How to Hike Longer, Not Faster 

Amen, Sir! This is possible the best all around information backed into one video that I’ve ever watched! In my case, I wish you’d done it a year ago. lol. Thanks for sharing your trail wisdom with us and keep on keeping on!

Great advice for adventurers who's primary goal is to cover distance and enjoy "quantity" of scenery and nature. Sometimes my primary goal is to enjoy nature at a more contemplative pace. For example to stop and enjoy the sound of water that is produced by a small stream and enjoy the fish and other life that is there. And to contemplate, understand, appreciate and enjoy their interaction with each other and the environment the live in. Mosquitos a possible exception 🙂

The tricks to hitting big miles, in my experience: 1. Get up and go to bed with the sun (in the summer - it's ok to extend a bit in either direction during the winter and shoulder seasons). Bottom line, early up, and get to sleep nice and early. Be well rested yes, but also, use all that sunlight. Try to be gone from camp when the sun is still low enough to be red in the sky. 2. Snack frequently rather than stopping for a full picnic lunch. Short frequent breaks will always beat a few long breaks, both for time saved and most importantly for maintaining your energy reserves. Don't be afraid to stop and smell the roses (or take in the view), but remember that it doesn't take an hour to smell a rose or regain your strength. In that hour you could have been 3 miles further down the trail. 3. Eat smart. Plenty of protein and COMPLEX carbs. Don't be blasting sugar down your gullet and thinking it will give you the energy to spend all day at full throttle. Include some good fats too, like olive oil or similar.

I have to say man, if you like to walk longer, or walk short, sleep longer, wake early, stop to eat, don't eat, eat while you hike... Then it comes down to: Hiking your own hike...

Sounds like you've got your routine sorted! It's true, as we age we need to hike smarter for our age! Youngsters can multitask easier and get away with thinking less. Keep on hiking, what you can, how you can and when you can! 🙂

Good advice, Rev. I'm 74 and found that electrolytes in my water bottle and two Tylenol before bed sure helped reduce cramps and aches in the morning. I've been a slow and steady advocate all my life and it surely makes sense as we age. keep truckin'.

Agree with everything. I’m 63 and my two additions are hiking poles are really needed for downhills for arthritic knees. My 2nd is to use liner socks (I use injinjis) to prevent blisters. I did the AT and PCT with zero blisters and in my opinion that was due to the injinjis. I credit Chica & Sunsets who will be doing thr PCT this year for this information that they gave on their 2018 AT hike. Thanks again. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION (although I do refuse to sleep in my hiking shirt) .

It's not that I like to stay in a backpacking tent... but there are many times when I'd rather slow down and hang around... the Etive at Glencoe, or overlooking Loch Tulla or hugging the mountains in Gran Canaria. At such places I regret when I just had to go on but I'll never forget when I was resting, listening to nature as it showed itself wilder as I stopped and did nothing

I’m not fast (or slow) but I like going at a steady pace. My dog likes to sniff so she forces me to slow down and as a consequence I notice more (and take better pictures) thanks to her. Now that I’ve become a solo hiker I am building my mileage and stamina again. I find that I hike faster and further in cold weather- early mornings is my favorite. Great video Rev!!

Walked a good portion of the cdt last year. Mexico-15 mi shy of montana.Just retired(65).rolled my ankles,fell,wasn’t having fun trying to keep up with younger and fasted people. Left the trail and returned with the intention of hiking my own hike. I get up early, walk long hours and usually get my 20s in. Need to walk longer into the evening but I’m afraid of finding finding last minute camping. Will be returning in july to finish after an injury last year. Love the people! Lots of ideas but everyone realizes you have to find out shat works for you.

100% agree with you! This is exactly why I call myself a "hiker" and not a "backpacker". Backpackers like to hike low miles with heavy packs and lounge around in camp or by the lake for excessive amounts of time. Hikers like to hike, and spend as little time as possible in camp and lounging around. I hate spending time in camp! seriously. it would drive me absolutely crazy to sit around camp doing nothing, I need to be actually walking to be enjoying my time. love your message here and appreciate your method on delivering it.

I met an 80 years old on the PCT last week. He turns 81 next month. "step by step, hike and rest, rest." His words of wisdom on how to hike far and at his age.

Objects in motion stay in motion. Great video again!

