15 All-Too Common Beginner Backpacking Mistakes

We all start somewhere. We all begin as beginners, as novices. And even for experienced hikers, new gear constantly demands we play catch-up. An experienced backpacker in the early ‘90s might not know all the tricks of the trade in this new decade. I like to think I worked out my beginner kinks during my thru-hike, but I am still learning new hiking hacks. Whenever I hike now, I notice many people making the same beginner mistakes I (and many others) did when first starting out.

The Appalachian Trail community encourages you to hike your own hike, as do I. If you choose to do the things below with the knowledge that there is an easier way, then I applaud you for hiking your own hike. If you do them out of a lack of knowledge, however, then this resource is here to help. Note that this is far from a comprehensive list. Not all beginners make these missteps, and the mistakes listed are far from the only ones I’ve seen on the trail. The beginner backpacking mistakes I’ve chosen to highlight seem to be among the most common and the most easily fixable.

Find Madison Dragna's full list of backpacking mistakes here.

IMESASISHWA MWISHO

October 24, 2024

Imeandikwa na
Mwandishi wa Blogu ya Picha

Trek ya

Maelezo ya vyombo vya habari kutoka Trek

Njia ya Appalachian, Njia ya Divide ya Bara, Njia ya Crest ya Pasifiki, na kila kitu katikati. Tumejitolea kutumikia backpackers ya umbali mrefu.

Sisi sote ni vitu vya nyuma vya umbali mrefu.

Njia ya Appalachian, Njia ya Divide ya Bara, Njia ya Crest ya Pasifiki, na kila kitu katikati. Tumejitolea kutumikia jamii ya thru-hiking na umbali mrefu wa backpacking.

KUMBUKA: Mjadala wa Cordial unaruhusiwa na kuhimizwa. Ikiwa wewe ni mkatili, hata hivyo, maoni yako yatafutwa. Ikiwa unafanya mashambulizi ya kibinafsi kwa mtoa maoni mwingine au Blogger ya Trek au Mwandishi, utapigwa marufuku kutoka ukurasa huu.

Chunguza Maudhui Zaidi

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

A favorite of ultralight hikers, backpackers, bikers, and travelers, the Sawyer Squeeze filter is the gold standard in water filters for anyone concerned about weight and universal compatibility.

Scott Gilbertson
Senior Writer and Reviewer

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

In the morning before getting to the park, I applied insect repellent (Picaridin lotion by Sawyer).

Julie, Earth Trekkers
Author and Photographer

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

A Sawyer Squeeze water filtration system that blows any other system out of the — say it with me — water.

Rachel Dunkel
Freeland Writer