Even when you’re staring up at a steep incline, there are things you can do in the moment to ease the strain on your body and make climbing less painful.

1. Prepare well

Before you even get started, you’ll need to prep your body for the challenge it’s about to take on. That includes warming up and getting your muscles primed for action.

“Like any exercise, it is important to warm up and stretch before walking uphill,” Weston says. “This will prevent any injuries, prepare your body for the workout ahead, loosen up your joints, increase flexibility and allow the blood to release more oxygen that your body will need to exercise.

“Your warmup only needs to last around five to ten minutes and should include dynamic stretches. Dynamic stretches could involve static lunges, arm circles and hip circles.”

Margo agrees. “You can warm up by walking or jogging on the spot,” she adds. “A go-to for me with any warmup is using some muscle roll-on to massage out any niggles and the muscles you’ll be working when going uphill, like your hamstrings, glutes and calf muscles.”

Preparation can also involve having the right shoes for your hike, as well as packing snacks and hydration in your bag for on-the-go fuel.

2. Focus on your form

Adopting correct form is one of the best things you can do to make walking uphill feel easier – and it’s relatively simple.

“When walking uphill or incline walking it is easy to lean back, but you should be vertical or leaning slightly forward and keeping your core engaged to help with balance,” Weston explains. “However, be mindful of how far you are leaning forward as this could put strain on your back.”

How to make walking uphill feel easier: 7 expert-backed tips