How to prepare for a hike: pace, footwear and documents on the route

A hike begins long before the first step on the trail. Beginners most often underestimate the distance and overestimate their strength. What turns out to be hard is not the mountains, but the pace, the footwear, and the weather.

Preparation resolves all of this in advance. Below are tips for long-distance walking: how to train your pace, what to bring, and how to behave on the trail and abroad. The emergency number 112 is free throughout Europe and works from any phone (according to the European Commission).

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Where to start your preparation

💡 In short:

• Train your pace in advance: short walks every day.
• Break in your footwear and check your gear before the trip.
• Check the weather forecast and sunset time the day before.
• Compare your hike plan with the 10 recommendations of the German Alpine Club (as of 09/2026, DAV website).

Walking requires almost no investment. You do not need a gym or expensive equipment: you can walk in any place at any time, as long as access is not restricted. The impact on nature is minimal, and the benefits for your body accumulate with every outing.

The stronger you become, the longer the routes you can handle. Work on yourself regularly: a short morning warm-up with stretching relieves muscle stiffness after sleep.

You also need to know how to walk correctly. Keep your back straight and do not pull your shoulders back or forward. A hunched posture restricts movement and breathing. In an upright position you get more oxygen, and your back and legs tire less.

Find a walking companion. Together you go out more often and for longer, and conversation helps you keep a steady pace. Shared walks support your mood and your connections with loved ones. You will also find out whether the person works as a companion for a long hike.

Day walks in preparation

Day walks provide the simplest training and refresh your mind after the work week. You can walk one convenient route or choose a new one each time and explore your area.

A long walk does not require a separate day: an evening outing at a steady pace already trains endurance, and this format suits those who decide at the last minute.

Invite friends or have a picnic outside the city. Keep a map and GPS navigator handy: on unfamiliar trails they help quickly. Start with a route near home, then add new sections.

Hiking in winter

In winter, daylight hours are short. The sun rises later and it gets dark earlier, so plan your outing to return before dark. If the trail runs along a slope, allow time for detours.

Check the weather forecast in advance. See whether there will be snow or rain and what wind is expected. Light wind will not bother you, but storm-force wind on an open slope can knock you off your feet, so in such weather it is better to wait it out in shelter.

Bring water with you even in winter. You need to drink in the cold too. Dehydration in freezing weather comes on unnoticed and drains your strength faster than in summer.

© Christoph Strässler · CC BY-SAPhoto: Christoph Strässler, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Navigation and safety

If a place on the route feels uncomfortable and unsafe, turn back or look for a detour, because unease is rarely random.

On roads, choose the side where both you and the driver can see each other from a distance. Sometimes you will have to cross the road several times. It is better to be seen in advance than to end up in a ditch.

Walk only where access is open. If you come across a closed area, give up the idea of getting inside. For communication, keep a charged phone and GPS tracker, and download the route offline in advance.

In the forest and in tall grass, check yourself for ticks after every outing and wear long-sleeved clothing. The German Alpine Club has compiled general rules of conduct on the trail; it has 10 recommendations for safe hiking.

Hiking abroad: documents and communication

Keep important contacts in several versions: online and on a physical medium. Upload document scans to the cloud, and laminate printouts so they do not get soaked in the rain.

Collect contacts for tour companies, medical insurance, and the local consulate. Find out the emergency number in the country you are traveling to in advance and save it separately from the rest of your notes.

Do not carry documents and money in the same place. Distribute them so that you always have a backup. Make several copies and keep them separate from the originals.

Do not take the whole guidebook. Copy the pages you need and take only those on the hike, and keep the full book in electronic form on your phone.

Long routes, such as the Camino de Santiago, take weeks and stretch across different seasons. Summer gear will not work in winter or at altitude. So plan resupply points in advance: post offices in towns along the way let you receive what you need and send excess baggage home.

Take trekking boots in your carry-on. If your luggage gets lost, comfortable footwear stays with you. Experienced hikers say that gear can be bought at the start, but boots need to be chosen and broken in long before the trip.

With an EU passport, you do not need ETIAS authorization for travel within the EU. ETIAS applies to third-country nationals; details are on the official EU portal. If your route goes outside the EU, check the entry rules for the destination country in advance. Medical care abroad is covered by insurance: compare insurance terms in advance, before buying tickets.

The minimum kit for the road looks like this:

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How do I know if footwear is suitable for hiking?

Wear the boots at home and on short walks long before the trip. Leather and membrane conform to your foot, and blisters appear where the footwear is still stiff. If there is no chafing after a walk, the footwear is ready for a long route.

Do I need separate insurance for hiking abroad?

Regular travel insurance often does not cover active recreation. Make sure hiking is included in the policy.

What should I do if I get lost on the route?

Stop and return to the last known point if the path is still visible. Check the map and GPS tracker, call 112 (as of 09/2026, EU page on emergency services). Report where you started from and where you were heading, and help will find you faster.

In short: what is worth booking

Hike preparation rests on three things: training, gear, and documents. If this is your first mountain hike with a group, check out guided tours on GetYourGuide. For a trip abroad, activate an eSIM for connectivity on the trail. The rest is up to your pace and the weather.