If you want to start hiking as an older adult or you hiked as a youth and are just getting back onto the trails, you’ll quickly discover that the hiking gear and skills used by today’s hikers have changed significantly in the past 20 years. From lightweight gear, footwear, and clothing to advances in GPS navigation and satellite communications, nearly every aspect of the hiking experience has been transformed, making hiking more accessible than ever for older adults.

Written by Philip Werner, the founder of the highly acclaimed hiking website SectionHiker.com, Hiking Over 60 will bring you up to speed on the hiking gear and techniques that modern hikers use today. Since retiring in 2010, Philip has hiked ten thousand miles in the United States and Scotland. An older hiker himself, he has a unique grasp of the physical challenges that mature hikers may face on the trail.

Part One on Hiking Fundamentals is written for beginner hikers, and covers the basic gear and techniques needed to day hike in local parks, conservation areas, state or national parks and forests, including:

• Footwear selection, including the pros and cons of trail runners, hiking shoes, and hiking boots.
• How to choose hiking clothing, including sun protective and insect repellent clothing.
• How much food and water to bring with you, and how to carry it.
• How to go to the bathroom outside.
• How to plan a day hike.
• Why you should leave a trip plan with a family member or trusted friend in case you get lost.
• How to use a map to navigate and not get lost.
• How to prevent blisters or treat them when they occur.
• What to pack in a first-aid kit.
• How to avoid wild animal encounters and stay safe.
• Who to call in an emergency with a cell phone or satellite messenger.
• The 10 essential pieces of hiking gear you should always carry.
• How to Leave No Trace so future generations can enjoy the outdoors.

Part Two, a Hiking Gear Guide, explains the why, what, and how of modern hiking gear and will be of interest to more experienced hikers as well as beginners. It includes gear recommendations to help you select the best gear for different adventures and budgets, including physical support aids to help keep aging hikers on the trail longer.

• How to create a hiking footwear system that prevents blisters, which includes footwear, socks, gaiters, insoles, protective tape, and lubricants to prevent blisters.
• How to layer clothing, including base layers, mid-layers, insulation layers, and weather-proof layers.
• How to choose and use trekking poles.
• Physical support aids, including orthopedic braces, straps, and compression sleeves, to eliminate pain, provide added support, and keep older hikers on the trail.
• How to choose and fit a daypack.
• How to filter and purify natural water sources in case you run out of water on a hike.
• The pros and cons of GPS units and GPS-enabled smartphone navigation apps.
• How to choose a hiking headlamp.
• And much, much more!