What’s The Difference Between Hiking and Walking?
Have you ever taken a brisk walk through varying terrain grades? Depending on your level of fitness, you may have found yourself a bit tired afterward.
Likewise, you may have also hiked a trail that felt like a breeze. If the hike was easy, would you consider it a hike at all? Or was it more of a walk?
I’ve completed countless walks and hikes. Sometimes on a paved road in the wilderness, sometimes on steep hills in a city. There are times when the difference between hiking and walking feels like a fine line.
If you’re like me, you may often wonder “what’s the difference between hiking and walking?” Walking is the activity of traveling by foot at a regular pace on flat paths. Hiking is a long walk at varying elevations, oftentimes in the wilderness or country.
Even with textbook definitions, the fine line between hiking and walking gets blurry. When you’re uncertain if you’re hiking or walking, there are some other things to consider. This can be your pace, physical effort, and distance.
Regardless, let’s explore the differences a bit more. At the end of this article, you will be able to discern the differences between hiking and walking.
What’s Considered Walking?
Textbook definitions aside, walking is regarded as moving at a normal, steady pace. For differentiation, most “normal” walking is typically done on flat surfaces or moderate inclines/declines.
Walking has several health benefits. It helps improve your cardiovascular health, and mental health, and even helps with building leg strength. Walking for about 30 minutes a day for overall health is recommended.
Generally, the normal pace of walking pace is going to be anywhere from 2mph to 3mph, depending on age, and a brisk pace will be anywhere from 3mph to 3.5mph. This, of course, depends on your current fitness level. Someone who is more experienced will always set the bar higher.
As far as attire goes, walking attire can be pretty much anything. Whether you’re wearing sweatpants, jeans, or cargo shorts, most attire is fitting for a normal walk.
If you’re walking for health benefits, though, you will likely be wearing cross-trainer shoes or running shoes, which are specifically designed to help the user keep proper posture and are made to navigate in a forward direction.
What’s Considered Hiking?
As far as environmental differences go, hiking is typically walking at a great distance along a trail. Walking for exercise typically occurs in a more urban/residential area.
Unlike walking, hiking involves varying elevation, intensity, and arguably more physical exertion (depending on your goal).
Another difference between hiking and walking is the duration. Most of the time hiking will take place for long periods of time, such as a half-day or, if you’re ambitious, an entire day.
In some cases, special equipment may be required for hiking such as the proper hiking boots/shoes, backpacks, and other items. Clothing for a hiker will be quite different, too.
Hikers typically wear heavier shoes (boots), cargo & weather-specific pants, long-sleeved shirts, and thick socks. After all, hitting the trails in some cross-trainers is going to wreak havoc on your feet! And you wouldn’t dare risk navigating difficult terrain in basketball shorts.
In regards to gear, you probably don’t want to wear hiker’s attire on a prolonged, steady-paced walk, either. The weight of the boots can cause excess stress on the joints and muscles. Hiking boots are designed to be used in versatile terrains like rocky paths and dirt hills.
The terrain associated with a hike is typically hilly our mountainous. Hiking trails will often contain ridges, creeks, trees, large rocks, and other possible obstacles. The hiker’s stride will also vary depending on their navigation of the terrain.
Is Hiking Considered Walking?
In most cases, walking in itself is not considered hiking. Although, the act of hiking does involve walking. When you examine the dictionary, the difference between the two often comes down to distance.
For example, here’s the definition of walking when used as a verb:
to advance or travel on foot at a moderate speed or pace; proceed by steps; move by advancing the feet alternately so that there is always one foot on the ground in bipedal locomotion and two or more feet on the ground in quadrupedal locomotion.
Now, let’s examine the definition of hiking. Or, more specifically, the verb usage of hike:
to walk or march a great distance, especially through rural areas, for pleasure, exercise, military training, or the like.
