While summer offered ample opportunity to get out and soak up the sun, the autumn season is just as thrilling for those who love to be outside. With fall in full swing, now's a great time to enjoy the vibrant foliage while dressed in cozy layers. You can go on a hike and take in everything nature has to offer before the snow rolls in.

Hiking offers more than breathtaking sights – it's great for the mind, body and soul.

Reasons to go on a hike this fall

Whether you're jogging flat trails or navigating though rough terrain, hiking offers a multitude of benefits.

1. Strengthen your core
It's no surprise that hiking builds strong leg muscles. But it's also a great form of cardiovascular fitness and core exercise that helps you improve your balance skills, especially when your hike includes elevated landscape or uneven trails that make it more difficult, according to Julie Corliss, executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter.

2. Clear your mind
There's something relaxing about escaping the hustle and bustle of a normal workday: unplugging from all of your devices and letting the great outdoors embrace you. In fact, a study by Stanford University researchers published in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Science" found that people who spent just 90 minutes in a natural area rather than an urban setting experience a reduction in rumination, which is repetitive negative thought.

"These results suggest that accessible natural areas may be vital for mental health in our rapidly urbanizing world," said co-author Gretchen Daily, a professor of environmental science. "Our findings can help inform the growing movement worldwide to make cities more livable, and to make nature more accessible to all who live in them."

3. Get the family together
While hiking can be a great individual escape from your normal day-to-day agenda, it's also a fun activity to enjoy with family or friends. Social isolation has a major impact on your overall health, making it essential to get out and hang out with others on a regular basis. This fall, invite a group of people to go on a bi-weekly hike until the snow begins to fall or the temperatures become too crisp.

Keep these safety tips in mind

Ensure your safety while you're on your hike with the following suggestions:

1. Stay hydrated
Even if you're not overheated during your hike, it's important to stay hydrated. A moderate-to-strenuous walk uses up a lot of the body's energy and makes you sweat, so you need to make sure you're refueling your system throughout the hike. Keep a couple of water bottles in your backpack just to be safe.

2. Protect your feet
Beyond wearing hiking boots designed specifically for walking through uneven terrain, foot orthotics can provide comfort through strenuous training like hiking. Specifically, Soft Stride products are designed with viscoelastic polymer that mimics the qualities of soft body tissue and redistributes pressure throughout the foot.

Browse the Soft Stride insoles offered by Brownmed today.