6 Incredible Benefits of Backpacking
People go backpacking for a variety of reasons. Some people might go because it is an affordable way to travel. Others might go because they live the physical challenge. Different people might enjoy the ability to get away and truly unplug for a while. Whatever the reason, it is obvious that people find that there are benefits to backpacking.
If they didn’t find it beneficial in some way, they wouldn’t be doing it. After all, it’s not the easiest and most glamorous hobby to adopt.
If you asked people why they go backpacking, they’ll probably say they do it because it is fun. While that is true, they are actually getting a lot more out of it than just a good time. I might be biased here, but backpacking is really good for you mentally, emotionally and physically.
Below are 6 benefits of backpacking to keep you excited about getting out on the trail.
1. Gets Your Body Moving
We all know that exercise is good for us. It keeps our body performing optimally and sends signals to our muscles and bones that they need to stay strong for us. Exercise also releases endorphins, making us feel happier after and while we are doing the activity.
Hiking and backpacking are great forms of cardiovascular exercise and doing it regularly can benefit you greatly. Cardio provides countless physical benefits. It strengthens your heart, bones, and muscles. This form of exercise also reduces muscle stiffness and helps manage your blood pressure.
On top of that, backpacking burns a tremendous number of calories. So if you’re carrying any extra weight, don’t be surprised if you shed some of it during a long trek.
However it is important to note that if you don’t exercise regularly, you shouldn’t just leap into a long trip with aggressive mile coverage. You need to prepare your body for that kind of work or you might end up hurting yourself. Go for day hikes a couple times a week leading up to it, wearing a backpack or a weighted vest if you really want to prep yourself.
You should also consider lightening your load. A heavy backpack will put more strain on your body.
2. Reduces Stress
If you’re an adult, chances are you have some stress in your life. Whether it is work, money, children, or personal problems, there are countless sources of stress in our daily lives. This stress weighs heavily on us, causing both mental and physical detriment.
Going backpacking, or even just a hike, is a great way to reduce that stress. That is because simply being out in nature can have a calming effect on the body. It has been found that spending time in forest environments can promote lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressure1. This is one of the key benefits of backpacking because of how detrimental high stress can be on the body.
In addition, the calming nature sounds and relaxed visuals of being outside can be soothing. It distracts your mind from negative thoughts by giving you ample distractions of peaceful things.
When you’re backpacking, you disconnect completely from your typical daily life and focus on the task at hand for a few days. This is the perfect way to mentally recharge and reconnect with yourself.
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3. Keeps You Off Devices
When is the last time you spent an entire day without looking at a single screen?
Can’t remember? That’s standard for people these days. Our modern lifestyles involve such frequent use of our devices. Getting away from that for a few days can be refreshing.
When you’re out on the trail, you are surrounded by low-arousal, natural stimuli that makes you feel happy and calm. This contrasts greatly to our typical days that are filled with high-arousal, negative stimulus from our phones, the news, and work. This is a key benefit of backpacking – mental well-being.
What makes backpacking so great for this is that there is often poor cell service and no place to charge your phone. So if you feel tempted to sneak a peek at your emails or notifications, you’ll be quickly discouraged to spend much time there. Instead, you spend time enjoying the outdoors and the friends you have around you. Just like the good old days your grandparents speak so fondly about.
4. Improves Mental Health
In addition to reducing stress and keeping you off your devices, backpacking can improve your overall mental well-being. This is partially due to the good feelings you get from exercising and the activity’s ability to direct your focus away from negative thoughts. However, there also seems to be a lot more at play.
Recent studies found that there is something about the experience of nature that has a positive effect on our emotions. One compared people who took a walk in a city setting to people who took the same walk in a natural park setting. It found that people have a positive mental reaction to the more wooded scene2. Another study supported this claim “City dwellers have a 20% higher risk of anxiety disorders and a 40% higher risk of mood disorders compared to people in more rural natural areas”3.
Maybe it is the peaceful sounds, the smells, the seclusion, or the fact that you’re not at work…Or maybe it is something deep rooted in us, a desire to be in nature that doesn’t get fulfilled as often as it should. Either way, spending a few days in the woods is sure to brighten your spirits… even if you have to deal with bugs.
5. Builds Bonds With People You’re With
There are many things that bring people closer together, and backpacking is one of them. If you set off on a trip with a couple of acquaintances, it is likely you will all return with a much stronger appreciation for one another.
One reason for this is that they’re all you have for a few days. You can’t sit on your phone or pop in a movie to entertain yourself – you hang out with the people you’re with. Your friends have your undivided attention.
Plus, there will inevitably be problems or difficult situations that you will have to endure together. Whether it be a difficult water crossing, an animal getting into your food supply, a sudden downpour that you were unprepared for, or gear malfunction, you’ll need to work together to get past those issues. Working together on a difficult problem can create an undeniable bond between one another.
6. Improves Life Skills
Another key benefit of backpacking are all the skills you learn while doing it. Confidence, problem solving, self-esteem, and appreciation for the little things in life can all be built while on the trail.
A trip can be a challenging endeavor, you are pushing yourself to do something uncomfortable and difficult. Sometimes that last mile or two of the day can feel impossible to cover. Other times, a sketchy scramble or a frightening animal encounter really tests your nerves. At the end of the day, you feel proud of yourself for pushing yourself and discovering your new limits.
When backpacking, you’re going to have to learn to be flexible and self-sufficient. There is no real timeline, simply miles to cover before sunset. So throw your usual habits and schedules out the window for a couple of days. Being far away from shops and the comforts of home, you’re also forced to rely on yourself and your abilities.
Though these may be challenging in the moment, they will give you practice being more adaptable in the long run.
Conclusion
There you have it, 6 benefits of backpacking. If you’re a backpacking newbie, these are some of the things you have to look forward to on your first trip! If you’re a backpacking nerd, send this over to your friend next time they ask you why you’d want to spend days outside in the woods. Not everyone understands it, but when you get it, you get it.
Photo by Adilet Asilbekov on Unsplash
