Ten years ago, I took my first backpacking trip, and it changed my life forever. Since then, hiking has touched every aspect of my life from my career to my friends, to my self-confidence. The first few years weren’t easy, though, and I learned many valuable lessons the hard way.
Ready to take the next step? Here are a few posts that will help you get started:
- How to Pick a Warm Sleeping Bag for Backpacking
- Complete Women’s Hiking and Backpacking Gear List
- The 10 Best Lightweight Hiking Backpacks for 2020
What I wish I knew as a beginner backpacker
It might be essential to note that my first backpacking trip was also my first hiking trip. Ever. Sure, I had been on a trail before but not for a proper “hike”. I was a complete beginner. Keeping that in mind, here are 10 things that I wish I knew back then.
1. Lightening the load will make your backpacking trip more enjoyable
It may be clear that carrying less weight is more comfortable than more; but, it’s not always clear how much weight is normal or what gear is not essential to a beginner.
I got destroyed on my first backpacking trip. I carried too many clothes, a whole roll of toilet paper, and a metal camping shovel instead of a plastic trowel. Even a month after the hike, I tried to go for a jog, and all my muscles cramped up.
I had no idea about base weights, ultralight gear, or even what clothes to pack. And I ended up packing far too much. How much weight you’re comfortable carrying is a lesson everyone will learn the hard way once they start backpacking.
Even experienced hikers are continuously dialing in their gear list.
Sure, purchasing lightweight backpacking equipment can be expensive. But a plastic trowel only costs a few dollars – and I could have gone without that extra hoodie in the middle of august. Lightening the load would have gone a long way to putting my body under a lot less stress.
2. You don’t have to wear hiking boots
The night before my first backpacking trip, I realized I didn’t have “hiking shoes”. So, I ran to K-Mart (the closest store) and bought a pair of $20 men’s hiking shoes. Wow, what a mistake.
My feet ached and got blisters that took weeks to heal. Looking back now, it seems stupid – but I thought that my regular shoes wouldn’t cut it.
If only I had known, you don’t need “hiking shoes” to go on a hike – wear your regular sneakers! Yes, it’s okay if you get wet (unless it’s cold).
Sure, you can upgrade to burly hiking boots later. My favorite all-purpose hiking boot right now is that Vasque Breeze Hiking Boots (available for both men and women).
3. GPS apps exist and they will show your location offline
Wrong turns, overgrown trails, downed trees, a fork in the path with no sign. I’ve gotten minorly lost too many times. I’m aware that this is ironic since I now work for an app that does this (Gaia GPS), but I seriously had no idea these existed.
Not until I returned from thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail did I stumble upon a job listing for Gaia, and realize what I was missing. No more relying on boy scouts to (wrongly) answer the question ‘are we close to the top’?
These apps will let you see a map, your hiking route, and exactly where you are on it. Seriously, this has already saved my butt so many times, and everyone should have one.
4. You don’t need to eat Mountain House meals on backpacking trips
Mountain House Meals are a popular brand of dehydrated trail food. Dehydrated meals have their pros and cons. Lightweight and available in a variety of flavors, you’ll eat meals you never thought you could eat outside. How about spaghetti or beef stroganoff? Do you even eat that well at home? But, dehydrated meals are expensive and can have some smelly after effects.
It took me some time to realize that you can pack out tons of fresh food if you’re willing to carry a little bit of extra weight. You can get quite creative when it comes to trail meals.
Start simple by packing out avocado or green pepper to add to your macaroni and cheese. And did you know that sharp cheddar cheese will keep unrefrigerated for several days – even in the summer? Game changer.
5. Hiking over long distances is akin to meditation
Sustained exercise will clear your mind and calm your thoughts. According to one study done by Standford University, hiking can lead to less stress and reduced risk of depression.
I really started to notice the benefits of hiking after completing a thru-hike, but if you pay place attention, you don’t have to complete a thru-hike, to see a difference. Hike often, and you will start to see that you feel more relaxed afterward.
6. How to quickly train your muscles when they’re out of shape
You haven’t hiked in months, and your friends want to take a quick 6-mile jog up the nearest mountain next week. Can your thighs handle it?
Running out the door and going on an intense hike can strain your body and cause pain that lasts for weeks. Luckily I’ve found that I can ease the ‘shock’ to my muscles and have a more enjoyable hike by doing just a few exercises a week before the trip.
Complete 20-40 squats and a few 15-20 lunges seven days before your hike will activate the right muscles. You’ll be sore about two days later – so be careful not to do these exercises less than four days before your hike. Otherwise, you’ll be in for a painful day.
Of course, staying in hiking shape is best. I find that hiking regularly and hitting the Stairmaster when I have to remain in-doors is a great way to do this.
7. No, you don’t need that many clothes
A 2,000-mile thru-hike will make you pair down your gear list to the barest necessities. In reality, you don’t need that much to survive.
Being a backpacker means getting comfortable with being dirty, smelly, and sometimes even putting on wet socks in the morning before you exit your tent and hit the trail.
You need two sets of clothes folks, one for hiking and one for sleeping. That’s it.
Don’t believe me? Check out my Complete Women’s Hiking and Backpacking Gear List.
8. You can hike more miles than you think you can
Hiking long distances isn’t about speed as much as it is about time. Does hiking 6 miles in one day sound far to you?
What about 2 miles in the morning, two after lunch, and two before dinner?
Attack your day in small chunks, be patient with yourself, and take breaks when you need to. You will be surprised by what you can accomplish.
9. Hiking uphill is more comfortable than hiking downhill
Hiking uphill will make your lungs scream, and your thighs burn. How can downhill be worse? The effects of continuously pounding your joints as you step downwards are compounded carrying 20-30 pounds on your back. The stress on joints and muscles can become incredibly uncomfortable and present long-term issues.
One great way to mitigate this issue is to use trekking poles. Placing trekking pole in front of you as you hike downwards has been proven to reduce impact and help your knees and other joints. Here are the top trekking poles that I recommend.
10. How to find and filter water
The first time I hit the trail overnight without a more experienced friend guiding the way – I called the ranger station to make sure there wasn’t a drought. Then I looked at a map and found some streams that crossed the trail. Good enough, right? Wrong.
Especially when you can’t hike long distances quickly, having an excellent idea of exactly where you’re going to refill your water supply is very important.
To find water on the trail:
- Use multiple sources to search for up-to-date information.
- For popular trails, you might be able to find a detailed description or map of the route showing water fill-up points.
- You can also use topo maps, guidebooks, or satellite imagery.
- Try calling the park service to ask if the water sources are flowing. They’ll also be able to inform you of commonly used fill-up points.
For cleansing the water:
Initially, I carried water purification tablets, which at the time were much cheaper than a water filter (but now you can get water filters for very affordable!). But, they take 30 minutes to cleanse your water, don’t filter out debris, and turn the water yellow.
Now I carry a Sawyer Mini, which filters the water immediately, strains debris, and results in clean-looking water.
Just get out there!
Don’t worry too much about all this stuff. If it’s your first time backpacking, just get out there with what you have. Find a friend, buy cheap gear on Amazon, and learn the hard way. Leave me a comment if you have questions and I’d be happy to help!
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