Backpacking
Carrying everything you need on your back for multiple days — hiking and camping combined, with weight as the constraint.
At a Glance
Category
Cost to Start
Difficulty
Time Commitment
Space Needed
Physical Intensity
Solo or Social
Overview
Backpacking means self-sufficient multi-day travel on foot. Every decision revolves around weight: the big three — pack, shelter, and sleep system — dominate your total load.
It demands more planning than car camping, but it reaches places nothing else does.
Getting Started
Do overnight trips close to the trailhead before attempting anything long or remote.
Weigh everything. Beginners routinely carry twice what they need.
Invest in the big three first — pack, tent, sleeping bag and pad — and skimp elsewhere.
Practice with your full pack weight on day hikes before committing to a multi-day route.