Your channel has actually helped me to slow down. Now out my way, i have to get out early and do a decent pace in the summer or I WILL regret it. But yeah, thank you ...

I'm almost 65 and in the first few hundred miles of my third walk across America. One thing that I've found to be able to hike longer during the day is to simply cowboy camp. That way, there is no time lost having to set up and take down a tent. Of course, I do carry a tent for those times when the weather dictates having to use it, but I'll do anything I can to not use it.

Slow and steady wins the race for sure. I'm 66 and have been hiking since I was 14. Lots of great info here. One thing most people never do is turn around and look behind them. As we get older our minds tell us "Yeah we can do that", and then at the end of the day our bodies say " Just what were you thinking!" I hike exclusively with my Cattle Dog Gus. He keeps the pace for me for the most part, we start off fairly briskly but as the day wears on he starts to slow down ( he'll be 10 in June) which is fine by me because I am usually slowing as well. This year I am starting out with a new knee that was replaced 16 months ago. Feels great and I am ready to get back at it this year! Happy Trails Rev!

I have heard you mention stretching before and I have started doing that. Great advice. I would get terrible cramps after a full day of hiking and then stop and just be in fear of sitting or bending my legs because of cramps. But recently I started stretching legs, calves back everything. And when i start after a break. Feel fresher and energized.

Thanks Rev, as usual your hiking wisdom is priceless!

Delivered another great video as always, I want to thank you for the videos that you make and the effort that you put into them because it really shows that you care about the quality of your work and also the fans. God Bless

Great info, I just turned 50 & started hiking again & you brought up some great pointers. Thanks for making this video. God Bless !

Yet another great video Rev, I think it's one of your best. Hope all is well!

Thanks for the videos. This year is going to be different for me as I had total knee replacement surgery 2/23. I’m still learning to walk “straight” and am up to .85 miles at a time. As a fellow RU-vidr I have documented my journey to recovery. I’m hoping to be up to at least 5 miles by July. I’m a minister and fill-in in a lot of churches in Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma. We leave June 1st. But we also hike a lot and record those hikes. So I’ve got a ways to go just to get to 5 miles at a time. Thanks again for your videos. God bless.

I'm 1 month shy of 65 yrs old and just finished about 450 miles of the desert section of the PCT (only had a month) and I concur with everything you are saying. This is what I discovered on this hike: 1. I was the first out of camp and the last into camp. I love hiking very, very long days. On this trip I averaged about 2 mph with breaks and averaged about 20 miles per day. Many kids wearing "anti-gravity" shoes would blow by me, but invariably they would be first into camp and last out, so they were always surprised to see me ahead of them days later! On a couple topographically easy days I was able to crank out 28 miles. 2. forget cooking. On this trip I decided to cold soak, but threw my container away when it always seems to be in the way in my pack. I lived off of wraps, nuts and bars. Got veggies when I got to town. And I don't bother with coffee on the trail. Not worth the hassle. 3. Don't fall for a quilt!! I brought a quilt instead of my lightweight mummy bag and regretted it every single day! Many nights were cold and being a side to side flopper cold drafts ALWAYS were the reality. Because of this I couldn't "cowboy camp", which is my normal way of backpacking. I bring a 1 lb tent for when there is rain or bugs, but because of this stupid quilt I had to set that tent up every night. BIGGEST mistake of my trip was that quilt. 4. I started with my pack too heavy, but continually sent stuff home as I only kept what I was actually using. I didn't want to be a ultralight nutbar, but after this hike I realized that I need to become more focused on getting rid of EVERY ounce. It really matters. I want to find a way to get to the 12-13lb base-weight range. Oh ya, at the beginning I was carrying way, way, way too much food. Towards the end I got really good a carry only what I needed and ended each section of zero food in my pack. 5. I had to much electronics: camera + bag (1+ lb), big cellphone, battery bank, cables, etc. Next time I would bring a small pocket camera and a much smaller cellphone and a very light battery bank. I would also bring a paper map which I didn't on this last trip. 6. I trained a bit for this trip by doing numerous 10 miles hikes, but when I started the trip I realized that it was not overall endurance that I was lacking, but leg strength. I realized that my legs were not what they once were, so going forward I am going to get into weight training with my legs. And of course I started 10 lbs overweight which did not help matters. Next time I leave that weight at home!

