...to ask your opinions on a ‘walking commute’.

[LemonsLemonsLemonsLemons]

Background: new job, terrible public transport to new workplace. Scared to cycle, and can’t drive.

I need to be at my new work place fairly early each day (before 8). I figured it would be around a 45 minute walk door to door at a leisurely pace. Is there anyone out there who does a regular daily walking commute? Would 45 minutes of walking early every morning be miserable or invigorating?! And then of course 45 mins home again at the end of the day.

I’m curious to hear other experiences, and maybe tips from anyone who does a walking commute.

It used to be an hour-hour and 20 walk to my school and back depending who i walked with and the way I went - 45 mins is perfectly doable!

In London it’s surprisingly rare to get serious rain at commuting time - and freezing cold weather even rarer. I’d definitely give it a go but invest in two suitable hooded bum covering jackets - one warm and one lightweight.

I used to regularly do 3.75 miles walk to work through Central London. I absolutely loved it, especially crossing the Thames and then walking up through one of the big parks, but only on good weather days!

It took 55 minutes, making a point of walking at a brisk pace and wearing good trainers.

I miss it!

Franklin: Am I the only one who gets sweaty walking to work? It's a gentle incline most of the way and I'd sweat even when I was fit and a regular gym-goer.

I sweat profusely all year round with little exhertion - it's hyperhidrosis. It might be worth seeing your doctor? It could also be anumber of other reasons (or simply that you're just a sweaty person - sorry ;) )

I have a walking commute, and I love it. I chose it on purpose. It is so much easier to rely on no one and nothing but my own legs, it has spilled over into lots of other areas of my life too. I don’t think twice about getting anywhere within a decent radius, just grab my shoes and go. Mine is 4.1km-4.5km depending on my route. So an easy 9km of walking a day, plus an active job - add a sport or two and fitness is done. It’s also very easy to break the walk with useful errands or nice things - shopping, meet a friend, stop for food.

I used to have a similar length walk with a 20min train ride in the middle (25 mine walk, train, then 10min walk). I enjoyed it and it kept me fit. I like a longer length coat so legs don't get wet unless extremely rainy (seasalt do good long Macs) and yes to podcasts (or as pp said be prepared for odd looks if you listen to comedy)! Didn't work once we had kids in nursery though and I had to start driving to fit in drop off.

I used to do it (about 30 years ago). Had a Walkman, plodded cheerfully along every day (I think there were a few days where it was pissing down and i got a bus instead). Never bothered with special trainers or gym kit or anything, but then I worked in a fairly laid-back office. I do recall a couple of times on hot summer days where I wished I hadn't worn a particular skirt, or pair of shoes, because sweat rash...

I used to do this in Sydney - started as a walk then I built up to a jog, then a run. Brilliant! Walked home and lost about a stone from doing just this. I used to leave my work clothes at work and have a shower there too though, just take a small running backpack with wallet, keys, phone and underwear. Best commute I ever had.

I do a 30 min walk there and back which is plenty!

And yes, I get sweaty too!

I walk to work, I love it (also in London)

I sort of prefer it in winter when it's cold....I get too hot in summer!

I wear a raincoat when it's raining, not very glamorous but preferable to wrestling with an umbrella in the wind.

I listen to podcasts. I really enjoy the 'stress free' time when I don't have to think about anything else/am not stuck on a turn with hundreds of other people.

*tube, not turn!

In London it’s surprisingly rare to get serious rain at commuting time - and freezing cold weather even rarer.

This.
I loved it as the exercise meant I could eat anything I liked.
I did it for a few years summer is a joy. in winter it’s okay too.
My recommendation is get a decent bummer covering coat, ear covering hat and gloves also a proper big brolly not a fold up handbag one

I used to have a walking commute of 2 miles, so 30-35 mins. No reasonable public transport alternative. It was fine, I was fitter and thinner. It was miserable in heavy rain, but that wasn't too often. Cold isn't a problem as long as you walk quick enough to generate your own heat. Keep spare shoes, socks and tights at work if you've space - I found trousers and skirts dried quickly but my feet never did.

I used to walk 50 minutes each way until my workplace moved about a year ago - I have put on 1 stone in the last year!
A bit miserable when it’s pouring with rain but it’s great exercise and an invigoratingly head clearing way to start and end a working day.