Although an environment is specified (country or in the woods), the biggest difference here is the distance. Hiking involves walking, naturally. However, not all walking is hiking. Walking in and of itself is just a natural movement.
So indeed, hiking is a form of walking. Albeit a longer and arguably more immersive form. Still, we have to factor in distance to determine a clear-cut difference between hiking and walking.
What Distance Is Considered A Hike?
This is where things become a bit more subjective. For someone who is accustomed to walking a mile, three miles can feel like a great distance. Whereas someone with more experience can consider 5 miles or more a great distance.
To complicate things further, there are several hikes that are about 1 mile long. Answering this question comes down to your own personal opinion. However, most hikers agree that anything over 3 miles is considered a hike.
Remember that we want to keep things simple when determining the difference between walking and hiking. Therefore, it’s best to factor in your own personal considerations, such as physical effort and pace. For example, I walk 4 miles a day through town. I wouldn’t consider that a hike. I would, however, consider a 4-mile walk through varying elevations and at a brisk pace, a hike. Just take a trip to San Francisco and walk through the city for the day and you’ll see my point.
Hiking vs Walking Calories Burned
While both hiking and walking are great for exercise, there is a big difference between the two when you factor in effort and elevation.
For starters, a 4-mile walk at a brisk pace for one hour can burn up to 290 calories. This, of course, depends on your weight and heart rate but is nonetheless a good starting point.
Now, a 4-mile hike at a brisk pace, atop varying terrain and elevation, can burn up to 457 calories.
The clear advantage for calories burned goes to hiking, and it always will. This is due to the fact that elevation increases effort, thus increasing your heart rate.
Having said that, both are still great ways to burn calories and stay in shape, so choose whichever fits your fitness goals best.
Hiking vs Walking: What Muscles Are Used?
If you’re doing a hiking vs walking comparison of muscle groups worked, both exercises engage nearly the same muscles.
Though the intensity may be different, thus the stress and recovery of the muscles will be pretty different.
For example: walking on a flat surface for thirty minutes will work your core, legs, and glutes. Whereas taking a hike on an incline for thirty minutes will work the same muscles, but the added incline and need for navigation will put more strain on the muscles, and help improve your balance.
Primary muscles worked from hiking & walking:
- Quadriceps
- Hamstrings
- Glutes
- Core & Stomach
- Calf Muscles
Secondary muscles worked from hiking & walking:
- Pelvis & stabilizing muscles
- The symmetrical tibialis anterior muscles in front of the calf muscles
- The arm and shoulder muscles
Just like the difference between bodybuilding and strength training, it’s going to depend on the execution of the exercise, the effort involved, and the overall resistance. Hiking on steep hills for long periods of time will cause more tears in your muscle fibers, leading to more recovery. Whereas walking will keep those muscles at a strong “foundation” strength.
What’s Better, Hiking or Walking?
While some may argue one is better than the other, both are extremely beneficial to your health. “Better” is a very subjective term. What’s better for your health isn’t always better for someone else’s health. While both help with muscle strength, cardio, and mental clarity, the more intense exercise and longer duration will always bring “better” results.
But there are some ways to figure this out, and it comes down to your execution of each activity. If a person hikes a steep trail at a snail’s pace for forty minutes, while another person tears up the pavement at 3.5 mph, non-stop for forty minutes, the walker might get the “better” workout.
In any event, walking and hiking are both better than doing nothing at all. Both activities improve your fitness and overall cardiovascular health. Hiking does have some added benefits, such as muscle building, but you shouldn’t feel the need to ditch one over the other if you’re concerned about fitness. Just pick one and get started.
What’s The Conclusion?
To summarize the difference between hiking and walking:
- Walking: Steady & normal pace along a flat surface, typically in urban environments.
- Hiking: Walking for a great distance at varying elevations, most often in the wilderness or the country.
