EUROPE 1 AND YOU - Hiking, a sport that works more and more

Inès Zeghloul 10:27 am, March 16, 2023

Between the pension reform, the garbage collectors' strike and the spectre of a banking crisis, we still need to get some fresh air. Put on your fleece, let's go hiking. A sport that works: in France, there are almost 18 million followers, according to surveys. In terms of equipment, an accessory remains essential: a good pair of shoes.

"If the heel takes off, it's not good. And if you hit the end, it's not good," says the seller. Once shod, Louis tests his new pair of hikes on the false stone slope of the store. With one goal in mind: "to do the GR20 this summer," says the young man.

Intergenerational sport

A trail well known to regulars. But the young man in his twenties is a novice. Hiking is the only sport he has found to escape the city. "It's the fact of being autonomous for a few days, taking care of yourself. It allows you to change the air and discover landscapes that are not accessible otherwise."

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At Christiane's, parka in her hands for her little girl, it's a family affair. "Already very small, we were doing miles. The little girl goes hiking occasionally," says the grandmother. "I especially like walking in the forest. Hiking in the city, I don't really like it because there is nothing to see," adds his granddaughter. An intergenerational sport and above all accessible.

"If you have a good pair of shoes and a backpack, you can go for a walk on paths"

According to Julien, manager of the shop, this is the secret of a sport that works. "In truth, if you have a good pair of shoes and a backpack, you can go for a walk on paths, it's totally free. This is also why people are starting to appreciate this practice more and more," he explains.

Leisure or competition, hiking is unanimous: more than half of French people have already practiced it.