Fitness should be a part of everybody’s lifestyle. Even though there are many ways to stay fit and healthy such as training, running, cycling, sports activities, etc., walking and hiking are two of the simplest and most effective ways to keep the body and mind healthy.
While it may sound not as good as a proper training routine, the two are still very effective in certain areas.
Hiking vs Walking
The difference between hiking and walking is that hiking is a type of walking that is defined by long walks, especially for pleasure. On the other hand, walking is referred to as moving at one’s own feet for no specified distance or time.
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Hiking is referred to as a type of walking that usually involves long walks purposely done for pleasure. It is also an exercise that is good for people who have a sedentary or busy lifestyle.
Furthermore, hiking helps connect with nature and observe it. It generally is for half or even a full day.
Walking is referred to as the movement that is done on one’s own feet. The purpose of walking is directly related to daily life. To do almost any task, the person walks and achieves.
It is the most basic form of exercise that one should do who has a very sedentary lifestyle. There is no specific time for walking, it can be done in a few seconds or might even last for a longer time.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Hiking | Walking |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A type of walking. | Moving on one’s own feet. |
| Time | Involves a half or full day. | Involves only a few minutes. |
| Purpose | Pleasure, connecting with nature, etc. | Achieving almost any task. |
| Strenousness | Can be strenuous. | Rarely strenuous. |
| Equipment | May demand equipment. | No equipment is needed. |
What is Hiking?
Hiking is referred to as a type of walking that usually involves long walks purposely done for pleasure. It is also an exercise that is good for people who have a sedentary or busy lifestyle.
Furthermore, hiking helps connect with nature and observe it. It generally is for a half or a full day. Even though it is not directly a training routine, it is an excellent additive for people who have a sedentary lifestyle and don’t wish to indulge in hardcore workouts.
Hiking is not very tiring for some people, and it is very effective for good health in the long run. Hiking pumps the heart and makes it beat faster, which reduces the risk of heart-related diseases, improves blood pressure, regulates blood sugar levels, and boosts bone density, etc.
Nevertheless, the most significant purpose of hiking is that it enhances the mood.
While hiking is not as strenuous as trekking, it is still more strenuous than walking. For people who have had a prolonged injury in the lower body, hiking might be more strenuous than most regular people.
It is not recommended for such people to go on long hikes directly, it is important to slowly increase the time and intensity.
What is Walking?
Walking is referred to as the movement that is done on one’s own feet. The purpose of walking is directly related to daily life. To do almost any task, the person walks and achieves.
It is the most basic form of exercise that one should do who has a very sedentary lifestyle. There is no specific time for walking, it can be done in a few seconds or might even last for a longer time.
Even though walking is not directly a training routine, it is the minimum additive that one must introduce in his or her life who doesn’t wish to indulge in specified training routines.
Walking is not very tiring for most people, and it is the least that someone can do to not get unhealthy. For anyone who doesn’t walk at all, even walking can help beat the heart faster, which is important to keep the heart-healthy.
While walking is not strenuous for most people, it can be strenuous for some people who have a serious injury in the lower body or for somebody who’s been a patient in bed for a long time. For such people, walking step-by-step only, and slowly getting used to walking again is the appropriate way to start.
Main Differences Between Hiking and Walking
- Hiking is done for pleasure whereas walking is done to achieve almost every task.
- Hiking can be strenuous and tiring for some people as it requires consistent effort for a long time. On the other hand, walking is rarely strenuous.
- Hiking requires much more time when compared to walking, which requires little to no time.
- Hiking is a total body workout and helps build stamina whereas walking is one of the most basic exercises and is great for beginners.
- Hiking helps achieve emotional pleasure, mental pleasure, connecting with nature closely. On the other hand, walking is a very basic task.
- https://meridian.allenpress.com/japma/article-abstract/83/9/499/155166
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204614001480
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
