Hiking Vs Trekking: What’s The Difference?
There’s a lot of debate over outdoor terms, and precisely what they mean. Many are unofficial and don’t have an exact definition, but there are usually common interpretations most people agree on. Hiking and trekking are such terms, and their differences can be quite unclear.
The fundamental distinction between hiking and trekking is the emphasis of the activity: a hike is a pleasant walk in nature, whereas a trek is a more challenging journey. Treks often take place on longer, more remote, and more rough trails than hikes.
Read on to learn more about hiking and trekking, and the main differences most people agree there are between them.
What is the difference between hiking and trekking?
Hiking and trekking commonly refer to very similar outdoor activities. For example, when you search the Wikipedia term for “Trekking” you’ll be referred to “Backpacking (Hiking)”((Wikipedia contributors. Backpacking (hiking). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.)). But as for hikers’ lingo, there’s a slight difference. Both terms refer to some type of outdoor activity that involves taking long walks on foot, typically out in nature.
The commonly agreed difference between hiking and trekking is that the emphasis of a trek is typically on the challenge and the journey, whereas the emphasis of a hike is usually on the pleasant experience of walking in nature.
In Oxford Dictionary the words do have somewhat different descriptions:
- Hike((“hike, n.1.” OED Online. Oxford University Press)): “A long walk or walking tour”
- Trek((“trek, n.1.” OED Online. Oxford University Press)): “A long arduous journey, especially one made on foot”
The formal descriptions show the similarities and different emphases of the activities.
The terminology does change with context, though. For example, thru-hiking is a term related to trekking end-to-end of a long-distance trail((Wikipedia contributors. Thru-hiking. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.)). Though it has “hiking” in its name, it’s more accossiated with trekking.
Another common term for these sorts of outdoor activities is backpacking, though, in the case of backpacking, it usually refers to a short multi-day hike.
Let’s discuss the main differences and similarities between hiking and trekking.
The differences between hiking and trekking
The first main difference between hiking and trekking is the level of difficulty. Hikes vary in difficulty and have no specific level of how rough they are. A hike can be an easy walk on moderate terrain, or a very rough walk, climbing rocks on an incline. A trek can have different parts that vary in difficulty, but the overall trail is always rough.
Another difference between hikes and treks is the duration of the trip. You can hike for a short day trip, or go for a multi-day trip. Still, a hike typically refers to a shorter, 1-3 days trip. A trek is always a multi-day journey and can be much longer.
The difficulty level and the length of the duration do require different gear and equipment, so the gear you take to a hike can be a bit different from what you take to a trek.
On a day hike, you can take very minimal equipment – some food and water in a small daypack. For a multi-day hike and a trek you’ll need a proper backpack with night gear, but with trekking, you’ll usually need better equipment that can handle the rough terrain and additional food and water.
The nature of hikes makes them easier to organize and execute. A trek usually takes you to a more remote location, so planning your journey ahead is essential.
The similarities between hiking and trekking
Hiking and trekking refer to very similar activities, that involve long walks in nature. Both of these activities can be challenging yet enjoyable, and require similar gear.
The main focus of hiking and trekking is the outdoors, walking with the purpose to complete a trail while enjoying nature. Exploration is a big part of both activities.
Both hiking and trekking are challenging physical activities. A long and challenging day hike can be as challenging as a trekking day. Both outdoor activities require the participant to be physically fit and require some level of effort.
Conclusions
While hiking and trekking have a lot in common, they often differ in their emphasis, and thus in their level of difficulty.
A hike is about enjoying a walk in nature – it can be quite challenging, but the focus is on the joyous activity. A trek is more about the journey and the challenge, so they often take the trekker to more challenging and remote trails.
If you love walking in nature, you’ll probably enjoy both activities.