Great advice ! Thank you for sharing your experience.

Thank you as usual for information and INSPIRATION!! May the Lord keep you hiking and hiking 😃

Such good advice! Thanks Rev!!

Thank you, Rev! As we step into "getting older" it's wise to get that advice in this video. Thank you!

1ST comment!! 🙂 Keep up the good work and sharing of your extensive knowledge. Thank you!

I love your advice. I chaperone a lot of trips with kids where I don't get to set the pace. i much prefer to hike slow and never stop as you recommend. I prefer cold coffee to hot anyway. Your advice helps me to embrace my own preferences.

This was awesome, great content

Great stuff! Thanks for sharing. Now I need to check out this 'No Cook' method.

Great ideas to do more and see more in the amount of time I have available for backpacking... Thanks, always learning.

Loved your video, so many helpful tips 🙌😎 I was a fast hiker until….. yes, the until is coming for all of us. Got dropped metatarsals, these bones just below your toes. Hurts like stabbing if not supported. Wise video my friend. Going to use your knowledge from experience 🤩 joining the club 😀

Lots of valuable information, Rev. I appreciate you and your videos! Tinker

Good video. In my experience, the younger hikers often are EXACTLY that - a jackrabbit that takes off down the trail, and then I pass them at 3pm when they've decided they're tuckered out and are setting up camp.

I make hot coffee first thing then while it's cooling I.pack.up my kit and drink it with an energy bar on the trail. I also.listen to.audio books in the afternoon as it.takes my mind away.from my aches and.pains. Thanks again Rev.

Great video Rev....Thanks

Very informative video - Thank you

Nice Advice Great Hike Packing Thank You❤

Great Advice, Rev! 🙌

Good tips there Rev!

Being an older guy I was curious what wisdom you had to share so I tuned in. I am not a thru hiker but more of the traditional backpacker and after watching your video I was even more certain I will never be a thru hiker. The old adage hike your own hike applies here. We like longer backpack trips that also incorporate a fair amount of off trail. We like remoteness and experiencing the beauty that many backpackers miss. Case in point, if you’ve done the JMT you might remember Bighorn Plateau. Amazingly beautiful place to fully absorb the essence of the Sierra. We spent over an hour exploring, taking pictures, and just being in this magnificent place. Frequently we would see thru hikers cranking out the miles as they passed this high alpine lake without even stopping to take in the beauty of this place. In fact many of them had their heads down totally missing out on the experience that was right before their eyes. Same for campsites, we spend time hunting for that 5 star location and fully enjoy taking it all in. Nothing better than enjoying a cup of coffee with the morning alpenglow then throwing out a line to catch some trout before hitting the trail. We work hard to get to a location so why not fully enjoy the experience? So many ways to enjoy the back country. Clearly you’ve found your passion. Happy trails!

Great advice! Thanks!

Watching your Ireland videos. On May 6th, I leave Killarney to begin hiking the Kerry Way.

Brillant sir thank you.

Some good advice Rev!

I get the cold brew instant coffee packs, and since I am just doing day hikes right now, I add Lactaid milk to it and it keeps all day. 'Iced' coffee on the trail...yum!!!! Bars, trail mix, cheese sticks, dried fruit, peanut butter. Eat as I go. I dont go gast; I like to 'smell the roses' along the way. 😊

Great info, Rev

Hi Rev, great video sir. I found this video very informative and in some ways it’s was funny. I realize that miles per day are more important than speed but I believe that stopping and smell the roses (expression) along the way is just as important and to appreciate what God and Mother Nature has given us. I camp because I want to appreciate nature and I hike to see what is surrounds me as I travel. I enjoy doing both Rev and I learn to appreciate both in your world 🥾and in the campers world🏕️. Rev, you are a person with so much to offer. Please continue to share. Btw, how are enjoying the RV? Peace be with you and your family 🙏

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Subbed & 👍

Just got back from my annual AT section hike, go each year as a test to see how I am aging, going into my 70's and noticed a difference, getting weaker each day on trail. If I take a couple days off, eat well & rest, start out OK but still getting weaker each day on trail. Need to figure out of there is something a person in their 70's can do to increase strength & endurance of if 70 is a limit and decline is inevitable. One thing worked great, switched to zero drop shoes (Altra Lone Peak 6) and this eliminated knee pain, without raised heels I come down of forefoot so knee is always bent and removes knee shock, raised heels keeps leg straight to come down on heels and this causes shock to knees, took over 6 months for feet to adjust but have to say my knees have recovered, only downside was the shoe soles were thin and I felt every rock & root on trail, like walking barefoot, I have some zero drop shoes with 1 inch thick soles for next trip.

