Do what you love and never work again. That is something everyone has heard at least once. As true as that quote is, its easier said than done. While making money by hiking doesn’t seem like a reality, there are actually many options out there. You may not get rich with these options, but it can make you a few extra dollars to invest in your future travels.
Mobile Walking Apps
What if you could make money just by walking or in our case hiking? Well that’s exactly what the app called Evidation does. It pays you to walk. It tracks your steps on your smartphone or watch. The app will calculate your steps and award you points. Once you reach your designated points, you are able to cash out those points for cash. While it does take a while to accumulate points, just simply set it up and then you don’t have to worry about. You’re already walking anyway so why not make some money while doing it?.
Sell Your Photos
If you are like me, and love taking photos on hiking trips, you could sell those photos! One of the most popular ways to do this is through Shutterstock. If someone likes your photo, they will purchase it and you will get a commission. If stock sites are not your thing, you can check out Print on Demand sites like Redbubble and Finartamerica. Here, you can upload your photos and people can buy your photos as a print, mug, or pillow. These sites are great for low overhead and if you don’t want the hassle of holding inventory.
Youtube
While this may take some time to see any payoff, it is very much possible these days. There are many youtubers out there making a full-time living off of hiking and camping. This will take a lot of time and dedication, but it is possible. On youtube you will need to get 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours to start making money off of your videos.
Blogging
Just like Youtube, blogging will take more time to start generating some income, but it is the most commonmethod. All you have to do is document and write about your experiences and what you learned on your adventures or even about the gear you use. While blogging may be a little bit of a longer process than YouTube. Its a better option for people who love to write and are not comfortable in front of a camera for youtube videos. Once your blog starts getting traffic, you can apply for Google Ads and add Affiliate Links to your posts to start generating income from your posts.
Brand Ambassader
If you are an expert outdoorsman or woman with a social media presence. Try contacting your favorite gear companies for sponsored trips or for gear reviews. If youhiked the Triple Crown in the past year or two and have more adventures on the horizon, I’d say you’d have the experience and knowledge to work with these companies.
Money can complicate things for any industry. If you are soley getting into hiking and backpacking to make money you are in a world of hurt from the start. This hobby is something that will break you down while testing your limits and you truly have to love it to keep going. Again, you wont get rich with the list above, but it could help fund your next hike or at least your next hiking meal.
