Common Beginner Backpacking Mistakes
When you’re just getting started with backpacking, you hope for that first trek to go off without a hitch. A perfect trip out in the backcountry to start off your new hobby would be ideal. Unfortunately, a lot of first timers run into one or two inconveniences or mistakes. Fortunately, if you know the most common beginner backpacking mistakes, you can easily avoid them.
Below are some rookie backpacking mistakes that we see time and time again along with some resources to help you educate yourself so you don’t make them!
1. Carrying Too Much Weight
One of the most common of the beginner backpacking mistakes is carrying way too much weight. A beginner’s base weight, or weight of your loaded backpack without food and water, should be under 30 pounds. If you check your base weight and see it sitting at 40 pounds or more, you’re not optimizing your pack weight.
Think about the weight of each piece of gear you are brining. They don’t have to be ultralight-grade items, but they should be fairly lightweight. For example, your sleeping bag should be an efficient shape and made of light material… It should not be the sleeping bag you used for basement sleepovers in 4th grade.
Carrying too heavy of a pack will literally weigh you down. You won’t move as fast or be able to cover as many miles. It’s also incredibly exhausting and can leave you feeling burnt out early in the day.
Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways to reduce your pack weight. Check out some of our tips here.
2. Wearing an Improperly Fitted Backpack
Having an improper fit on your backpacking pack can cause a tremendous amount of shoulder and back pain. If your pack is on the heavier end, you’ll notice this pain early on in your hike.
In addition to shoulder pain, incorrect pack fit can throw you off balance and put you at risk of falling. If you’re crossing rivers or making the occasional scramble, you’ll want your pack fitting snug against your body.
Backpacking packs come with a variety of straps and adjustments that can help keep the weight close to your body and sitting on your hips. Be sure to utilize these straps and adjust them regularly. Learn more about how to use these straps to improve fit here.
Another factor that plays a role in fit and feel is how you pack. Put heavier items close to your back toward the middle of the pack to support balance and weight distribution. Lighter items should go at the top of the pack and toward the outer edge of the backpack interior.
3. Bringing Too Much Gear
Too many rookies make the common beginner backpacking mistakes of bringing way too much gear. Sure, you want to be prepared, but don’t go overboard. Don’t fall for the ‘buy all the gear in the hiking section’ trap.
Following this beginner gear list can help you sort out which items are necessary and which aren’t. Focus on purchasing higher quality pieces of the gear you really need rather than spending your money on accessory items you won’t use often.
Always ask yourself if you really need each piece of gear before you add it to your pack. Items like trekking poles may seem like a necessity to a newbie, but after some research you may find that they’re not right for you.
Also be sure not to bring redundant items. If you’re brining a hammock, you probably won’t need a camp chair as well. While it might be nice to have both, you’re better off choosing only one.
Consider shared items as well if you’re hiking in a group. For instance, if you’re hiking with 3 people you can typically share one camp stove. Spread out sharable gear among the group to be more efficient and lighten the load for everyone.
4. Forgetting Important Gear
Of course, the other side of the coin is forgetting important gear. Setting up camp at the end of a long day and finding you’re missing a key item is a gut-sinking feeling that you want to avoid.
A good way of ensuring you have all the gear you need is to reference a trustworthy backpacking packing list. Check out ours here, along with our downloadable version below!
Utilizing a packing list and updating that list as you gain more experience is a good insurance against a faulty memory. Check that list twice as you pack for your trip to make sure you’re not leaving anything behind.
5. Wearing the Wrong Clothes
Want to know how an experienced backpacker can spot a rookie? The rookie is wearing cotton.
Backpacking involves a lot of physical activity. You’ll want to wear clothes that are comfortable, flexible, and moisture-wicking to keep yourself feeling good on the trail. That’s why we recommend leaving the cotton at home. It takes a long time to dry, it holds on to stink, and it loses it’s ability to maintain heat when it gets wet. Instead, opt for polyester, fleece, or wool.
The best backpacking clothes are easy to move in and comfortable as well. You don’t want to deal with chafing or tightness when you’re hiking for hours. If you’re on a trail with a lot of overgrowth, consider wearing pants or tall socks to keep your legs from getting scratched up.
Be sure to also dress for the weather. Bring waterproof outer layers in case of rain and always have a couple of warm items. This is especially true if you’re reaching elevation. Mountain weather is notoriously difficult to forecast, and it can get chilly as you climb higher!
When you hike in the winter, utilize layers appropriately and use efficient fabrics like merino wool and down. Learn more about what to wear for winter hikes here.
6. Wearing the Wrong Footwear
Another classic of the common beginner backpacking and hiking mistakes is to wear improper footwear. Many newbies think you can get by with any old pair of gym shoes on the trail. For a short trek on an easy trail, a pair of tennies can suffice. However, if you’re taking on more strenuous hikes on challenging terrain you’re going to want a good pair of hiking boots or shoes.