Great video. Thanks for this. I'm trying a bit of both 😅 I do overnight trips at Henry Coe mostly but want to get more out of it by getting an early start. I'm also trying fastpacking to get into running which forces me to think ultralight. I'm giving cold soaking a try to go lighter. Not having hot coffee will be a struggle, but it'll to be good test to see how long I can go. I probably won't run the majority of the time but the lighter pack should help. Filming and walk by shots tend to eat up time lol.

Good advice. The old Romans had a latin slogan for the attitude you are describing: 'Festina lente' ('hurry slowly').

Thumbs up, Rev. Thanks. "Let me tell you a story.." I'd love to spend a hike hearing your stories. :>)

Thank you 🙂

Good aftenoon, Rev. Great video. By following your tips, your body can become an efficient traveling machine. BTW, I had a check done recently on my AAA. After 1 1/2 yrs, it is still "stable". Don't know if that means that it hasn't grown, but I'll take it as good news. Of course, I got bad news at the same time. Somehow, no falling or other trauma, I have cracked a vertebra in my lower back. Didn't expect that. But I'm OK. Wish I could call you up and say " Hey Rev, let's go hiking" but guess we'll have to hike in Heaven. Take care. Stay safe. Keep on hiking and I'll join you vicariously. See you next video.

Great advice! Thanks for sharing these tips. I guess for the bathroom dilemma you could where an astronaut suit, but you probably won't get very far down a trail - LOL.

Appreciate the video --- especially, "What's my reason for being on this trail?" From which - I make decisions about the walking/hiking/trekking approach... onwaord!

Good stuff ❤👍

Great tips

A ten mile day on the A.T. is quite the feat for me at 57 !! I like picture taking !! (crossed the 20. yr. mark ,USA, in '07, I'm chilling' no more PT tests !! 🇺🇸)

P while hiking--wear a kilt and walk backwards into the wind...another likable vid, Rev! Grampakilt

Sounds like great advice if you're doing a thru-hike. The mission is to reach the final destination, which is always over the horizon somewhere. The more you hike the closer you'll be to reaching that final destination some day in the mid-term future. Thru-hikers also need to keep moving to avoid possible harsh climate conditions, hence the go go go mentality. However, if you're not a thru-hiker and are just doing a multiday backpacking trip, or even just out for an overnighter, I don't see the point of drinking cold instant coffee, and skipping a nice hot breakfast at camp just so that I can squeeze more miles in. For many of us life is already a rat race with schedules and appointments and expectations to meet. I go to nature precisely to detox from the stresses of civilization, and no one is going to make me rush out of camp, or drag me along to keep going while skipping a fantastic camp site with a great view, just because they want to bag an extra couple of miles that day. That said, I love the take-home message that it's not about hiking faster but hiking longer. I want to be able to hike longer, and measure my hikes in decades not miles, or not measure them at all.

I do long days on the trail but, it’s not why most would think. I get up early to hike the first hour of light and stay on trail to hike the last hour of light. To me, these two hours are the best hours of hiking, by far, during the day

Hey! Just found your channel. Was wondering what shoes you were hiking in? Thank you!

Thank you

Good advice. Makes sense as an older hiker. Getting into an easier rhythm would equate to less injuries and boredom, not to mention less cost outputs. You didn’t mention dinner. Did you cold soak or eat the same food all day long? Thanks.

Love the video! I do have a question though. Outdoor vitals equipment has a really good video about how to hike a perfect 20 mile day and it focused on getting on the trail at 7:00 and hiking until 7:00, like you said more miles. But they also said to stop for an hour for lunch and a half an hour for breakfast and a half an hour for dinner and about every 2 hours stopping and getting off of your feet. Would you agree that getting off your feet for 5 or 10 minute breaks is a good idea instead of continuing to walk? Just wondering

I have to have my coffee hot. I dont wait for it to cool down . Whats you water perification backup if your filter craps out on you and you cant boil water since you dont have a pot or stove. I dont take food you have to cook. Love your videos.