I used to walk from Kings Cross to The Strand everyday. You find little cut through roads and shops you wouldn’t normally see.

I would also recommend getting a ‘proper’ rucksack - the padded straps really help with comfort. I’m not talking a meassive hillwalking one obvs, I have a nice slimline one from Osprey for my cycle commute which I can hardly tell I have on. Something like this.

Waterproof trousers as well! Not to bad coming home as you can change but going to work and having wet legs/feet all day is miserable! This! If it's really tipping it down, the water will run straight off your coat (if it's a good one) in a torrent. If you're wearing a bum length walkers' jacket type thing, the torrent will hit your thighs, if a mac coming to just below your knees, it'll hit your shins. So depending on length and warmth of weather, you'd need waterproof trousers or wellingtons or short skirt and easy-dry leggings or tights.

But that will probably be about one day a year.

I've done this for years. Unless it's heavy rain it's ok. And surprisingly despite being the UK I very very rarely have to walk in heavy rain.
Get some nice trainers, two or three coats and a comfy bag.

I loved my walking commutes - I walked from Clapham Junction to Notting Hill for a year, and then Clapham Junction to the Strand for 4 years. (So 45mins min - speed depending on how awake I was!) I could easily clock up 50 miles a week, I was fit, had good skin, and listened to great podcasts / radio / audio books. Got to explore new areas / streets / cut throughs. Once saw Barack Obama getting out of his official car, walked passed Gary Barlow taking his kids to school a few times. I would really recommend it! My advice though is to plan breakfast so you can keep your energy levels up - I would have porridge or something at home, take a cup of tea to drink on the way, and then take a pot of yoghurt, fruit and granola to eat during the morning. I also wore leggings/ joggers and a t shirt (with coat / rain jacket / gloves/ hat) as it’s very easy to get wet or sweaty. (Not enough to need a shower but nicer to change at the office). I kept my suits and heels, a proper handbag, make up and straighteners at the office and just took underwear, tights and a top each day in my back pack.

(Though one day I had forgotten I had gone home in my work clothes the night before , and managed to find a top and jacket before an 8am meeting, but I had to get a colleague to show my client in, and I stayed seated for the whole meeting as I was wearing joggers under the table!🤣

I have always worked to work, and I love it. It's perfect for preparing for work in the morning and relaxing after work in the evening.

My longest commute was 50 minutes and it was fine (except for one unavoidable part that meant going over some barely lit wasteland that felt a bit dodgy in dark winter evenings). Like everyone else has said, leave your work shoes at work and wear decent boots for your walk. Carry as little back and forth as you possibly can so you're not loaded down like a pack horse. And get a decent coat and hat.

Personally, OP, I would like the idea of that walk and have had similar walking commutes for most of my 16 year working life, which I've enjoyed.

The only thing that could cast a blight over it would be having to carry lots of things - I'm now a teacher and often have to carry marking which is frankly a pain in the arse, but without that I still love to walk home from which take about 1hr 10 minutes now.

Walking, to me, is calm and relaxing: the total opposite of a squished journey on public transport hearing second hand music through someone else's headphones and the endless queuing/pushing and shoving/traipsing or rushing up escalators, etc.

Did something similar a while back and it worked well. However, it was a bit less than you, maybe 30 minutes. It was also through a city centre, so when it rained I could do more of it indoors by cutting through shops/walking under frontages etc. And because it was a built up city centre, the bus wasn't really an option because it would've taken fucking forever and been far too annoying. So I never fell prey to being too lazy to do it, because the walk really was the easiest way. Whereas if it would take you 5 minutes on the bus you might.

I liked it though, the walk was useful to decompress on the way home. My friend did it too and she quite often deliberately walked a longer way down canal paths etc so it would take an hour, to get more exercise in.

I'd also give some thought to cycling sometimes, if you have facilities.

I used to do 1h15m walk to work and it was fine!

Main issue was idiot motorists splashing me (head-to-toe sometimes) in water. I kept a spare pair of pumps, socks and trousers at work in case it was really wet. That's useful for lots of reasons anyway!

I liked it - it gave me time by myself and to wake up a bit. Plus podcasts.

Another vote for waterproof trousers