Top 8 mistakes first time backpackers make…and how to avoid them!

Last updated on June 11th, 2020 at 10:21 pm

So you want to get into backpacking, awesome! I have listed the most common mistakes first time backpackers make, based on what I’ve learnt from starting out a few years ago. Don’t get me wrong, I still make some of these mistakes, especially on the first few trips of every summer, it’s a constant learning process. You’ve started planning what gear you need, you’ve got your backpack and your boots and feel confident hitting the trail. Here are a few things to check off before you get out there!

1. Don’t Over Pack

This is one of the number one mistakes first time backpackers make! We’ve all been there, every tiny space in the pack, crammed with something you will likely never use, but feel the desperate need to take….just in case! How many clothes are you really going to wear? Do you need to pack all that water or can you pump on the trail?

2. Make Sure You Have Everything You Need

The easiest way to not run into nasty surprises is to have a night of practice, try setting up your gear and using it in the garden or on a short overnight trip close to home. This way you can make sure you have everything you need before you are 20km down a trail and realise you don’t have any cutlery for the next 5 days! Worse still you find out your second hand tent leaks during a 24 hour downpour (laugh away it happened to my friend)

3. Choose Your Trail Wisely

Make sure you research your trail, find one with a distance and elevation gain you feel comfortable with. Always remember what you can complete on a standard day hike will feel a lot harder once you are weighed down by your pack. Start small with something you know is achievable and work your way up from there. It’s not just about getting to the destination, it’s about enjoying yourself along the way, stop an extra night on a long multi day trip, give yourself a chance to rest and enjoy where you are!

4. Plan Ahead

Make sure you know a few key pieces of information to get your trip started on the right foot. For instance, how far of a drive is to your trailhead? If it’s more than a 2 hour drive I like to book a campsite close to the start and make the drive the night before. That way you aren’t tired to start your hike and you also aren’t starting too late in the day after spending your morning driving.

Make sure you know where your trail head is located, sounds crazy but you won’t always have cell reception and not all trails are clearly marked. A map will go a long way in both getting you to the start of your hike as well as the end! Lastly make sure you have camping reservations, a lot of backpacking trails require a back country permit and many require reservations for campsites. Make sure you read up on this and get the proper authorization before hitting the trail otherwise you may be removed, fined or find you have nowhere to sleep.

5. Have Clothing For All Weathers

The forecast says sunny and hot for your whole trip, you can’t believe your luck! This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pack any form of rain gear. This is one of the most regrettable mistakes first time backpackers make. The forecast can change rapidly and rain showers and summer storms can come in quickly and hit you hard! It’s always worth a bit of space in your pack for wet weather gear, especially if you are backpacking for longer than one night, or in the mountains or on the coast.

6. Food, Food, Food

We all worry about how hungry we will be, expelling all that energy on the trail. You also have to remember that everything you want to eat you have to carry. The concept of food took me far more than one trip to master. Carrying frozen steaks into the backcountry, although delicious, was a lot of added and unnecessary weight on a 30km hike in. Eventually I tried backpacking meals, I tried a few before I hit the trails, I desperately didn’t want to be left disappointed with my meal after a big hiking day.

They turned out to be pretty good, my favorite brand so far is Alpine Aire, particularly their Hurry Curry….don’t be put off by the color! Lastly always remember a waterproof stuff sack to store your food in when at camp, not all sites have bear lockers and therefore having a waterproof sack will prove invaluable if you have to hang your food.

7. Wear In Your Boots

I can’t stress enough how important it is for your feet to be comfortable when hiking day after day. Never use a multi day backpacking trip as a chance to wear in your boots for the first time. Test them out around the home and on day hikes. This way they will be softened up and if they have hot points you know where they are and you can make sure to prep your feet accordingly.

8. Always Have An Escape Plan

It’s important to always have a back up plan. This is in case of emergencies; the weather turns bad suddenly and for a prolonged period or you overestimated your ability and you don’t feel able to complete your trip or worse still someone in your party gets injured and you need to get off the trail. Make sure before you leave home you are aware of any exit routes off the trail and where they may come out or if the only way off the trail is back tracking. Most importantly make sure your group has a plan and everyone understands it.

So there you have it, the top mistakes first time backpackers make, these won’t be the only ones and some of them you’ll get better at the more you get out. Being prepared and having the correct gear will make for a much more enjoyable trip. Get planning, get outside and most of all have fun! See you on the trails.