Yeah, as a 68 year old hiker I am moving towards this; keep walking at a steady pace, minimal stops, though if the trail gets very technical I just have to slow down so I won't fall, as I don't have the strength of younger hikers. Am doing one day fastpacking and enjoying the light pack. Did the beautiful 20 mile Routeburn (NZ hike) in 10 hrs 19 mins last weekend, and yeah, you see as much as hikers doing it in the usual two or three days. Planning on doing the Rakiura track about 24 miles if you do the full loop in next couple of weekends; will probably be at least a 12 hour day. Want to see how far I can go in a day!

I agree with everything you suggested because I do the same thing! BUT …I love my HOT coffee…So my luxury is hot coffee! TY!😎

Hi Rev. I need some good advice. I am planning on doing a section of the J M T staring from kearsarge pass ( Onion Valley T H. Too Yosemite Valley. My ? Is I am 65 yrs old just retired. I want to do it but I don’t want to do it alone because I think it might be lonesome. And getting things in order I don’t have anyone to talk about it and get excited about going. Plus talk about gear & everything that goes along with it. I joined a local backpacking group but living in Tennessee it’s hard to find a hiking partner. I want to do it but don’t want to be depressed on trail. Plus it’s always good to have company around the campsite. If you have any helpful advice I would highly appreciate it. Btw I seen all your videos & look forward to the next ones. Thanks Rev. 🙏

A key for me to prevent blisters is to change my socks. If you start getting hot spots on your feet take a minute to air your feet out wipe/dust them off and put a pair of fresh socks on.

I don't know if I agree with all this, Rev. I suppose what you're saying here may be applicable for long distance hiking... like PCT thru hiking... and maybe among that group this may work for some of them. Hiking styles, I have come to understand, are quite individualistic... too many factors play into how we go about this. Maybe someone is prone to overuse issues and it does them good to stop often and stretch - no matter how fast they hike. Sometimes I want to or need to pound miles or I may be on a tight schedule and I may choose to speed up for a lot of reasons. But, sometimes I'm out for a few days and I don't care about distance and maybe I want to enjoy camp and maybe I want to stop (often?) to take in the views. Nothing wrong or disadvantaged about any of that. Rev, much respect for you and not bad advice here... just, maybe not the best advice for everyone.

I’ve returned to the AT after getting a third of the way last year. I’m finding that the biggest obstacle is the mental one where I see a steep section of trail ahead and my mind tells me to slow way down almost to a crawl in reaction to the trail. Haven’t figured out how to tell myself not to react that way and just keep walking.

Hi Rev, my feet are fairly comfortable in my hiking shoes. However, you got me thinking, is there better? Do you change out your newly purchase shoe's insoles with something like Dr. Scholls (not looking for a product endorsement).? Thanks, and Happy Trails !

Long And slow is good, just like in a car. Same principles apply. But I enjoy camping just as much as hiking. Sometimes its not about seeing more in different things but seeing more in one thing.

Cold coffee, isn't that what the hipsters call 'cold brew'? that's genius . Nice tip Great video though to confess I will always be in the camping camp :)

Love hiking, it makes my stress go away…what’s good about my diet, I’m doing one meal every 2 day. As long i have water, I’m good.

Slow is steady, Steady is smooth, Smooth is fast ;)

I might try to get used to cold coffee :) didn't recognize the things you mentioned but I'm guessing they're instant coffee.

I also love my coffee in the morning. But you know it's not a choice between drinking it cold or waiting for it to cool. Just use filtered water and don't heat it up so much.

No cook, cold soak allows for 4-6 extra miles a day and simplifies things. Hiking longer is the key, but it it doesn't hurt to hike a bit faster also.

I always bring a stove for hot dinner and tea at night. What do you have for dinner without cooking?

Wear two pair of wool socks. The outside pair of socks should be turned inside out. Your socks will rub, not your feet, and this will prevent blisters

Every time I see ppl running a trail I think, “ why in such a hurry” ☺️😉

"one item that connects you to the trail" unless you fall as much as I do then it's several items that connect you to the trail!!!

