You want to do sports, but you don’t like the feeling of being locked up? Sports in the open air bring much more than a sports activity in a gym. They allow you to discover new places, and new sensations… But what are the sports you can practice in the wilderness? To give you some inspiration, the Modern Gentleman presents you with x sports to do in nature.
Bicycle and its derivatives make fate in the middle of nature
Cycling is one of those activities that will allow you to see a lot of the country! If you like to ride in nature, then cycling is ideal! Depending on your equipment, this sport can be done on tracks, roads, and steep and uneven terrain. Here are some cycling activities that you can do in the wilderness:
- Traditional cycling,
- Mountain Biking,
- Cross-country,
- Cani-biking…
In addition to its numerous advantages for the body and the spirit, cycling is a sport accessible in terms of difficulty. It can be done alone or with others, with experienced people or not, and with or without your dog… Be careful to choose your bike according to its use. There are indeed several main categories:
- The city bikes and reserved for limited use to the practical and comfortable displacement,
- Road and terrain bikes for sport and leisure use,
- Recumbent bicycles for sport and leisure, but on another category of equipment.
Walking and hiking for sports in nature
Walking is of course a sport that you can practice in nature. It has the advantage of requiring little equipment, and can be practiced almost anywhere and in all conditions. Here are some examples of walking sports:
- Running, Trail, Running, Marathon…
- Hiking,
- Nordic walking,
- Cani-cross,
- Cani-rando…
Most of these sports require little equipment: comfortable shoes and clothes adapted to physical activity. However, once again, it is essential to pay attention to your equipment choice.
Shoes can be short or high, soft (for rebound and speed), or rigid (for ankle support). They can have specific characteristics to analyze, such as waterproofing or weight.
Depending on the sport, the clothes will have to be close to the body and flexible (for running and speed sports) or comfortable, resistant, warm, or waterproof, in the case of hiking or Nordic walking.
Winter sports
Winter sports can also be practiced in the wilderness. You can practice them depending on the season or the place. There are dozens of them:
- Skiing, downhill or cross-country, alpine …
- Snowboarding,
- Sledding,
- Mountaineering,
- Snowshoeing and walking,
- Sled dogs…
Winter sports are among those that require some equipment. You will already have a basic outfit composed in general of: Thermal underwear, thermal socks, ski pants and jacket, snow boots or ski/snowboard shoes, gloves, goggles or ski mask (+ possibly scarf, hat…).
Then, depending on the discipline you choose, you will be able to provide yourself with a pair of skis, snowshoes, a snowboard, poles, a sled, or even the necessary equipment for pulling your dog.
Water sports to enjoy nature
Water sports are also part of the sports that you can do in the middle of nature, for your greatest pleasure. As for the other categories, there are several disciplines:
- Paddle, Sailing, Surfing…
- Canoe, Kayak, Rowing…
- Boat, catamaran…
- Rafting,
- Swimming,
- Water skiing, jet skiing, Wakeboard…
- Diving, etc…
Here again, the equipment chosen will depend on your discipline. Water sports generally require either a good swimsuit or a full or partial wetsuit. You may then be interested in buying a paddle or a canoe. You may also be interested in buying the essential equipment for diving. The rest of the sports will require you to go to recreational clubs, if you do not have an unlimited budget to buy a boat.
Other sports to do in the wilderness
There are many other sports that you can practice in the wilderness. All it takes is a little imagination or research. Here is a non-exhaustive list of sports and physical activities to do in nature:
- Climbing,
- Horseback riding,
- Via ferrata,
- Accrobranche,
- Summer sledding,
- Paragliding,
- Sandboarding,
- Caving,
- Fishing and hunting,
- Bivouac, orienteering, Raid…
More than ever, the equipment will depend on the chosen sport. Carabiners, ropes, sails, sliding boards, fishing rods… It seems vital to specify that some of these sports can be dangerous, especially if they are practiced with inappropriate equipment. Therefore, if you are a beginner, ensure you are accompanied and supervised by a club or an association.
You have now reached the end of this article, and we hope that it will enlighten you about the sports to practice in the wilderness. Do not hesitate to share with us your disciplines, and the best places you could discover thanks to them.