Hiking boots and shoes provide many benefits that your other footwear simply don’t. Protection is a key benefit. The proper footwear will have a thicker sole, be made of a tougher material, and have taller sides to protect your feet. These shoes are also designed to have a better balance of breathability and water-resistance to keep your feet dry in a variety of conditions. This is key for blister prevention.
It’s also important to find a pair of boots or shoes that are lightweight and comfortable. Wearing heavy and clunky boots can make every step more exhausting than it needs to be.
A nice pair of hiking boots or shoes will go a long way!
7. Hiking Too Far
It’s easy to get ambitious when planning your hiking mileage, especially if you haven’t gone backpacking before. When you are walking down a street, you can cover several miles in an hour… why would a hike be any different?
It’s very different. A typical walking speed is 3 to 4 miles per hour. Meanwhile, the typical hiking speed of a backpacker is around 1.5 miles per hour. Walking with a heavy pack can really slow you down, not to mention the frequent breaks you’ll want to be taking to keep yourself hydrated and fed.
Also be sure to take elevation into account. Hikes where you gain significant elevation will take more time because it is more strenuous.
Overestimating the mileage you can cover could put you in a lot of uncomfortable situations. If you had to reserve a camp site, you might not make it to your site and will have to look for alternative options. If you choose to push through, you may end up getting to your camp after sundown which makes setting up camp even more of a chore.
Not to mention a significant overestimation of daily miles could mean you can’t reach your destination in time. If you didn’t pack enough food for an extra day or two, you’re in for an uncomfortable and exhausting trek out.
Learn how to plan your daily mileage here.
8. Not Eating or Drinking Enough
It’s important to fuel yourself properly on the trail. You’re going to be burning a ton of calories when you backpack all day, so you’re going to need a lot more food than you do on a typical day.
Be sure to bring enough food that is nutrient-dense to keep yourself feeling energized. Bring plenty of snacks and eat them often. It’s better to stay ahead of your hunger than to let yourself get ravenous.
Water is also key. Not drinking enough water is incredibly dangerous, especially when you’re backpacking. You don’t want to end up dehydrated in the middle of the forest. Bring along a water filter and refill your bottles often.
A water reservoir is a great tool for keeping you hydrated. The straw gives you easy access to water while you’re hiking, so you don’t even need to break your stride to take a few sips.
9. Not Knowing Your Gear
Before stuffing your gear into your pack, take it for a spin. Test your gear out at home and learn how to use it. You want to be familiar with the uses of each piece of gear you bring on the trail before you hit the trail head. Be sure to also check for any defects.
Set up your tent in your backyard. Fill your water reservoir at home and check for leaks. Read the instructions on your water filter. Test out your stove at home. Trying out these items at home can save you from a ton of stress and confusion later.
This is especially true for emergency items. Bear spray, for example, is something you need to be properly educated on. You don’t want any uncertainty about how to use bear spray in a moment when you need to use it.
10. Storing Your Food Improperly
One of the common backpacking beginner mistakes that many experienced backpackers have made in the past is storing food improperly. It’s a heart-sinking feeling when you grab your food bag for breakfast and find that a critter has gotten to your meal first.
Always hang your food up in a tree or in a bear pole when one is available. When you’re in bear country, utilize a bear can or locker (if available) at camp. Proper storage of food will keep your grub in your hands and out of the mouths of racoons, mice, or other animals.
While it may be tempting to bring your food into the tent with you (did someone say midnight snack?) it can be very dangerous. Doing so attracts animals such as bears and racoons to your tent where you are sleeping. Keep your food outside of the tent.
11. Not Considering the Weather
The weather can be incredibly unpredictable. When you’re going to be spending days outdoors, you should put some thought into the potential weather conditions you may be met with.
Always be prepared for rain. Yes, even if there is 0% chance of rain in the forecast. Bring along rain gear and keep it easily accessible so you can keep your gear dry. Once your stuff gets wet, it can be a real challenge to get it to dry off completely.
While it may be nice to sleep under the stars, it’s a good idea to prep your site for rain every night. It’s not fun to wake up to a wet sleeping bag!
When you’re gaining elevation, be prepared for cooler temperatures and stronger winds. Bring warmer clothing and stakes for your tent.
12. Leaving a Trace
Every backpacker should be familiar with the leave no trace principles. While many of these “rules” are not legally enforced, they do keep the forest an enjoyable place to explore.
Many beginners will think “leave no trace” means simply don’t litter, but there’s actually a lot more to it than that. These principals have the goal of minimizing any impact that humans will have on the forest.
Using previously established campsites and fire rings, staying on the trail, and resisting the urge to take home items found in the woods are a few things you can do to abide these rules. Learn more about the principles here.
Have any other beginner backpacking mistakes to add to the list? Contact us with yours and we might add them!
Photo by Ian Liberry on Unsplash
