For many, hiking is an enjoyable pastime, providing an opportunity to be in nature, get in some exercise, and potentially even spend time with friends and family. However, hikes are not one-size-fits-all. In fact, depending on where you live and the time of year, going for a hike can look very different, from one season to the next. 

Current data reveal that the majority of Americans (54%) prefer to hike on a sunny day with a strong breeze. In second place is a slightly cool day with intermittent drizzle (30%), while in third place is a dry, hot day (10%). Those who prefer to hike on a dry and hot day stand out in other ways as well, beyond their hiking preferences. 

Here are the key differences between those who enjoy hiking on a dry and hot day, versus those who prefer other hiking weather: 

Sleep Habits: Those who prefer to hike on a dry, hot day are the most likely to get under six hours of sleep each night, outpacing all others by at least six percentage points. 

Dietary Preferences: While 30% of those who prefer a dry and hot hike say they are on a gluten-free diet, just 13% of those who enjoy a sunny day with a strong breeze say the same. 

Sports Fandom: More than one-in-four (26%) who prefer a dry and hot hike follow NCAA Women’s Basketball ‘very closely,’ outpacing all others in this category by at least 20 percentage points. 

Skateboard Experience: While 18% of those who prefer a dry and hot hike say they skateboard regularly, just 4% of those who prefer their hikes sunny with a strong breeze say the same. 

Screen Time Limitations: Parents who prefer a dry and hot hike are nearly three times as likely to only allow their children to use screens on weekends as those who prefer their hikes sunny with a strong breeze (41% vs 14%). 

Although fans of dry and hot hikes may not be the mainstream, that might be exactly how they like it. This group of consumers isn’t afraid to diverge from the norm–whether with their dietary preferences, screen time or free-time choices. 

Love taking polls? Sign up to participate in the Poll of the Day here.

This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.