A Ultimate Beginners Backpacking Guide With Free Printable Checklist

I’m going to start by sharing the hard truth with you all: backpacking is uncomfortable, it hurts, it’s exhausting, it’s dirty, it’s smelly and yet it’s so rewarding. You either love it or hate it. At the end of the day, you have to decide if pushing through the uncomfortable is worth it for the amazing experiences and views backpacking gives you. For me, that is an unshaking, without a doubt, “yes” every time.

I don’t consider myself an expect backpacker by any means, but I have spent years learning about gear and tips to make it successful. I’ve learned from blogs and fellow hikers, so I want to share what I’ve learned with you, just like others have with me.

Backpacking is my favorite way to experience nature anymore. It’s becoming harder to snag campsites, and those same campsites are noisy and leave little solitude. I love that when I backpack, I can escape the crowds and find quiet places to enjoy nature. I love that I can survive with just the things on my back. Backpacking allows me to reach places that I’d never be able to see without sleeping in the backcountry. Carrying an uncomfortable amount of weight and enduring the pain will always be worth it to experience those moments.

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Backpacking Terms You Should Know

Below is a list of common backpacking terms that you will hear others use and should be familiar with. The more you read about backpacking and get out there and do it the more these words will have meaning for you. The best way to learn is to do!

Backcountry:

This is a remote/sparse undeveloped rural area, also known as wilderness.

Wilderness:

The Wilderness Act of 1964 defines it as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain”. There are 803 designated wilderness areas throughout the United States. Because backpacking takes hikers into the backcountry, you most likely will find yourself within one of the wilderness areas.

Permits:

Permits are a type of awarded access to a trail. If a trail requires a permit and you cannot obtain one, you should not be hiking it. These permits are to make sure everyone has campsites and the area is well maintained. You can learn about permits and how to obtain them here. To learn more about obtaining permits, read my “Backpacking Permits and Lotteries Explained” guide.

Thru-hiking:

This term is used to describe longer backpacking trails like the PCT or the Appalachian Trail. Backpackers are on trail for weeks or months and need to resupply food in small towns along the way. Thru-hiking requires a lot of research, special permits and should be well thought out before attempting.

Out and back:

This term refers to a trail where you will hike in to a campsite or viewpoint and then return on the same trail. You hike out to camp and back on the same trail.

Base weight:

This is the total weight of your essential gear, not including clothes, food and luxury items. You should aim to have your base weight be around 15 lbs or lower if you can. The higher your base weight is, the more your pack will weight once you add on all your other gear.

Ounces:

Ounces Is a term we all know. It’s a form of measuring, but what does it have to do with backpacking? When researching gear to buy, this is the term used when explaining how much a piece of gear weighs. You’ll want to calculate all your essential gear items together to get your base weight. Clothing and food items also show ounces when purchasing. Be mindful of how much a new coat will weigh or how much a meal will add to your pack.

Liters:

This is another form of measurement we all know. It is used to share the amount of room a backpack has to hold gear. Most backpacking backpacks range from 40L to 65L. I would aim for 55L if you are new to backpacking to make sure you have enough room for you gear without going to heavy. Items like sleeping bags and tents will say how many liters they take up when compressed. This will help you plan out how much space your gear is taking in your pack.

You may want a smaller pack if your gear is only taking up 40-50L, but if you’re calculating to a higher amount, go for 55L-65L. Remember, you will need to have room for clothing, food, toiletries and any luxury items you want to bring on top of your base weight liters. If you’re unsure, try going to a sporting goods store. Find the gear you’re wanting to purchase and stuff it into your backpack to see how much space it takes up. This will help you figure out if its too large.

Ultra-Light Gear:

This is the term used to described gear that is built to be the lightest it can be. It is also gear that is compact and able to compress down into smaller sizes.

Backpacking Responsibly

What does this mean? It means follow the Leave No Trace Principles and limit your impact on the trail. If you choose to step foot on trail, you are committing to leaving it better than you found it. It is our responsibility to be good stewards and preserve these amazing places for the next generation. Below are the 7 principles and what it looks like to follow them while backpacking.

• Plan ahead and prepare. This means researching the area ahead of time, knowing the weather forecast and packing accordingly. Planning and preparing for a trip is important to keep you safe and allow you to enjoy your trip stress free.

• Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces. This means finding a campsite where you can tell others have camped prior rather than finding a new campsite. Do not put your tent on vegetation or in meadows, causing harm to the plants. Be responsible in choosing a site and limit your footprint in the backcountry. Stay on trail and do not walk through sensitive environments like meadows.

• Leave What You Find. Nature is amazing but belongs in nature. Do not pick wildflowers or bring home rocks or other items you may find. Do not mark on rocks or vandalize nature.

• Dispose of Waste Properly. All garbage should be packed back out with you and disposed of properly at home. Bring a ziplock bag for toilet paper. Use a shovel to dig a cat hole and bury any human waste 6-8 inches underground. Pack it out with you in a bag or container if burying it is not an option. Food items such as peels and nut shells should also be disposed of properly in a bag and taken back off trail.

• Respect Wildlife. Do not feed or approach any wildlife. Minimize your noise by not playing music outdoors. Know the wildlife for the area so you are prepared for encounters. Do not leave food or garbage accessible (bear bag hangs are best).

• Minimize Campfire Impacts. Always know the local guidelines for your area before starting a fire. Many locations do seasonal bans depending on the season. Use an existing fire ring whenever possible. If you must create a new ring, clear the ground of all debris and use a location with minimal impact to the vegetation. Make sure the fire is completely out by dousing it in water multiple times. Never throw garbage into the fire.

• Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Be aware of your noise levels and be sure to kindly share the trail. Know proper trail etiquette so everyone can enjoy their time outside in nature. Remember, others may be afraid of dogs or have allergies. Keep your dog on leash or safely away from others.

How to Find a Backpacking Trail

One of the best ways to find backpacking trails is through blogs like my own, Pinterest, Google and social media. When you’re done reading this, go search through my backpacking section for trail inspiration. You can also hop on Google or Pinterest and search things like “best backpacking destinations” or “best backpacking in (insert area)” to find pictures and blogs.

If you plan to go to a national park, use the national park website to learn about what trails you could backpack and how to obtain a permit for it. You can learn more about permits here. If you are new to backpacking, start with a hike under 4 -5 miles round trip and minimal elevation gain. Going all out on your first backpacking trip might not make for an enjoyable experience and you want to be able to learn what you like before doing anything too hard.

How Much Should Your Pack Weigh?

This truly depends on your gear and trip’s needs, but normally your pack should never weigh more than 20% of your body weight. For me, I try to make sure my pack is between 25-30 pounds at max, but my goal is always less than 25 if I can. People who are carrying climbing gear or food and water supply for long hauls will often have to carry more than the 20%, so know this percentage can change based on circumstance.

If you’re just backpacking for a few nights, you should easily be able to maintain the 20% weight loss unless you’re packing in heavy luxury items like cans of beer 🙂 If you want to learn more about how to reduce weight and pack weight, check out this REI article.

Ultra Light vs. Regular Backpacking Gear

There are two types of gear for backpacking. You can use regular backpacking gear or you can invest in ultra-light backpacking gear. Essentially ultra-light gear is just the term referred to when gear weighs the least possible weight it can. Ultra-light gear is also meant to take up the smallest space by being more compact or compressing to a smaller size. This allows for hikers to carry smaller packs, which is turn means less weight.

Many thru hikers and backpackers like this gear because it makes your pack as light as it can be. Ultra-light gear is the more expensive option so it may not be as attainable if you’re shopping on a budget. There is no wrong or right type of gear to use, just personal preference. A majority of people use regular weight backpacking gear.

You do not want to purchase an ultra-light backpack if you do not also have ultra-light gear. Ultra-light packs usually don’t have the same support you will find in a regular pack, therefore they cannot tolerate the weight as well.

If you want to invest in ultra-light gear but can’t afford it all at once, you can do what I’ve done. I have been slowly replacing my gear over the years with ultra-light options. Purchase gear just to get you out and help you learn what you like, then start upgrading to ultra-light once you know what gear you want to make lighter. Another option is to purchase gear used, whether it be ultra-light or regular gear. This will help you get out there without breaking the bank. I’ll share below more about purchasing used gear.

You can also learn more about my specific gear in my “Backpacking Gear” guide. My backpacking gear is ever changing with each season. I try to update it often but there could be new items or things I’ve changed out that aren’t included in it yet. Be sure to check back or leave a comment if you have questions.

Essential Backpacking Gear

• Backpack
• Tent
• Sleeping pad
• Sleeping bag
• Stove
• Water filter
• Bear hang bag or Bear Canister
• Spoon/spork
• Headlights
• Extra batteries
• GPS/map

“Luxury” Backpacking Gear

• Pillow
• Hammock
• Mug
• Lantern
• Portable Battery

Other Backpacking Gear

No-scent food storage bags: I absolutely love these bags! Many thru hiker use these to store all of their food to reduce scent from reaching animals. I always carry one for storing my food and one as a garbage bag to place wrappers and food related trash into.

Stuff Sacks: I love using stuff sacks to store my gear because I won’t lose items in my backpack but rather can pull out the specific bag I need. I use different colors so I’ll know if I want clothes, I’ll grab my blue bag, and if I want the headlamps, I need the small yellow bag. Stuff sacks will add some weight, but you can purchase ultra-light ones. To me, being organized is worth the few ounces the stuff sacks add.

Travel Duct Tape: I carry a small roll of travel duct tape with me. It’s a great item to have in case you have a break in your tent pole or rip in your tent and need to fix it and know it will hold until you get off trail.

Pocket Knife: You should always have a pocket knife with you for your own safety and to help with random needs on trail. I don’t use it often, but it’s usually for my first aid kit to cut mole skin or various items I need smaller.

Fire Source: This can either be a small waterproof container with matches or a lighter. You should always have a fuel source in case of emergency to be able to start a fire so you can provide a heat source. It’s also useful if you’re having issues with your camp stove and many camp stoves don’t self-ignite, so you will need a lighter for it.

First Aid Kit: You should never go on trail without a first aid kit. Anything can happen on trail and being prepared can be the difference between life and death out there. Below is a general list of items you should consider packing in yours. I would recommend reading this list from REI and then deciding what you personally want to pack on trail. It included a lot of items and I don’t carry all of them myself.

Knowing what is recommended and then deciding what you personally need to be safe on trail is important. I take all of my items and place them in a small zip lock bag. Be sure to replenish it as needed and keep any medications up to date.

Renting Backpacking Gear

Did you know you can actually rent gear? This is a great option if you don’t own everything you need or if you want to test out certain items before purchasing them. Before investing in a bunch of new gear, try renting it to see if you even like backpacking. You can rent them through REI or other local outdoor shops that provide rental options.

How to Purchase Used Backpacking Gear

Purchasing used gear is a great option whether you’re right on a budget or just want to be mindful of your purchasing footprint. You can purchased used gear through the REI used gear portal, online platforms like eBay or Facebook market (make sure it’s a trustworthy site or person) and through various used gear sites. Try searching “used backpacking gear” on Google and search the various websites. Be sure it’s a reputable sight or has a return policy.

Be sure to always do your research on the gear you think you want prior to buying anything used. You want to know it fits all the technical specs you’re looking for.

What to Wear Backpacking

When purchasing clothes, all we hear about is cotton, how great it is and comfortable. Well, when hiking and backpacking you DO NOT want to wear cotton. Cotton doesn’t dry quickly because it retains water moisture, so when you’re sweating, your clothes won’t be able to dry well.

Merino wool and quick dry material are the two you want to wear on trail. Merino wool is amazing at keeping you warm, being breathable and quick drying. I personally don’t wear Merino wool in the summer months unless it’s a tank top or socks, because I would get too warm. But I only wear wool socks hiking year-round. I wear Merino wool long sleeve tops and leggings in the colder months or around camp at night.

Quick drying spot clothes are another amazing trail option because they will dry quickly and are light weight in your pack. This is what I wear the most of in the summer months. Look for clothes made of Nylon or Polyester for these types of clothes to help keep you dry and warm on trail. You will want to make sure you undergarments are made of the three materials listed above as well to help keep them dry and free of odors.

Hiking Clothes

I always pack 1-2 two hiking outfits depending on the length of the hike or how much I’m willing to carry. If its a one night trip, I usually wear one outfit for both days. For 3 or more days, I often pack a second outfit just to be able to change them out if I feel gross in one, but it’s not necessary. When I’m thru-hiking or really wanting to watch my pack’s weight, I would cut the second outfit and wear the same one daily. I decide what to wear based on the location and expected weather.

If it’s colder, I’m going to be wearing pants instead of shorts. If I know the hike is exposed to the sun, I may pack a breathable long sleeve shirt to keep the sun off my arms. I also pack a down coat to keep me warm and a windbreaker for unexpected rain or if it’s really windy. What you chose to wear is just a personal preference and you will learn your preferences the more you hike.

Clothing to pack:

• Undergarments (I pack one for each day)
• 2 sports bras-one for hiking, one for camp
• 1-2 pairs or shorts or pants
• 1-2 tank tops
• Down jacket
• Windbreaker
• 1-2 long sleeve tops
• Beanie
• Sun hat
• 1 pair of socks to hike in
• 1 pair of gloves

Camp Clothes

I always pack a pair of camp clothes to change into when I get to camp. It’s usually a lightweight pair of long pants, clean undergarments, fresh socks, a tank top and a long sleeve top. I can wear my down and windbreaker over these as it gets cold at night. I like to have clean clothes to wear around camp and in my sleeping back as well as layers for cold nights. This is truly a preference on what types of clothes you think you’ll need to be comfortable at camp and stay warm all night in your sleeping bag.

Clothing to pack:

• Long pants
• A short sleeve or long sleeve top
• Pair of socks
• Fresh Undergarments

If you want to know more about the specific brands and types of clothes I bring for each of these, check out my Rock Porch page for links to all my clothing and gear.

Backpacking Toiletries

When you’re on the trail, you tend to not worry about your normal routines at home as much, but you still want to be clean and feel refreshed at camp. What you choose to bring will truly be a personal preference on what you want to carry, but always choose to carry small amounts rather than full bottles of anything if you can. I use these travel jars to carry things like lotion and moisturizers.

For your safety and your gear’s well-being, never store scented items inside or near your tent. Your toiletries will produce a scent that small critters and predators can smell. Leaving them inside your tent could cause a mouse or marmot to dig a hole in your tent to investigate or a bear to rip a hole in your tent to find the scent. People have died leaving food and scented items in their tent, so always place scented items in a bear canister or a bear hang 200 feet or more from camp. You can learn more about this in the “how to store food” section of this post.

Items to bring Backpacking:

• Travel toothbrush: I prefer The TOOB brush because it stores my toothpaste as well so I don’t have to carry a toothpaste tub separate. Some people will bring toothpaste tabs or cut down a toothbrush to save on space and weight. I prefer my TOOB brush though because the brush is replaceable so I can continue to reuse the rest of the product and be less wasteful.

• Wet wipes: these will add more weight than toilet paper, but I prefer them on trail for toilet paper purposes but also to use around camp to clean up or wipe my hands down. I use water wipes because they don’t leave a sticky, soapy residue after. Because they come in a package larger than I need, I use these reusable pouches to store what I need on trail. You could also just put them into a plastic bag. How do I decide how many wipes to bring? Well it depends how long I’m gone and what I need them for. I find out how many I think I’ll want for just one day first. I know I’ll want 2 just to clean my hands before doing my contacts twice a day, 2-3 to wipe down my body and a handful for the bathroom.. Then I’ll multiply that by each day I’m gone and I usually throw in a few extras for good measure. If you don’t care about wiping your body down or you’d prefer to just bring toilet paper because it weighs less, then you don’t need as many wipes.

• Toilet paper: If you don’t use a pee rag and you don’t want to use wet wipes, you’ll need toilet paper. It weighs a lot less than wipes which is great! Just be sure to have a plastic, resealable bag to haul used toilet paper back out with you.

• Pee rag: This is just a piece of cloth that you can use to wipe with after you pee instead of toilet paper. It helps reduce waste and the amount of toilet paper or wipes you need to carry. Many people use an old bandana for a pee rag. I personally use a Kula Cloth because they are anti microbial, they clip onto my backpack and can either be folded up to be more discreet after use or opened up to allow the sun’s UV rays to disinfect it.

• Shovel: Having a small, lightweight shovel is a must on trail. I carry one whether I’m day hiking or backpacking. They don’t add much weight and make it so much easy to dig a cat hole when you have to poop, because at some point you will have to poop outside, and you need to properly dig a hole to bury it. Some people will use an extra tent stake, but I find the shovel is a much easier choice considering the minimal weight difference. I bring a ziplock bag that holds my container of wet wipes, my shovel, hand sanitizer and extra sealable bags for hauling out used wipes.

• Hand Sanitizer: When you go to the bathroom or after a day of hiking, it’s so nice to have a small bottle of hand sanitizer to disinfect with.

• Personal hygiene items: This is anything you personally don’t want to live without on trail that isn’t always necessary, but wanted. For some people this is deodorant. Yes, many thru-hikers don’t even carry deodorant because they know they are going to stink anyways, so why carry the weight. I personally do. I also bring a small bottle of moisturizer to help keep my skin from feeling too dry after long days in the sun. Any other items you can bring in a smaller quantities that you use in your daily routine and want on trail can be brought with you, just remember everything adds weight to your backpack.

• Sun Screen: This is an absolute must on trail. You should never go without a small bottle of sunscreen. Be sure to reapply and if you’re hiking at high altitude, make sure your sunscreen has zinc.

• Bug Spray: I don’t always pack bug spray, it just depends on the location and the time of the year. If I’m hiking to a lake or near a body of water, it will always been in my pack. I also carry it in June and early July while the snow is still melting. If I’m backpacking in the desert or during fall season, I often skip bringing it unless it’s to a lake. But I carry it more than I don’t, because being caught without it in mosquito land it will make your trip uncomfortable quickly. If you’re new to backpacking, just pack it until you’re comfortable making an educated decision on if you need it. In early summer, some people even carry bug nets to wear over their heads if the bugs are bad.

• Bandanas: Bandanas are great because they have multiple uses on trail and are lightweight. You can wear a bandana or buff to help keep the sweat off of your face on trail. Another great use for a bandana is to have it attached to the outside of your pack to wipe sweat off your face while you’re hiking.

Trail Hygeine

There’s only so much you can really do to stay clean on trail, and many people just don’t care. How clean you want to be will be based on how much weight you’re willing to carry with you. If you’ve camping to a lake or thru-hiking, you can always choose to carry a backpacking shower and small piece of bar soap to help you clean.

I wear contacts but luckily wear dailies. This means I don’t have to carry any solution with me, but I do have to make sure I carry enough contacts for every day plus backups. Putting my dirty hands into my eye twice a day isn’t ideal and so I take a few steps to help make sure my hands are as clean as they can be on trail.

I start by using wet wipes to remove as much dirt and grime as I can from my hands and under my nails. I then rub a healthy amount of hand sanitizer on my hands and let them air dry before doing anything with my contacts. This way I can be sure I’m not getting anything into my eye during this process.

The toiletries you choose to pack from above will also help you with trail hygiene and the level of hygiene you wish to follow will always be personal. Like I said, many people throw hygiene out the window while others will pack extra night time routine products or makeup, you choose what you want to carry.

What to Eat While Backpacking

Honestly there is no real answer to this because it’s just up to each person and what they like to fuel their body with on trail. I’ve been backpacking for years and I’m still trying out meals and snacks. I personally don’t like to pack freeze dried meals except for dinner while some people like them for multiple meals and others don’t eat them at all.

If you want to get ideas of what to eat, try googling or searching Pinterest for backpacking meals. It will also depend on your cooking gear. If you travel with a pan, you can cook up more elaborate meals. It you don’t bring a stove you won’t be able to boil water for freeze dried meals.

Be sure to pack foods that are high protein and have plenty of calories because you will need the energy. You will burn thousands of calories a day backpacking and need to refuel your body properly not just with water and electrolytes, but with nourishment through your meals. Below I’ll just share a range of ideas I’ve done or I’ve heard others do and you can try out what you want! Remember, you can have any of these food ideas at any mealtime, it’s your preference and I’m just sharing ideas.

Breakfast:

• Cold or warm oatmeal (I add peanut butter)
• Freeze dried breakfast
• Packed pastries
• Cereal dry or with powdered milk
• Granola
• Pancakes (pan required)
• Eggs plain or in tortilla
• Precooked bacon

Lunch:

• Various snacks ( I do this often)
• Peanut butter jelly sandwiches
• Ramen
• Bagels and cream cheese
• Freeze fried beans and tortillas
• Tuna packet
• Cheese and crackers

Dinner:

Snacks:

• Granola bars
• Jerky
• Cheese
• Corn nuts
• Pretzels
• Bloks or electrolytes
• Dried fruit
• Fruit leather
• Trail mix

Treats:

• Freeze dried dessert
• Candy
• Chocolate (store it against water to prevent melting)
• Cookies
• Brownies
• Hot Cocoa and marshmallows
• Cider

One thing I learned is that hard cheese and packets of cream cheese can last multiple days on trail unrefrigerated. You can also put peanut butter or any similar items in a squeeze tube to take on trail if you don’t want to bring individual packets of something.

Freeze dried meals add up quickly if you backpack a lot. There are machines you can purchase for home freeze drying if you have the budget. This would allow you to make your own meals and freeze dry them for the trail. I would love to get a machine someday myself to eat healthier and reduce the cost of eating on trail. You can also use a less expensive dehydrator to make meals, but it won’t reduce the liquid content as well as freeze dried machine. Here is a great article to give you ideas on how to use a dehydrator. Just remember dehydrated food may not store as long as freeze dried and should be consumed quickly.

You should avoid eating your food in your tent unless you have no option or you have enough experience under your belt to make a well educated decision on if it’s safe to do where you are camping. I always make meals 10′ of more from my tent whenever I can to avoid food scents getting on the tent to attract wildlife.

How to Store Food

There are two ways to store food safely while backpacking. The first is a bear hang. Backpackers attach their food bag to a lightweight, 50 ft nylon rope by either tying it to a stuff sack or using a carabiner. I personally use a small carabiner because I can easily remove the entire bag and take it with me to make food rather than having to leave the bag or untie it when I need it.

After attaching the bag to the rope, one end of the rope is then thrown over a tree branch at least 15’ high and away from the tree trunk. This makes it difficult for bears, cougars and other little critters to get into your food supply. It’s important to always hang a bag at least 200 feet away from your camp.

I’ll be honest, getting a rope over a tree branch 15′ off the ground can be difficult and time consuming. Try trying something heavy around the end of the rope you plan to throw. This will help it get over the tree branch and have some weight to fall back down towards you. Be sure to give yourself enough slack to get over the branch and back down to you as well. Try to be patient. It may take multiple tries and you may find yourself jumping up and down with a random stick trying to catch the other end of the rope. I would say it gets easier with time but sometimes it’s just not easy.

The second option is with a bear bag or bear container. They are designed so bears cannot open them and have access to your food supply. Many places like the Olympics and Yosemite require backpackers use a bear canister while backpacking. Carry one in places that require it. They will check your pack and turn you around if you don’t have it.

A bear bag will not replace a bear canister when it’s required and at the end of the day they will not prevent a bear from getting to your food like a bear can will. Respect the rules and use a bear canister when required and any time you feel like it would be a better option to have.

Many backpacking sites with a lot of bear activity will have designated bear hanging ropes or storage containers at the campsites to make it easier to safely store your food. If it doesn’t state it has one of them at the site you intend to sleep at, do not expect them to have something and you will need to store your food properly yourself.

Another great option to use for storing food is the no scent bags as mentioned above. They will not replace a bear hang bag or a bear canister, but they will help reduce the smell your food and garbage put out. I always carry two with me on trail to help reduce my scent.

Never store your food or scented items such as toiletries in your tent. This can attract critters or larger animals and they will rip through your tent to get to it if they are interested. People have died leaving these items inside their tents. Always store anything that has a scent in your bear canister or bear hang and away from your tent.

Reminder, do not eat in your tent. This was a one off where it was safe to do so.

Wildlife Encounters

If you enter the backcountry you will have wildlife encounters. It is their home, not ours and we need to respect their space. This means never approach wildlife, big or small. Do not feed or touch animals. Feeding or touching animals causes habituation, meaning they learn to rely on humans for food. When animals rely on humans for food they will follow humans or rip into gear to get the food they want. Feeding animals is not cute and should never be done.

