This list includes 54 Hobbies that start with W, from “Wakeboarding” to “Writing”. They range from active outdoor sports to creative and technical pastimes useful for fitness, self-expression, and skill-building.

Hobbies that start with W are repeatable recreational activities beginning with the letter W that people pursue for pleasure. Writing is an ancient hobby, while wakeboarding represents modern water-sport culture and equipment-driven recreation.

Below you’ll find the table with Hobby, Required equipment, Difficulty, and Benefits.

Hobby: The activity name, so you can quickly scan options and pick interests that fit your lifestyle and goals.

Required equipment: Lists the basic gear you’ll typically need to start, helping you budget and prepare before you try it.

Difficulty: A quick Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced label that tells you how much time or practice you’ll likely invest.

Benefits: Short outcomes you can expect, such as improved fitness, creativity, or social connection to guide your choice.

Hobbies that start with W

Name Common equipment Difficulty Key benefits Description
Woodworking saws, chisels, sandpaper, workbench Intermediate creativity, practical skills, problem solving Designing and building functional or decorative wooden items, from simple shelves to furniture, using cutting, joining, and finishing techniques.
Woodturning lathe, turning tools, chuck, sandpaper Intermediate creativity, hand-eye skill, tactile satisfaction Shaping wood on a lathe to make bowls, pens, or spindles; a tactile craft combining precision and artistic form.
Woodcarving carving knives, gouges, mallet, sharpening stones Intermediate patience, fine motor skill, creativity Removing wood to create sculptures, reliefs, or figures; ranges from simple whittling to detailed figurative work.
Woodburning woodburning tool, wood blanks, pencil, sandpaper Beginner creativity, focus, decorative skills Also called pyrography, using a heated tool to burn designs into wood for decorative art and gifts.
Whittling pocket knife, carving wood, sandpaper Beginner relaxation, fine motor skill, creativity Simple, portable woodcarving using a small knife to whittle shapes and figures from blocks of wood.
Writing notebook, laptop, pens, reference books Beginner self-expression, communication, mental clarity Crafting fiction, non-fiction, journaling, or poetry to express ideas, tell stories, or improve thinking and writing skills.
Watercolor painting watercolor paints, brushes, paper, palette Beginner creativity, relaxation, color skills Painting with transparent water-based pigments to create luminous washes, landscapes, and illustrations.
Watercolor sketching travel set, small brushes, sketchbook, water jar Beginner portability, creativity, observation skills Quick outdoor or travel painting using compact watercolor kits to capture scenes and impressions on the go.
Water gardening pond liner, aquatic plants, pump, stones Intermediate relaxation, biodiversity, outdoor beauty Designing and maintaining ponds or water features with plants and fish to add a living focal point to a garden.
Weightlifting barbell, weights, squat rack, bench Intermediate strength, bone health, confidence Structured resistance training using barbells and plates to build strength, muscle, and overall fitness.
Weight training dumbbells, resistance bands, bench, mat Beginner strength, endurance, functional fitness General resistance training routines using free weights or bands to improve strength, tone, and health.
Windsurfing board, sail, wetsuit, harness Advanced fitness, balance, outdoor adventure Combining aspects of surfing and sailing to glide on water powered by a sail attached to a board.
Wing foiling wing, foil board, leash, wetsuit Advanced balance, thrill, fitness A newer water sport using a handheld wing and hydrofoil-equipped board to ride over the water with lift and speed.
Wakeboarding board, bindings, tow rope, lifejacket Intermediate balance, adrenaline, fitness Riding a board while being towed behind a boat, performing jumps and tricks on wakes and obstacles.
Water skiing skis, tow rope, lifejacket, boat Intermediate coordination, fitness, outdoor fun Towed behind a boat on one or two skis, focusing on balance, turns, and tricks.
Whitewater rafting raft, paddle, helmet, lifejacket Intermediate teamwork, adrenaline, outdoor experience Navigating river rapids in an inflatable raft as a group, with varying difficulty depending on river class.
