About Hiking Care

HikingCare is an independent hiking publication. We write practical guides for people who want to spend more time on trails and less time guessing: what to wear on your feet, how to carry your kit, how much water to bring, how to read a forecast and when to turn around.

What you will find here

• Hiking guides for beginners through to multi-day backpackers, organised by topic so you can go as deep as you need.
• Gear advice that explains what matters in each category — fit, weight, weather protection and value — before you spend money.
• Trail types that break down the distance, elevation, terrain and kit that different kinds of hike usually call for.
• Safety know-how covering the ten essentials, mountain weather, altitude and emergency planning.
• Free planning tools — a pack weight calculator, water and nutrition estimator, elevation gain calculator, layering generator, route planner and more. They run in your browser and never ask you to sign up.

How we work

Our recommendations are research-based. We compare product categories using manufacturer specifications, published user feedback and established hiking practice, and we say who each option suits and where the trade-offs are. Where a guide is based on research rather than hands-on use, it says so. You can read more in our review methodology and editorial standards.

HikingCare is reader-supported. Some links on the site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate relationships never decide what we recommend. Details are in our affiliate disclosure.

Who this site is for

Day hikers planning their first mountain walk, families heading out with kids, weekend backpackers trimming their pack weight, and anyone who wants clear, honest answers without the hype. If that sounds like you, a good place to begin is Hiking for Beginners: Start Here.

Corrections and suggestions

Spotted an error or a guide that needs an update? We would rather know. Use the contact page and we will look into it.