Do you hike with headphones? In light of the latest (and slightly baffling) #SilentWalk trend, Tamara explains why she never does, and never will.
An article by the New York Times recently popped up on my Twitter feed that made me realise I officially no longer identify as part of the younger generation.
The piece was captioned with “No talking. No podcasts. No music. Just some time alone with your thoughts. The silent walk is TikTok’s latest wellness obsession”.
It turns out that walking without listening to anything via headphones or even talking is now a ‘trend’ taking Gen Z by storm.
It all started with a Tik Toker posting a 30 minute ‘silent walk’ amassing over half a million views and subsequently going viral. People started copying and posting videos of themselves doing the same with the hashtag #silentwalk.
But why have headphones become such an integral part of our walking experience in the first place?
For many, urban environments with their constant hum of activity might feel overwhelming, making headphones a retreat into a curated, personal soundscape.
Out on the paths, it might be about creating motivation; the rhythm of a song helping to keep up a pace. Some may prefer to use them as a buffer to create a bubble of seclusion.
Or perhaps we’re simply creatures of habit, forgetting (or unable) to properly disconnect and listen to our own minds when engulfed in silence?
As much as I find it utterly baffling that people are only just ‘discovering’ going on walks without headphones, I’m not here to slag anyone off – getting outside is getting outside after all. I’m genuinely pleased for people. But seeing the article shocked me nonetheless. People are clearly ill at ease without noise constantly pumped into their ears. It’s a reflection of our modern, constantly-connected lives.
Are people really missing out on the joy of a walk void of all human noise?
The rustling of leaves, the tweeting of beautiful British birdsong, the trickling of water over pebbles in becks, the distant bleating of lambs – it’s the blissful soundtrack of nature. I even find the clonking of my walking boots on the earth utterly meditative. To me, there is no better sound than that of a stroll in the British countryside.
Why occupy my mind with something that I can easily experience at home on any other given day?
I go into nature to escape the noise of life, not to bring it with me.
Walking distraction free in silence allows me to become attuned to the small nuances of my external environment. The rustle in the bushes alerting me to wildlife I’d otherwise walk right past, for example. And importantly, I have an opportunity to become more in touch with how I feel. Nature is therapy after all (it’s even being prescribed by doctors!)
My headphones always stay at home. Hell, sometimes even my phone too. By wearing headphones and listening to an audiobook or music, a powerful sense is deprived. That not only removes an enriching element of the whole ‘outdoor experience’ thing, it’s not always safe to do either.
With music blasting, how can I hear if a tractor is bombing it down the country lane behind me, or if someone is alerting me to a hazard?
According to an article by the Guardian discussing a new study, wearing headphones makes you lose sense of your surroundings and can endanger lives. In fact,
injuries and death with people wearing headphones has tripled in six years.
That’s a lot!
As an avid solo hiker, and a woman, there’s something that makes me a little uneasy about the thought of being on remote footpaths, and being at least partially deaf and unaware of what is going on around me. Hiking with headphones in my book is dangerous.
And then there’s the micro-joy in the small talk exchanged with strangers; chatting about the weather (“Gorgeous day isn’t it” / ”Aye, but it’s not gonna last”), admiring a cute dog or sharing a laugh at being the only hardcore walkers in a torrential rain downpour.
There are studies on how small talk with strangers has many health benefits, such as improving mental health and relieving the feeling of loneliness.
But when you wear headphones, it’s a very clear “do not talk to me” signal.
Wearing headphones not only isolates you from your environment, but minor (yet important) social interactions.
While I respect the choices of every walker and their chosen background track, I urge everyone to regularly try this ‘new-old’ way of silent walking, beyond it being, (for young people in particular), just a passing ‘trend’.
Let nature be your playlist and strangers your sporadic co-hosts. You might just discover a different kind of melody – one that’s been around us all along, the reawakening of our tech-free connections to the world.
Do you have an opinion on hiking with headphones?
I have yet to try a #silentwalk and I despise with people blast their music during hikes. I do enjoy chatting while hiking as it provides a time to catch up with friends and family.
Great post. I used to go for walks in the city and always had my headphones in listening to a podcast. I stopped doing that in the past year and really helps to open my other senses to the environment around me. I’ve noticed things I never noticed before. I love it! I’ve always liked without headphones so I can hear wildlife. Now if I could manage to run without headphones.
This baffled me as well. It’s fascinating to watch this younger generation “invent” things older generations have been doing for ever (looking you cursive, aka writing with connected letters, lol). I rarely use headphones when I walk and never when I hike. When walking it’s a safety issue. And, for me, it’s a great time to get deep into my thoughts and figure out whatever need figuring out within.
I agree that walking in the nature is best without headphones – nothing can beat listening to birds singing. While moving around the city, good headphones are a must for blocking noise.
Hikes are a time for me to relax, and part of that is listening to the surrounding sounds. Sometimes these are solo, other times with friends or family.
I am always hiking without headphones. When you’re out hiking, especially on trails or in areas where wildlife may be present, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings. Being able to hear sounds can help you stay safe.