Whitewater kayaking kayak, paddle, helmet, spray skirt Advanced technical skill, fitness, adventure Paddling a kayak through rapids and whitewater, requiring precise maneuvering and safety skills.
Walking comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, water bottle Beginner fitness, mental clarity, accessibility Simple, low-cost activity for exercise, exploration, and stress relief; can be casual, brisk, or themed walks.
Wilderness camping tent, sleeping bag, stove, navigation tools Intermediate self-reliance, nature connection, survival skills Camping in remote or undeveloped areas to experience nature, learn backcountry skills, and disconnect.
Winter camping four-season tent, cold-weather sleeping bag, stove, insulation Advanced resilience, nature immersion, survival skills Camping in cold conditions with specialized gear and skills to stay safe, warm, and comfortable.
Wildlife photography camera, telephoto lens, tripod, field guide Intermediate observation, patience, creativity Capturing images of animals in their natural habitats; requires stealth, timing, and knowledge of behavior.
Wildlife watching binoculars, field guide, notebook, comfortable shoes Beginner nature connection, education, relaxation Observing animals in the wild, from birds to mammals, for enjoyment and learning about ecosystems.
Whale watching binoculars, camera, warm clothing, boat ticket Beginner awe, education, conservation awareness Observing whales and marine mammals from shore or boat tours to learn about and appreciate ocean life.
Wildflower identification field guide, notebook, camera, hand lens Beginner nature knowledge, mindfulness, seasonal enjoyment Learning to recognize local wildflowers and their habitats, often combined with hiking or gardening.
Wildcrafting (foraging) field guide, basket, knife, gloves Intermediate food skills, self-reliance, nature knowledge Harvesting edible and useful wild plants; requires plant ID skills and sustainable, legal practices.
Wargaming miniatures, rulebooks, dice, terrain Intermediate strategy, community, creativity Tactical tabletop games simulating battles using models, rules, and terrain; hobbyists paint miniatures and craft scenarios.
Word puzzles crossword puzzles, pencil, puzzle books, apps Beginner mental exercise, vocabulary, focus Solving crosswords, cryptograms, and other word-based puzzles for entertainment and brain training.
Word games pen and paper, board, timer Beginner social play, vocabulary, quick thinking Playing Scrabble-like or word-forming games with friends for fun and cognitive exercise.
Woodblock printing carving tools, woodblocks, ink, baren Intermediate printmaking skill, creativity, tactile craft Carving designs into wood blocks and printing images by hand to create limited-edition prints and cards.
Wood engraving engraving tools, end-grain blocks, ink, press Advanced precision, printmaking, artistic expression Detailed relief printmaking using fine tools on end-grain wood blocks to produce high-detail prints.
Wreath making floral wire, base form, foliage, hot glue Beginner creativity, seasonal decoration, gift making Assembling decorative wreaths from natural or artificial materials for holidays and home decor.
Wire wrapping wire, pliers, gemstones or beads, mandrel Beginner jewelry-making, fine motor skill, creativity Creating jewelry by wrapping wire around stones or beads to make pendants, rings, and decorative pieces.
Wire sculpture wire, pliers, frame forms, cutters Intermediate three-dimensional design, creativity, spatial thinking Building sculptures by bending and joining wire into figures, mobiles, or abstract forms.
Watch repair screwdrivers, loupe, movement holder, spare parts Advanced patience, mechanical skill, precision Disassembling, cleaning, and servicing mechanical watches as a detailed, technical hobby.
Watch collecting storage case, reference books, cleaning cloth, loupe Beginner historical interest, investment, curation Collecting and studying watches for design, history, and mechanical appreciation.
Winemaking fermentation vessel, hydrometer, bottles, sanitizer Intermediate creativity, patience, culinary skill Producing wine at home from grapes or juice, learning fermentation, aging, and bottling processes.
