Hikers Over 50 Share Their Favorite Gear, Because It’s Never Too Late To Hit The Trail

At age 68, Diane Spicer calls herself a proud elder hiker. The creator of the blog Hiking For Her and author of “Hiking For Her’s Best Tips For Women Dayhikers”, she writes all sorts of tips and encouragement for backpackers who have lived a few years and trekked a few miles.
“In America, we’re dominated by media messages telling us that the older we get, the weaker and less worthwhile we become,” she wrote. “I learned to ignore that junk years ago.”
Though she’s passionate about hiking at any age, Spicer will attest that hiking for older folks can be made easier with the proper equipment. To help you feel safe and empowered on the trail, we asked Spicer and some of our favorite hikers over 50 for their favorite gear and tools to take with them on the go.
“Beyond safety, I recommend that older hikers consider what will make their hike more fun,” Spicer told HuffPost. “Often, this comes from maximizing time to rest and recover.”
Whether you’re a casual day hiker or are taking a multi-day, multi-mile trip, we hope you find some new handy things to make taking that next step even easier.
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If you’re looking for more footwear tips, check out what hikers over 50 had to say about their favorite hiking boots.