Some tips to hike longer - ENDURANCE. Endurance is best achieved by reducing fatigue. Fatigue for a person wearing a backpack is generated by the inefficient backpack you're wearing. Your belt is worn too tight. You can regain the roughly 25% of your breathing capacity that you've lost by wearing the belt a few inches below your navel. Your backpack is below your waist. You can regain your lost basic pace speed by getting a pack that is supported above your hips and actually move faster automatically. You keep your water bottles at the sides of your backpack. Water is normally the heaviest item carried. If you place the bottles in the center of your backpack and sequentially place your lighter gear either side thereof you will reduce fatigue generated by the side to side thrusting of your backpack and why it's necessary to have your hip belt tightened down. Your shoulder straps are not too far out on your shoulders, good. Your spine is the center of your torso rotation, the best place for the heavy loads The bipeda motion of the human body requires rotation of the hips and torso to provide efficient forward motion and why the backpack is ill designed to support bipedal motion, generating fatigue, slower speed and reduced endurance. If you can add sacks for partial loading of your gear to the front of your shoulder straps you can transfer a portion of the backpack load there further reducing the side to side fatigue generating thrusting of your backpack. Tansferring a portion of the load forward will alter your body center of gravity forward thus gaining an increased stride permitting fewer steps for the given distance traveled, reducing fatigue further. Your backpack has 5 to 8 bio-mechanical inefficiencies of the typical backpacks sold throughout the world. If you decide to make the modifications recommended, you will reduce fatigue, go faster naturally and have greater endurancel.

Slow is smooth and smooth is fast

Amen, Rev! I am 71 and still enjoy backpacking, camping and hiking. Most of the folk that I used to hike with have stopped. The last couple of years I have hiked with my youngest daughter and her friends. I told them that there is no way I can hike as fast as they do. But showed them that I can hike just as long or longer than they can.

I go camping and don't hike at all. I take short walks but hiking? Nope. I go camping to do nothing. To sit outside, sway in a hammock with my son, read some books and get away from the hustle and bustle of life. I go camping to recharge. I used to hike the backcountry but my daily life is go, go, go. I just want to sit down and eat good food and enjoy being in that moment, at that time, letting the world go, go, go around me. Edited to add: You can pee without stopping if you turn around and go backwards. I don't think it would be worth the risk of falling though. Edited one more time to add: You could also pee in zip lock bag or a bag type urinal but again, I personally don't think the juice is worth the squeeze unless somebody is chasing you.

If I'm hikeing, I'm not in a hurry . I'm hikeing to see nature . I might hang around camp for hours . It's not a marathon to me . Hike your own hike .

"Way down the trail. " that's right.

I like slow and steady. But, I don't need to hike 20+ miles in a day. In fact, it is less enjoyable to do so. I like to stop, take break, have a snack and enjoy the surroundings. Hike your own hike, as they say.

People have trail names?

Pro tip : Most mountaineering accidents occur after 1500 hrs. 💀 👍

Hike your own hike...

Alot of content creator are after of face familiarity instead of there content! correct me if im wrong! spend too much talking infront of the camera..i dont understand it!

I agree with most everything in this video for someone who wants to put more miles in one day. I consider myself both a hiker and a backpacker. It has nothing to do with camping for me. It has everything to do with being out in God's beautiful nature. The part I don't agree with is because of hiking more miles, you see more. If you and I are on the same 100 mile trail. You bust out 20's and finish in 5 days. I bust out 10's and finish in 10 days. How much more did you really see? Maybe I'm putting more into this than what this video is about. I never even consider it a marathon (which is still a race) I've always considered my trips adventures. Hiking from place to place to see more things. Experiencing nature as much as possible. Obviously, something like the pct involves getting places in x amount of time so I understand this for something such as that. Unless, section hiking, of course. I'm not bashing this video in any way. This is really awesome information for thru hiking. Maybe just your definitions and mine aren't really the same. On my AT thru hikes, I was often the 1st out of camp and the last into camp. And, many of those times I was farther up trail than those i camped near the night before. But, some days I was 3 campsites behind them all. I will always stop even .5 miles apart if there is something for me to enjoy. We are all section hikers until we reach the end.

I always think it’s a shame to judge other hikers based on their pace, how often they stop or distance achieved. I have no idea what motivates other hikers and it’s not my business. Let others be themselves and focus on your own trek.. just my view.