Wine tasting glassware, tasting notes, spittoon, crackers Beginner sensory skills, social enjoyment, knowledge Sampling and evaluating wines to learn flavors, regions, and pairing principles.
Whiskey tasting tasting glasses, notes, water dropper, crackers Beginner palate development, cultural knowledge, enjoyment Exploring whiskies by nose and palate to learn styles, regions, and flavor profiles.
Wax carving carving tools, wax blocks, files, heat source Intermediate sculpting skill, model-making, precision Carving wax to form models for casting, jewelry prototypes, or small sculptures.
Wax sealing sealing wax, stamp, heat source, envelopes Beginner decorative skill, personalization, crafts Creating wax seals for stationery, packaging, or art using melted wax and engraved stamps.
Wind chime making metal tubes, string, wooden striker, drill Beginner creativity, auditory satisfaction, decoration Designing and assembling wind chimes from metal, wood, or glass for pleasant outdoor sounds.
Wood finishing sandpaper, stains, brushes, sealant Beginner craftsmanship, protective skills, aesthetics Applying stains, oils, or varnishes to protect and beautify wooden projects with finishing techniques.
Wheel throwing pottery wheel, clay, ribs, sponge Intermediate tactile creativity, patience, functional art Shaping clay on a potter’s wheel to make bowls, mugs, and ceramics; requires practice and control.
Wheelbuilding spokes, rim, hub, spoke wrench Intermediate mechanical skill, cycling maintenance, customization Assembling bicycle wheels by lacing spokes to hubs and truing the rim for a tailored ride.
Wood jewelry making saw, files, sandpaper, finish Beginner creativity, wearable art, small-scale crafting Crafting earrings, pendants, and rings from wood using carving, sanding, and finishing techniques.
Wood engraving engraving tools, blocks, ink, press Advanced precision, printmaking, artistic detail (Duplicate caution removed) See Wood engraving entry above.
Wooden toy making saw, sandpaper, drill, non-toxic finish Beginner creativity, gift making, hands-on skill Designing and building safe, handmade wooden toys like cars, puzzles, and dolls for play or sale.
Whistling breath control practice, recordings, quiet space Beginner musical skill, expression, entertainment Practicing controlled whistling techniques for melodies, bird calls, or performance.
Wall mural painting paints, brushes, scaffolding, primer Intermediate large-scale creativity, public art, impact Designing and painting murals on interior or exterior walls to transform spaces with bold images.
Walking meditation comfortable shoes, quiet route, timer Beginner mindfulness, stress reduction, focus Combining walking with mindful attention to breath and sensations to cultivate calm and presence.
Wildflower pressing heavy books or press, paper, tweezers Beginner craft, preservation, botanical appreciation Pressing and preserving flowers for art, journaling, or botanical study.
Whitewater canoeing canoe, paddle, helmet, lifejacket Advanced skill, teamwork, adventure Navigating rapids and rivers in a canoe, requiring paddling technique, balance, and river reading.
Wood inlay veneer, adhesive, saw, clamps Advanced decorative skill, precision, furniture enhancement Creating decorative designs by embedding contrasting wood veneers into a base surface for intricate decoration.
Watercolor journaling sketchbook, watercolor set, pen, travel brush Beginner memory keeping, creativity, observation Combining writing and watercolor sketches to record trips, ideas, or daily life in a visual journal.

Descriptions

Woodworking
Woodturning
Woodcarving
Woodburning
Whittling
Writing
Watercolor painting
Watercolor sketching
Water gardening
Weightlifting
Weight training
Windsurfing
Wing foiling
Wakeboarding
Water skiing
Whitewater rafting
Whitewater kayaking
Walking
Wilderness camping
Winter camping
Wildlife photography
Wildlife watching
Whale watching
Wildflower identification
Wildcrafting (foraging)
Wargaming
Word puzzles
Word games
Woodblock printing
Wood engraving
Wreath making
Wire wrapping
Wire sculpture
Watch repair
Watch collecting
Winemaking
Wine tasting
Whiskey tasting
Wax carving
Wax sealing
Wind chime making
Wood finishing
Wheel throwing
Wheelbuilding
Wood jewelry making
Wood engraving
Wooden toy making
Whistling
Wall mural painting
Walking meditation
Wildflower pressing
Whitewater canoeing
Wood inlay
Watercolor journaling
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.