Beginner Backpacking - How to get Started, by Outdoor Adventures on YouTube. 5 min 6 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 6 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour of planning
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pick a short overnight trip close to home on an easy, well-marked trail. Aim for 3 to 5 miles of walking each day so the hike stays simple while you test your setup.
Write a gear list before you buy anything. Split it into shelter and sleep, clothing, food and water, and small extras. Tick off what you already own.
Borrow or rent the three big items: backpack, shelter and sleeping bag. Outdoor clubs, friends and some shops lend these, so you can try them before spending money.
Pack heavy items like food and stove close to your back and mid-pack. Put light, bulky gear such as your sleeping bag at the bottom, near your hips.
Keep things you need during the day in the top lid or outside pockets: water, snacks, map, headlamp and rain shell. That way you are not unpacking on the trail.
Load the bag and walk around the block for 20 minutes. Fasten the hip belt first so it carries the weight, then snug the shoulder straps and adjust the load lifters.
Do a shakedown at home. Lay everything out, remove duplicates and anything you cannot see yourself using, then repack.
Check the weather, find out where water sources are on your route, and plan one dinner, one breakfast and snacks for the walk.
Tell a friend your route, campsite and expected return time before you leave. Carry a map or downloaded offline maps and a headlamp in case you finish in the dark.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not buy gear for a trip you have not taken yet; borrow or rent until you know what you actually use.
Line your pack with a trash bag or pack liner so rain cannot soak your sleeping bag and spare clothes.
Keep your first trip weight around 10 to 15 percent of your body weight, and drop anything over 20 percent.
Practise setting up your shelter in the garden or a park before you rely on it in the dark.
Questions
Do I need to buy expensive gear to start?
No. Borrow or rent a pack, shelter and sleeping bag for your first trips. You will learn what fits and what you actually use before spending money.
How much weight should a beginner carry?
Around 10 to 15 percent of your body weight is a comfortable target for a weekend. Fit hikers can go to about 20 percent, but lighter is easier on your knees.
How do I get drinking water on the trail?
Plan your route around known water sources and carry a filter or purification tablets. Treat all wild water before drinking it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
