What are ways you stay safe while hiking/trail running alone?

27 comments

1. If you run in the early mornings, be aware when under trees.

2. Stay safe from what? Are you worried about other people, wildlife, getting lost, bad weather, something else?

3. Let ppl know where I’m going and carry some basic tools like leathrman/knife/medkit.

4. There are a few things you can do to stay safe while hiking or trail running alone. First, tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Second, carry a whistle and/or bear horn to use if you need help. Third, carry a phone in case of an emergency. Finally, be aware of your surroundings and don’t take unnecessary risks.

5. I look like an off duty hitman, unless I wear my coat then ot looks like I’m on duty

6. Is this a wildlife/physical endurance/weather elements/or a sexual predator question?

7. Mace is always good to have.

8. Knife, 24-hr survival kit, spare batteries/charger, bear spray, GPS, paper map.

   That’s only for really going out.

   If I’m camping at a site or walking a trail I just bring my usual stuff. As long as you’re careful and not stupid you’ll be fine.

9. Well… stick on trails I already know well so there’s no chance of getting lost.

10. Hiking ill carry concealed, any other time I have my leatherman on me

11. Knowing no one is gonna attack me. So I just play music.

12. Safe from what?

13. Safe? From what? Bears? Wolves?

    If I’m worried about anything it’s just having enough water, really.

14. Just don’t go. You’re welcome

15. I wear a suit of armour.

16. If you’re that concerned about getting hurt in the wild, that’s a solid indicator that you shouldn’t do it.

17. Guns

18. I bring duct tape, WD40, my glock 17.4, gold dot + p 9mm ammo. Basically I pull a wagon full of stuff

19. Since your a woman maybe ask this question on one of the women subreddits?

    Are you asking ways in general, for a man or for a woman.

    If it’s in general hike/run with a group or with at least one other person (friend or relative).

20. Holy crap, I love so much that you can clearly tell how none of them men hike here that when this questioned is being phrased, they don’t understand the legitimate dangers being presented by doing this on their own

    Depending on how far away you’re going to be (for those who don’t understand, usually when it’s trail running this means going miles outside of usual civilization where nature is the bigger factor here, not people) decide if it makes sense to say, bring a GPS, emergency SOS device with you over just having your phone.

    Make sure to have a map attached to you; I’m assuming you don’t keep the paper map on you, but just make sure to either save a local map via Google Maps, or AllTrails or whatever you prefer. Most phones even without cell service have compasses, so while it’s getting to overkill, it never hurts to learn how to use a compass and map to figure out your relative location

    From there, the normal stuff of knowing your own personal limits, staying on the trail and letting people know before you start the hike some rough timeframes. Keep whoever your emergency contact information is as a physical backup in addition to bringing some cash and your ID. Stay hydrated, and especially for concepts like trail running, it’s always a good mindset to stay conservative and not over extend yourself. The vast majority of people who end up lost or dying out there, usually have their one moment where they want to just try something different, or push a little bit more and it’s generally ill advised if you’re the only one doing it

    Also sorry that when you go into here to ask a hobby specific question, the only answers you got were from men telling you to either bring a gun (… for a hike?) or just think you’re walking around a public park and are downplaying how serious you should be taking this

21. Run fast and with purpose.

22. What are you concerned about?

23. Carry a gun. Two even.

24. Never went hiking(although mushroom foraging in forest is pretty popular), but most dangerous thing in the forest is tick.

    As for running most dangerous things are cars and their drivers.

25. Bring my phone, tell someone where I’m going, stay on the path, don’t eat anything I can’t identify.

    If I’m going for a long one, I check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothing and a map and compass- real ones, not shitty phone versions; not many Scots pines have USB ports.

    Food and drink is always a good idea, too; nobody is going to die of thirst around here, but mountain streams that look crystal clear might have something gribbly in them further up, so best not chance it, unless you like the taste of rotting deer arse.

26. I’m thinking of arming myself for this purpose, hope I don’t procrastinate it until it’s too late.

    What might be even more useful to you is to have the biggest fuck-off dog you can get and feed tag along, with a quick-removal muzzle if such a thing exists.

    Note: own large dogs responsibly, if you’re going to do it. Especially don’t mutilate their ears, urgh!

27. Gun