mountaineering yet, give it a go.  Hiking is one of the most rewarding activities you can do, both at home and abroad.  It is something that the benefit you get out of it depends on the effort you put into it.  Nature is something that is extremely precious and the natural wonders that exist all around the world are absolutely phenomenal. I firmly believe the quote: "The bigger the challenge, the greater the reward".

7 travel tips for the new backpacker

I have almost reached my three month mark on the road so I thought I would provide some tips that I have learnt along the way.  These should make your life a lot easier and will allow you to make the most out of your amazing adventures!

1. Buy a digital camera

I'm not telling you to go out and buy an expensive SLR camera, but a simple digital camera will do wonders for your travels. Photographs will form part of your memories and will transport you back to those moments.

Before I left, I was debating whether to just use my phone overseas or whether to buy a digital camera. Luckily a friend convinced me to purchase one and it was the perfect decision. Quality, ease of use and functionality are generally all better than your phone. I still use my phone occasionally but I am stoked that I spent the money and bought the camera.  Tip:  If you buy a camera, ensure it has GPS tagging and WiFi.