The Answer Might Surprise You.
By Jeffrey Davis - Updated: June 26, 2022
Hiking is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. It is also a great way to get some exercise and stay fit.
But is hiking a sport or hobby?
This is a question that has caused much debate over the years. Some people believe that hiking is only a leisure activity, while others think of it as a challenging physical activity.
So, what is the answer?
Well, the answer is not as clear-cut as you might think.
Let’s take a closer look at both sides of the argument and see if we can come to a conclusion.
What is a Sport?
Sport may be defined as an organized (by a governing body), competitive activity in which participants compete for entertainment and prize-winning purpose within set rules and guidelines.
From the definition above, we can isolate two key criteria that must be present for an activity to be considered a sport: “governing body” and “set rules”.
The governing bodies can be either an official organization, such as a national Olympic committee, or the International Skateboarding Federation.
As long as there is some kind of governing body that sets and enforces rules, the activity can be considered a sport.
The second criteria are rules and regulations.
These rules can be as simple as “no hitting below the belt” in boxing, or as complicated as the rule book for cricket.
Usually, the rules are put in place to ensure safety and fair competition among participants.
But without these rules, the activity would just devolve into chaos.
Now that we know what qualifies as a sport, let’s see what a hobby is.
What is a Hobby?
A hobby is typically an activity that is done for enjoyment, without any competitive or financial motive.
Some popular hobbies include things like collecting stamps or coins, knitting, and woodworking.
Hobbies are usually undertaken because they provide some sort of satisfaction, whether it be mental, physical, or emotional.
So now that we know the difference between a sport and a hobby, let’s now address the question at hand.
Is Hiking a Sport or Hobby?
As we hinted earlier, the answer is not as clear-cut as you might think.
The answer is: it depends!
If you are someone who just enjoys going for a hike on the weekends with no competitive or financial motive, then it is definitely a hobby.
But if you are part of an organized group that goes hiking with the intention of competing in races or events, then it is considered a sport.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to how you view hiking.
Do you see it as a leisurely activity or a challenging physical activity?
The answer is up to you!
We hope this article helped clear up some of the confusion surrounding this topic.
Do you have any questions or comments? We would love to hear from you in the comment section below.
Alternatively, you can contact us directly through our email that is available on our contact page, and we would be more than happy to answer any of your hiking-related questions.
Thank you for reading! until next time, stay safe and Happy Hiking!