Hiking faster is a goal many mountaineers have, especially when facing tough terrains and long trails. It often feels like a big challenge to boost your pace without exhausting yourself.
Fortunately, you can increase your hiking speed with simple daily habits. These habits build your endurance, balance, and mental strength gradually, making faster hiking feel natural over time.
By the end of this article, you will have easy, effective habits to add to your daily routine that can consistently improve your hiking speed.
Your 3 Daily Habits To Increase Hiking Speed
Habit 1 — Morning Hydration Kickstart
Why: Staying well-hydrated energizes your muscles and helps you maintain a faster pace during hikes.
How: Every morning, drink a full glass of water right after waking to replenish fluids lost overnight. This simple hydration habit supports your endurance and overall energy levels.
Cue: Place a glass or bottle of water on your bedside table the night before as a reminder to drink first thing.
Habit 2 — Balance Training While Brushing Teeth
Why: Improving your balance helps reduce fatigue and enhances speed on uneven trails.
How: Stand on one leg while brushing your teeth daily. To increase the challenge, close your eyes or gently sway to engage your core and stabilizer muscles.
Cue: Tie this habit to your morning and evening toothbrushing routine for consistency.
Habit 3 — Positive Mantra for Mental Momentum
Why: A positive mindset fuels motivation and helps push through moments of fatigue when trying to increase hiking speed.
How: Choose a short, encouraging phrase like “I am strong and fast.” Repeat this mentally during a daily break or while sitting down for lunch.
Cue: Link this habit to a consistent moment in your day, such as lunchtime or a daily coffee break.
Week 1 Schedule
| Day | Habit 1 | Habit 2 | Habit 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Drink morning water | Balance on one leg brushing teeth (morning & evening) | Repeat positive mantra at lunch |
| Tuesday | Drink morning water | Balance on one leg brushing teeth (morning & evening) | Repeat positive mantra at lunch |
| Wednesday | Drink morning water | Balance on one leg brushing teeth (morning & evening) | Repeat positive mantra at lunch |
| Thursday | Drink morning water | Balance on one leg brushing teeth (morning & evening) | Repeat positive mantra at lunch |
| Friday | Drink morning water | Balance on one leg brushing teeth (morning & evening) | Repeat positive mantra at lunch |
| Saturday | Drink morning water | Balance on one leg brushing teeth (morning & evening) | Repeat positive mantra at lunch |
| Sunday | Drink morning water | Balance on one leg brushing teeth (morning & evening) | Repeat positive mantra at lunch |
Troubleshooting
Barrier: Forgetting to drink water first thing.
Fix: Keep a water bottle or glass right next to your bed as a visual cue to boost your morning increase hiking speed.
Barrier: Losing balance while standing on one leg.
Fix: Start near a sturdy surface like a wall or countertop for support and gradually reduce reliance as your balance improves.
Barrier: Difficulty remembering to repeat positive mantras.
Fix: Tie the mantra habit to an existing daily routine event, like lunch, and set a phone reminder if needed for consistent practice.
FAQs
Q: How soon can I expect to see improvements in hiking speed?
A: With consistent practice of these daily habits, you can start noticing better endurance and balance usually within 2 to 4 weeks, which naturally helps increase hiking speed.
Q: Can these habits be combined with my current training routine?
A: Absolutely. These habits are designed to integrate easily alongside your existing workouts to complement and enhance your hiking performance.
Q: What if I miss a day of these habits?
A: Missing a day is normal. Simply get back to the habits as soon as you can to keep gradually building momentum toward your goal to increase hiking speed.
Tracking & Motivation Tips
Use a simple journal or app to track when you complete each habit daily. Seeing your streak grow can motivate you to keep going. Celebrate small wins like faster walking pace on your next hike to stay inspired.
Key Takeaways For Increasing Hiking Speed With Daily Habits
Incorporating consistent daily habits such as morning hydration, balance exercises, and positive self-talk strengthens your body and mind. These simple actions build the foundation you need to safely and effectively increase hiking speed over time.
Start small, be steady, and watch your hiking pace improve as these easy habits become a natural part of your routine.
Join the Waitlist
Ready to put these habits into action? Dayspire helps you reach any goal with simple daily habits. Join the waitlist now to be the first to get invited to Dayspire!
