Is this the ultimate hiking playlist?
Spotify data reveals the most popular songs to listen to while hiking
Do you have a favourite hiking playlist? As springtime is upon us, many people will be looking to spend more time outdoors.
Google search volumes around ‘walking routes’ and ‘hiking trails’ spike at this time of year, as people look to embrace the outdoors more throughout Spring and beyond.
Listening to music whilst hiking is extremely popular, as music is both a fantastic motivator and an energy booster.
With that in mind, waterproof accessory retailer, Sealskinz, have created the ultimate hiking playlist, to inspire as many people as possible to get out and about for some much needed fresh air.
Analysing over 40,000 songs across 300 playlists, the retailer has revealed the top tracks people are listening to when out on a hike.
What makes a good track to hike to?
The results show a mixture of upbeat pop songs and sing-along power ballads, which offer the perfect motivation on long hikes.
Topping the list is Ed Sheeran with Shape of You, which boasts an impressive over three billion plays on Spotify alone. The track has a fairly high BPM of 96 which is perfect for a mid-tempo hike.
The majority of songs are from the pop genre and have higher BPM (beats per minute), including Blinding Lights, Sorry and Don’t Start Now, which have BPMs of 171, 100 and 124 respectively.
It’s perhaps unsurprising that such songs have made the list, as recent research has revealed that faster paced songs are brilliant for exercise as they can improve endurance.
However, lyrics can also impact your mood, according to recent studies by various sports scientists.
This may explain why hikers are loving songs such as Someone You Loved and Shallow.
Interestingly, the top ten is dominated by more recent songs, with the most tracks heralding from the 2010s.
What are the top ten most popular hiking tracks?
The top ten most popular hiking tracks, according to Spotify are:
- Shape of you – Ed Sheeran
- Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
- Dance Monkey – Tones and I
- Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
- Believer – Imagine Dragons
- Bad Guy – Billie Eilish
- Don’t Start Now – Dua Lipa
- Shallow – Lady Gaga
- Watermelon Sugar – Harry Styles
- Sorry – Justin Bieber
What hiking gear should you wear in Spring?
Of course music isn’t the only factor that can impact a hike.
Experts also stress the importance of appropriate walking gear too, so much so that searches for ‘hiking gear’ often rise dramatically during spring time, with over 174,000 searches in last April and May alone.
If you’re looking to head out on a hike this spring, James Moody, director at Sealskinz, also gives some top tips on what to wear.
“Lightweight layers are key when hiking during springtime the weather can change quickly, especially when going from one altitude to another.”
“An essential piece of kit is a lightweight waterproof jacket to keep you protected from the rain but won’t weigh you down or keep you too warm when the sun is out.
“Thin thermal gloves are also brilliant for keeping hands warm but still allowing movement and flexibility should you need your hands for scrambling or opening rucksacks.”
Moody also mentions that a hat should be on your hiking kit list for when you reach the top of peaks, as winds can still become quite bitter during the spring months.
To listen to the top 50 hiking tracks, Sealskinz has created its own playlist which you can listen to on your next hike.
