I hate excercising indoors!

when I'm hiking or strolling the beach I don't feel like it's exercise....

Very much so!! Unless you have bad knees.

Advantage of treadmill: No bad weather. No mountain lions.

Advantage of hiking: Nice scenery, fresh air.

Don't know if it's better, but I enjoy a long walk with my dog over a treadmill. I have a high energy Border Collie, she needs exercise daily and it doesn't hurt me either.

I did a 12-mile walk on Sunday, had a bunch of loose end plot points I had to work through for the next book. I think better when I'm walking. It was a little cooler out than I like, but it was OK and I felt better afterwards.

I don't find treadmills to be as good. Yeah, you get the exercise in, but the scenery tends to be a little repetitive.

Hiking or even jogging outside is much more free feeling, you get a more random hills and plus you get to meet people. I do a 5 mile loop which takes about 45 minutes usually but some days it takes longer depending on the people that are out and wanting to talk...lol.

I would say so.

I absolutely hate treadmills & ellipticals...I need to go somewhere when I get out! I have a few workout friends that always invite me to go with them to do those things, but I'd much rather hit the woods or jog down the road with my doggys.

Dreadmills.........enough said.

Same for stationary bikes.

You use more muscles outside, you have to factor in keeping balance, differing terrain, arm swing...

they both have their advantages, treadmills are great cardio. Hiking is great for the whole body and more strenuous. Chances are you will be more sore after a good hike too. way more adventurous.

whoops! double post.

I can't speak for myself, but I have a female friend that has gotten involved with a Hiking club. She absolutely loves it she has met great people, viewed some beautiful scenery, and gotten into great shape. She has said that she gets a little sore after a strenuous hike, but like any exercise it gets easier the more you do it. As for it's effectiveness, I can only say that she looks incredible. She has been Hiking for about 6-8 months and looks 10 years younger.

A lot has to do with your location, if you have easy access to scenic trails, and some willing company give it a try. If you are inexperienced you may want to look into a local group. Keep in mind that like any sport the proper equipment is important too. Hiking can put stress on different parts of the body than a gym workout. Boots with good ankle support are a MUST, uneven terrain, slippery footings and other natural hazards can cause twisted ankles or worse if you are not properly equipped. Give it a try, go take a hike!

As with any form of exercise, it's what you put into it.

(She's already deactivated... didn't even last a day.)

Well the original poster might be gone, but the thread is still here. As I was doing my five miles today this topic popped into my head. When you are on a treadmill you have the comfort of giving up when ever you want, but if you are out in the real world for a run then you have to push it out and keep going especially if you are making a big loop. Plus on a treadmill you are still stuck in the house (if it is your own) and that is what I like to get away from and just clear my head...

I've got an old school Nordictrack and the thing I like about it is it has an odometer on it. I can watch the next hundred meters roll by, and, for me, it seems easier to make myself do "just one more" than I did the day before.

Plus, living in the country, I don't track as much dirt/mud into the house.

Of course some days I wish I had a Nordicsled.

Its really a healthly lifestyle versus a personal health issues question.

I had bone surgery in my feet when i was 15, so i can't handle odd terrains. If I could, I would definitely go for nature walks because its so relaxing and healthy.