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Hike Smart: Tips and Tactics for Improving Your Treks
Are you a first-timer about to take your inaugural trek? Are you a veteran hiker looking to be even more efficient when enjoying the sport you love? Are you someone in between? Then look no further than expert trekker Ann Brown’s Hike Smart , the definitive guide to efficient and enjoyable hiking for all levels of experience.
Compiling knowledge from more than thirty years of hiking, Hike Smart includes hundreds of tips, tactics, and techniques all aimed at helping you become a better hiker. Within these pages, you’ll
• Dozens of trail dos and don’ts
• Pointers on choosing the right gear for your hike—with an emphasis on boots and packs
• Advice on negotiating different terrains
• Recommendations on how-to deal with unexpected on-trail situations
• Stories and interviews from hikers who’ve conquered tough trails
• Beautiful color photos of some of America’s most majestic hikes
• And much more!
So whether you’re about to embark on your first hike or your hundred-and-first, Hike Smart is the only guide you’ll need to ensure that you have your most enjoyable, and smartest trek yet.
Compiling knowledge from more than thirty years of hiking, Hike Smart includes hundreds of tips, tactics, and techniques all aimed at helping you become a better hiker. Within these pages, you’ll
• Dozens of trail dos and don’ts
• Pointers on choosing the right gear for your hike—with an emphasis on boots and packs
• Advice on negotiating different terrains
• Recommendations on how-to deal with unexpected on-trail situations
• Stories and interviews from hikers who’ve conquered tough trails
• Beautiful color photos of some of America’s most majestic hikes
• And much more!
So whether you’re about to embark on your first hike or your hundred-and-first, Hike Smart is the only guide you’ll need to ensure that you have your most enjoyable, and smartest trek yet.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
Published April 18, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 17, 2017
4 stars. Hike Smart: Tips and Tactics for Improving Your Treks by Ann Marie Brown and Terra Breeden draws from the authors' extensive backpacking experience to present a readable, instructive guide that benefits novices and experienced hikers alike. Topics range from safety to comfort to gear selection to navigational skills.
What I appreciated most about this guide is its conversational tone. Most hiking guides read like a textbook, alternating checklists with dry instructional material. The authors here do an excellent job relating information on a personal level, as if they are discussing what works for them, and most importantly why it works for them. In addition to their own experiences, they relate many anecdotes from other hikers. These anecdotes blend well with the text, either illustrating the rationale of the authors or providing an experience that they analyze and use to teach.
I also am a fan of the authors' middle ground stance on ultralight gear. Many ultralight advocates are far more willing than I to trade ounces on their backs for substantial reductions in comfort and safety and/or more investment of time in camp and on the trail (and, to their credit, they have mastered the skills and attitude necessary for that). Brown and Breeden favor an approach of understanding and evaluating the trade-offs presented by ultralight gear--shedding weight where it makes sense, yet not being shy to pack something heavier that elevates one's hiking experience.
Brown and Breeden's self-deprecating wit adds to the warmth of Hike Smart. They don't take themselves too seriously, and little asides like "If you're a worry-wort like Terra, carry both" are a refreshing break from the "ZOMG You're Doing It WRONG!!!" attitude that's unfortunately found in many online hiker communities.
The only real shortcoming of this book is that some topics seem biased towards the experience of backpacking either solo or duo. For example, the section on stoves can be summarized with "use a Jetboil/MSR Reactor integrated canister stove." While that is a good solution for the solo hiker, it's not nearly as good when cooking for 4 or more.
I'd also say that this book is very western US-centric. This would be a complaint if the gorgeous pictures of all their Sierra Nevada hikes hadn't managed to take all my breath away! But I did notice that while topics such as how to secure a tent when tent stakes cannot be driven are covered, whereas there is no real discussion of the use of a hammock as bed and shelter, as is popular in eastern US backpacking.
Rather than the traditional hiking guide which focuses on instruction in a particular method, Hike Smart relies on teaching sound decision-making skills for hikers. I found myself agreeing with a great deal of this book. In many cases, the authors have put into words what I have discovered through experience or by accident. I checked this out from the library expecting to skim it, and found myself reading, enjoying, and learning from it.
What I appreciated most about this guide is its conversational tone. Most hiking guides read like a textbook, alternating checklists with dry instructional material. The authors here do an excellent job relating information on a personal level, as if they are discussing what works for them, and most importantly why it works for them. In addition to their own experiences, they relate many anecdotes from other hikers. These anecdotes blend well with the text, either illustrating the rationale of the authors or providing an experience that they analyze and use to teach.
I also am a fan of the authors' middle ground stance on ultralight gear. Many ultralight advocates are far more willing than I to trade ounces on their backs for substantial reductions in comfort and safety and/or more investment of time in camp and on the trail (and, to their credit, they have mastered the skills and attitude necessary for that). Brown and Breeden favor an approach of understanding and evaluating the trade-offs presented by ultralight gear--shedding weight where it makes sense, yet not being shy to pack something heavier that elevates one's hiking experience.
Brown and Breeden's self-deprecating wit adds to the warmth of Hike Smart. They don't take themselves too seriously, and little asides like "If you're a worry-wort like Terra, carry both" are a refreshing break from the "ZOMG You're Doing It WRONG!!!" attitude that's unfortunately found in many online hiker communities.
The only real shortcoming of this book is that some topics seem biased towards the experience of backpacking either solo or duo. For example, the section on stoves can be summarized with "use a Jetboil/MSR Reactor integrated canister stove." While that is a good solution for the solo hiker, it's not nearly as good when cooking for 4 or more.
I'd also say that this book is very western US-centric. This would be a complaint if the gorgeous pictures of all their Sierra Nevada hikes hadn't managed to take all my breath away! But I did notice that while topics such as how to secure a tent when tent stakes cannot be driven are covered, whereas there is no real discussion of the use of a hammock as bed and shelter, as is popular in eastern US backpacking.
Rather than the traditional hiking guide which focuses on instruction in a particular method, Hike Smart relies on teaching sound decision-making skills for hikers. I found myself agreeing with a great deal of this book. In many cases, the authors have put into words what I have discovered through experience or by accident. I checked this out from the library expecting to skim it, and found myself reading, enjoying, and learning from it.
May 9, 2017
Who doesn't love the great outdoors? I love hiking and exploring whenever I get the chance. Now that I bring my kids along for hiking I have found some good and bad things hiking. I was given the chance to review this book and I jumped.
I found this book to have great information for those who are just starting out and those who want to be more adventurous. it is a great reference guide from foot care and blisters to gear you bring with you. It gives suggestions that I found great and others I didn't quite like.
Living in Arizona hiking can be deadly during the warmer months this book need to add a little more information about dealing with the type of hiking.
If you are starting out or need a refreshers on hiking dos and don't this book is a wonderful guide.
Thank you this free copy.
I found this book to have great information for those who are just starting out and those who want to be more adventurous. it is a great reference guide from foot care and blisters to gear you bring with you. It gives suggestions that I found great and others I didn't quite like.
Living in Arizona hiking can be deadly during the warmer months this book need to add a little more information about dealing with the type of hiking.
If you are starting out or need a refreshers on hiking dos and don't this book is a wonderful guide.
Thank you this free copy.
February 16, 2025
Several typos
Good information but more for backpacking trips than day hikes. I will still use some of the information on my day hikes though
Good information but more for backpacking trips than day hikes. I will still use some of the information on my day hikes though
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews