5 Backpacking Mistakes You Can Avoid
When I started backpacking I goofed up a lot. Not every mistake is a life-or-death situation (many aren’t) but knowing these 5 common backpacking mistakes from the beginning can make your first time out more enjoyable.
Over Packing
For some reason whenever I am packing for any trip I think I need multiple outfits for each day. My first time backpacking was no mistake. For a single night, I packed four complete outfits. Yup, four outfits for 24 hours. This was excessive and added a solid five pounds to my backpack that was completely unnecessary. Having an extra pair of socks and a jacket is good and recommended but if you really need to be in clean clothes for the drive home, keep a clean outfit in your car and out of your pack.
I also “packed my fears” by packing too much food, water, and safety equipment. I carried 4 liters of water on a trail that ran along a stream that I could have easily filtered out of. At 2.2 pounds per liter, I could have drastically reduced my water weight if I looked at the trail conditions and features ahead of time. Similar to water, I also packed enough food to last me four days. While having some extra food is good for if something unexpected comes up, carrying four days of food on a one-night trip was too much.
The best way to prevent overpacking is to lay everything out before putting it in your pack. If it takes up a whole floor, it’s too much. Once your stuff is spread out, go through and really consider if you will use the item or not. If you’re unsure, don’t bring it (unless it’s one of the 10 essentials). For food, be realistic. If you normally only eat two meals a day don’t bring 5 meals a day’s worth of food. I typically bring a normal amount of food for lunch and dinner and add in some snacks. This has been perfect for me and I usually come home with a few protein bars. This is a comfortable amount of “oh shit” food for me and has reduced my pack weight.
Using the wrong size of backpack
There are two size considerations to a backpack, the size (measured by torso length) and the capacity. Carrying a backpack that is too small or too large for you can lead to a lot of discomfort as well as unnecessary strain on your shoulders. Bruising and chafing are also super common with using the wrong size of a backpack. To find out what size pack you need, get measured at REI or another outfitter or have a friend help you measure your torso using a YouTube video like this one. Each backpack brand has slightly different
Capacity (measured in liters) is another thing to consider. If you Google what size/volume of backpack you need for a week on the trail, you’ll get a suggested 80L pack. When I first started backpacking I bought a 65-80L pack because that’s what the internet told me to do. As a result, I overpacked all the time. When you have empty space you tend to fill it. A 50-65L pack should be plenty for a few days worth of gear. If you are in the market for a pack, consider how bulky the rest of your gear is. Before switching to lighter and more compact (and more expensive) gear, I needed a pack around 60L because my sleeping bag and tent were bulky. That’s totally OK but aim to get a pack that fits what you need and nothing more.
Buying new gear from the start
If you spend enough time in gear resell groups you’ll find a lot of people selling gear that just didn’t work out. This happens and isn’t something to be ashamed of but when you’re first starting out, try to rent, borrow, or buy used gear.
After my first year of backpacking, I realized that most of my gear wasn’t working for me. My pack was the wrong size, my tent was super heavy and bulky, my sleeping bag was choking me in my sleep (I can’t do mummy bags), and my sleeping pad took forever to blow up.
Without trying these items, I wouldn’t know what didn’t work for me. Since the gear can get expensive, I was glad I bought mine at garage sales and on used gear groups (this one is especially great). Buying used is a great way to save money while you’re figuring out what works and doesn’t work for you.
Overestimating your mileage
Another common beginner backpacking mistake is assuming you can do the same miles in a day of backpacking as you can in a day hike. It’s super common for your mileage to be lower while backpacking than day hiking. Adding the extra weight takes a lot more energy than you might expect and you’ll tire out quickly. My first time I assumed that since I could day hike 8 miles comfortably that I could do the same backpacking. I ended up overexerting myself and got sick. Plus, it sucked. The point of trying new things and adventuring is to have fun so underestimate your miles by 1-4 miles depending on elevation gain and your fitness level. The worst-case scenario is you have extra time to kick back and relax. You can always go further if you’re feeling good but if you get to your destination and you want to camp, you’ve planned for it.
Not filtering water
Always. Filter. Your. Water. I’ve heard people say “it’s from a natural spring I don’t need to filter my water” or “the stream is flowing so I don’t need to filter.” They’re wrong. Natural water sources can carry parasites and micro contaminants. Once you’ve had giardia, you will always filter your water. Skip the potential for illness and carry some sort of water treatment.
While you’re getting ready for your first time out or not, keep these mistakes in mind to make it more enjoyable. If you’re ready to plan your adventure but don’t know how to find a trail, head over to this post! Happy hiking!
