How I Get In Shape For Backpacking
Two-Heel Drive found a few training regimens at Backpacker Magazine to get you in shape for your next bacpacking trip. I have my own theory on how to get in shape for backpacking and usually base my exercise activities around it. It's built on three main elements:
Anaerobic endurance is necessary for climbing those steep, but short hills. This usually goes together with overall leg strength and I increase my anaerobic endurance by doing sprints up a hill. I'll sprint 40 yards, walk back down and when I get to the bottom, repeat about 10 times.
Aerobic endurance is needed to keep moving for those 10 hour hiking days. For this, I usually go for a long bike ride, nothing too hilly, but just making sure I'm out biking for a few hours. I find biking is much easier on the body than running.
Core body strength is needed to handle the weight of the backpack without getting a sore back or any other problems. For this, I usually just take a backpack filled with some weights and go for a easy hike. This also gets my feet adjusted to the extra work so that I can avoid blisters on the trail. I usually combine my dayhikes with scouting for deer hunting, trying to walk down a deer trail with a backpack on can be a challenge.
So basically to get in shape for backpacking, I ride bike, do short sprints, and go on long dayhikes. It's nothing too strict and unless you plan on following a training regimen for months, you don't need anything too complicated.
Anaerobic endurance is necessary for climbing those steep, but short hills. This usually goes together with overall leg strength and I increase my anaerobic endurance by doing sprints up a hill. I'll sprint 40 yards, walk back down and when I get to the bottom, repeat about 10 times.
Aerobic endurance is needed to keep moving for those 10 hour hiking days. For this, I usually go for a long bike ride, nothing too hilly, but just making sure I'm out biking for a few hours. I find biking is much easier on the body than running.
Core body strength is needed to handle the weight of the backpack without getting a sore back or any other problems. For this, I usually just take a backpack filled with some weights and go for a easy hike. This also gets my feet adjusted to the extra work so that I can avoid blisters on the trail. I usually combine my dayhikes with scouting for deer hunting, trying to walk down a deer trail with a backpack on can be a challenge.
So basically to get in shape for backpacking, I ride bike, do short sprints, and go on long dayhikes. It's nothing too strict and unless you plan on following a training regimen for months, you don't need anything too complicated.
Tags: backpacking, fitness