Why do people like to hike uphill? The answer is that it gives them lots of benefits that other outdoor activities cannot. For example, they can exercise their muscles and increase their stamina, which will make them more energetic in the future. However, if you are not physically prepared for an uphill hike, this activity could be very tough for you. I have written this post below to help you learn which exercises give explosive power for hiking uphill!
Table of Contents
Best Types of Exercises for Explosive Power Hiking Uphill
Squats
Hiking uphill is exhausting, and leg strength plays a significant role. The four types of squats below will improve your upper legs for power on the trail, especially when going up steep slopes or hillsides with loose dirt at their base that requires traction to ascend unscathed!
Jump Squats
Jump squats are just like regular, sedentary squats, except that you jump up immediately on every repetition. Start as if in a normal squat stance with feet shoulder-width apart and toes pointed out; align hips to the alignment of shoulders while keeping straight spine until reaching ground level, then jumping back off again after landing softly into another deep knee bend ready for the next rep.
Jump squats will make you stronger and more agile. Not only that but the higher jump squat has been proven to help hikers hike up hills with ease because it works out most muscles in addition to building upper body muscle while also strengthening your back!
Barbell Back Squat
A Barbell Back Squat is an Advance squat but adds weight by holding on to your shoulder. This exercise will need to be performed in the gym or somewhere else with a squat rack, the leg strength of which can’t go unnoticed! The bar sits across from you; then follows all actions as if performing an unassuming single-leg affair: feet at shoulder-width apart and lowered hips vertically towards the floor while the straight backstays erect throughout it all – just what one might expect when lifting such heavy things high.
The barbell squat will help you get used to carrying extra weight on your back like a hiking backpack. This is because the weighted bar allows for heavy loads, even if it’s not pack-heavy; however, these squats should only account for about 20% of all exercise reps during training sessions or less than 1 out of 5 total sets (or carry). You’ll want this since otherwise, there could be an issue with muscle development from doing too many reps!
Goblet Squat
Goblet squats are weighted squats that have the same motion as their unweighted counterpart, but instead, you hold some form in front of yourself. Any dumbbells or kettlebells will work for this exercise; make sure to engage your core and keep it tight at all times so that any injury does not occur!
The Goblet squat is a great exercise to strengthen your legs, and it also works out the arms. When hiking, you will be carrying anything on your back, so these muscles have to work hard for their weight!
Lunges are a great way to get the muscles you use when hiking. When performing this exercise, make sure not only do they work your legs but also focus on using an inclusive range of motion that hits all parts: quads (the most significant thigh muscle), hamstrings, and glutes or “gastrocnemius” as it’s known scientifically among other fitness experts around the world!
Single-Leg Squat
Do you know those times when you’re just too tired to do a full squat? Well, single-leg squats are here for the rescue. They’ll help strengthen your legs even more without sacrificing form! To perform this exercise properly (and most importantly), lift one leg and put all of that force into moving down with only using what’s in front or behind – don’t lean back because otherwise, people might call us crazy ;)If performing both sides is still not enough then try adding weights if possible but remember safety comes first.
Single leg squats are a great exercise to strengthen your balance and agility. When you use only one leg, it is easier for the body because there’s no weight on both legs at once, so they’ll grow stronger much quicker than if we had an uneven surface like stairs or soft ground where some of our feet might come down before pushing off again with momentum from setting into each step uphill.
Lunges
Squats are an essential part of developing leg muscles, but if you’re going up a mountain and need that quick burst of power, then lunges may be what’s best for you. They work just as well with your glutes and thighs while also putting lots more emphasis on them than squats do! It’ll help keep things interesting when hiking – think about how often we have to take long steps or run at our pace without stopping every second, like in certain cartoons.
Walking Lunges
Walking lunges are a great way to work muscles all over your body, including those in the calf and upstream leg area. To do walking lunge exercises: stand with plenty of space before you; lift one leg, so it’s at about 90 degrees from its ground position (knees bent); take giant steps forward while keeping this stance until both knees nearly meet on their own accord- repeat for 1 set each!!
You can also hold weights in each hand to gain more strength and endurance from your walking lunges. You do not need a vast space, as you will be working out indoors or outdoors! Walking lunges are one of the best ways for those looking to increase their hiking power on an upcoming hike because it works so many different muscles, which increases our overall fitness levels with just simple movements at home every day-sometimes all that’s needed is 30 minutes 3 times per week (or less!)
Scissor Hop Lunges
Lunge scissor hops are a great way to get your heart rate up and work on strength and flexibility. Start with a standard lunge, but instead of stepping forward or returning to a standing position after landing in one foot and with arms outstretched like the blades of scissors while keeping other leg extended behind you at all times so that they come together as if closing them for defense mode; this action will prepare muscles equally well!
The lunge jumps will increase your leg strength and make uphill hiking easier. You can also do walking scissor hop lunges, increasing endurance for explosive speed while on the trail!
Endurance Exercises
Endurance exercises will help you build power for uphill hiking. The more stamina and endurance in your legs, the longer they’ll be able to keep on going when faced with a challenging climb up an incline!
Hill or Bleacher Runs
Running up hills or bleachers is a great way to build strength and endurance while hiking because you are using the same muscles that would be used during an uphill hike. The more often we use them in this activity – whether at higher elevations with fewer trees for footing- the better they’ll become when it comes time to return home again! You can find some nearby if there are no hills around where your local high school stadium might offer something like this; many schools have made such paths available as well, so check before getting too far away from town centers just yet (I recommend not going over ten minutes).
Step-Ups
Step-ups are a great way to work on your legs and lungs. You can do the high or low, but the higher you step up, the faster these muscles will grow in strength because they’re used every day while walking with our pets from one room of their house into another. This motion uses all four of our lower body’s muscle groups – which means by doing so, we’ll benefit not only now but also when hiking uphill later!