Although you may go years without ever seeing large predator, which is the case for me, they are there and could be hiding just behind a bush you’re walking past. This means you should always be prepared for an encounter and know what to do. For starters, you should always be aware of your surroundings outside. It’s so easy to get lost in your thoughts and the rhythm of hiking, but don’t forget to peer around, look over your shoulder every so often and keep your eye out for movement.

Always carry bear spray or something like a knife you can use in self defense and have it quickly accessible. I don’t go hiking without bear spray because I know I could use it for a bear but also if I needed to with a cougar or wolf.

Most animals are more scared of us than we are of them. They do not want to be near us. Whenever there is a rare animal attack, it’s because we invaded their space or they have something wrong like malnourishment. In the spring and summer it’s important to know that there are going to be a lot of baby animals out. Where there is a baby, there is a mom ready to protect them. Do not get between a mom and her babies and always give them 200 feet of space.

If you see a predator walking down the trail, know what to do for each type of predator. They will require various responses from you depending on the animal, so read about each animal and the needed response here. Knowledge is key to being successful on trail. The more you know the more comfortable you will be outside.

Backpacking Tricks

• Use a stuff sack as pillow– to reduce weight you can opt out of bringing a pillow and instead use an empty stuff sack with clothes as a pillow. This way you aren’t adding weight but rather using what you’re already carrying to be more comfortable. I personally still carry a pillow, but I’ve done this before.

• Cut backpacking food bag down- the freeze dried bags come with a ton of extra material that just ain’t necessary. Some people will cut off the tops to reduce weight on a longer trip where multiple meals are needed. You will have to tape it back shut though to prevent spilling. But it can take ounces off if you’re really trying to reduce weight. I personally haven’t done this and probably won’t, but it’s an easy way to reduce weight. Some people will also empty the contents into a zip lock bag. This is a great option to reduce weight, but only if you are eating out of your stove. You should never cook your food in a plastic zip lock bag.

• Place a warm water bottle in your sleeping bag for added warmth-If its really cold out, use your camp stove to heat up water. Put the hot water into your Nalgene water bottle and place that inside your sleeping bag to act as a heat source while you sleep.

• Garbage bag in backpack- If your backpack isn’t waterproof and you don’t want to purchase or carry a waterproof backpack cover, grab a large garbage bag and put in inside your backpack first. Then place all your gear inside the bag while it’s in your backpack. Once everything is inside close the garbage bag to stop water from getting to your gear.

• Ear plugs and hat over eyes- Have you ever wondered how backpackers can sleep in the backcountry? I bring a pair of ear plugs to reduce noises and wear a beanie over my eyes to make it darker. When I first started backpacking, I was too nervous and had to hear every sound. But I’m so much more comfortable in the back country and now know not every creek or twig break is a bear coming to eat me. So I’d rather not hear it all. I can still hear enough with the ear plugs in that I am aware of my surroundings- it’s just muted.

• Train with a weighted pack- I personally have not done this because I hike so much and haven’t felt a need to, but a great way to prepare for backpacking is by training with a heavy pack. You may have seen someone walking around your neighborhood with a large pack on already. You can put your gear in or just throw something heavy like bags of flour/ dumbbells into your backpack. This helps your body get used to carrying heavy weight for miles.

If you’ve been debating trying out backpacking or you’ve only gone a few times, hopefully this post will help give you the confidence you need to get out there and feel successful. And be patient and give yourself grace. Backpacking gets easier with every trip. The more experience you have, the better you are at determining what works for you and what doesn’t. What I like to carry and do on trail doesn’t have to be the same for you. That’s the beauty of being outside, everyone has the ability to enjoy it and hike how they choose, so long as it’s following the Leave No Trace principles.

Be sure to check out the blog for ideas on some of my favorite backpacking trails! One of my all time favorite spots in in eastern Oregon, which you can learn about in my “Eagle Cap Wilderness” guide. Be sure to check out “” guide for one lose to Portland.

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Backpacking Trail Guides

The Timberline Trail: The Best Backpacking Trail On Mount Hood

Eagle Cap Wilderness: The Ultimate Backpacking Guide To Mirror Lake

Lakes Trail: The Most Beautiful Trail in Sequoia National Park