At the end of the day, if you’re looking to improve your health, both candidates are great choices. So put on your shoes (or boots) and start putting your feet on pavement or soil. Consistent walking is a great way to get into hiking. And consistent hiking is a great way to get into other exercises, too, so give them both a shot.
About The Author
Hey, I’m Mike, the guy behind Hike Authority. Hiking has literally changed my life and I wanted to share my expertise on hiking with the world.
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Hike vs. Walk
Hiking and walking are both forms of physical activity that involve moving on foot, but they differ in intensity and terrain. Hiking typically involves walking on trails or rough terrain, often with elevation changes and obstacles, making it a more challenging and strenuous activity. Walking, on the other hand, is usually done on flat surfaces like sidewalks or paved paths and is generally a more leisurely and low-impact form of exercise. Both activities offer numerous health benefits and opportunities to connect with nature, but hiking is better suited for those looking for a more intense workout and a greater sense of adventure.
Comparison
| Attribute | Hike | Walk |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A long walk, especially in the countryside or wilderness | To move at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn |
| Intensity | Can be moderate to strenuous depending on the terrain | Can range from leisurely to brisk depending on the pace |
| Equipment | May require hiking boots, backpack, trekking poles, etc. | Usually requires comfortable shoes and appropriate clothing |
| Duration | Typically longer in duration | Can be short or long in duration |
| Environment | Often done in natural settings like mountains, forests, etc. | Can be done in urban or rural settings |
Further Detail
Introduction
Both hiking and walking are popular outdoor activities that involve moving on foot. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are actually several key differences between the two. In this article, we will compare the attributes of hiking and walking to help you decide which activity is best for you.
Physical Benefits
Both hiking and walking offer numerous physical benefits. Walking is a low-impact exercise that can help improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and aid in weight loss. It is also a great way to improve overall fitness levels and increase endurance. Hiking, on the other hand, is a more intense workout that can provide a greater challenge for the body. It involves navigating uneven terrain, climbing hills, and sometimes even scrambling over rocks. This can help improve balance, coordination, and agility.
Mental Benefits
In addition to the physical benefits, both hiking and walking offer mental benefits as well. Walking is a great way to clear the mind, reduce stress, and improve mood. It can also help boost creativity and increase focus. Hiking, on the other hand, takes these benefits to the next level. Being out in nature and surrounded by beautiful scenery can have a calming effect on the mind. The physical exertion of hiking can also release endorphins, which are known as “feel-good” hormones.
Equipment
When it comes to equipment, walking requires very little. All you really need is a comfortable pair of shoes and appropriate clothing. Hiking, on the other hand, requires a bit more gear. Depending on the difficulty of the hike, you may need hiking boots, a backpack, water, snacks, a map, and possibly even trekking poles. Hiking also often requires more specialized clothing, such as moisture-wicking layers and waterproof outerwear.
Accessibility
One of the great things about walking is that it is accessible to almost everyone. You can walk just about anywhere – around your neighborhood, in a park, or on a treadmill at the gym. Hiking, on the other hand, is a bit more limited in terms of accessibility. While there are hiking trails in many areas, they may not always be easily accessible to everyone. Some trails may require a drive to reach, and others may be too difficult for beginners or those with physical limitations.
Social Aspect
Both hiking and walking can be enjoyed alone or with others. Walking is a great activity for socializing, as it allows for easy conversation while moving at a moderate pace. It can be a great way to catch up with friends or family members. Hiking, on the other hand, can also be a social activity, but it may require a bit more coordination. Hiking with a group can be a fun way to bond and enjoy nature together. However, hiking alone can also be a peaceful and meditative experience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both hiking and walking have their own unique attributes and benefits. Walking is a great low-impact exercise that is accessible to almost everyone and can be enjoyed in a variety of settings. Hiking, on the other hand, offers a more intense workout and the opportunity to challenge yourself physically and mentally. Whether you prefer the simplicity of a walk around the block or the adventure of a hike in the mountains, both activities can help improve your overall health and well-being.
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