7 Beginner Backpacker Mistakes I Made (And How to Avoid Them)

Backpacking has long been on my lists of things to try, but only recently did I get the opportunity to test it out. Unsurprisingly, I had a great time and loved it! While there was a lot of difficulties I was expecting such as not showering, going to the bathroom in the woods, and aching feet, there were a few that hadn’t crossed my mind. Below are the top seven beginner backpacking mistakes that I made and tips to avoid them!

1. Not bringing enough socks… or the right ones

I realized before I had even left the airport that I had made my first mistake. I couldn’t find my thick socks while packing so I grabbed a few normal cotton pairs. Before getting on the trail I could feel my hiking books rubbing at my heel. The morning we set off, I grabbed a couple pairs of thick socks at REI, but after leaving one behind at a campsite I was left with only one for the remaining days.

Tip: Bring several pairs of thick socks, similar to these.

2. Not testing out your gear

I had bought a lightweight tent, but hadn’t had the chance to practice setting it up. Thankfully it worked and set up fine, but it did require some extra time the first night. It could have turned out much worse if we had realized we were missing something or the tent had been defective.

Tip: Test out your gear either at home or on a small camping trip before setting out on a multiday trek.

3. Overestimating your ability

It had been a while since I had done any strenuous hiking and I had never hiked with a heavy backpack before. My original plan had been a three night trip followed by another two night trip, but I hurt my knee while descending a pass on the first trip and had to cut my second hike short.

Tip: Know your limits and listen to your body. The mountain will always be there another day!

4. Not cutting finger and toe nails

Within the first few hours, dirt completely caked my fingernails. This seemed pretty obvious in hindsight but a simple trim before setting off could have saved a lot of trouble.

Tip: Trim your fingernails beforehand or bring some wet wipes to clean the dirt if that’s something that will bother you. Also trim toenails to avoid ingrown nails!

5. Practicing with your pack

Hiking with a pack is a lot different than without one. The weight slows down your pace and there’s a lot more to take into account while hiking. I had never had any issues with my feet before, but the extra weight made them start aching much earlier.

Tip: Go on some practice hikes with weight in your pack. Even better if you can do it in an area of similar elevation to where you will be hiking.

6. Overpacking or Underpacking

This is one of the most common beginner backpacking mistakes and will require experience to figure out what you do and don’t need to bring. For example, I found out you should always pack spare pants in case you spill food on one and have to put them in the bear bag at night (true story).

Tip: Do your research and get suggestions from other backpackers. I was lucky enough to be hiking with more experience backpackers but still brought a few things I barely or never used.

7. Not checking how to get to the trailhead

There were two potential trailheads to start at for our loop. We chose one that seemed closer to the main road but ended up being much more difficult to get to. Even in a 4 wheel drive Jeep we had to turn around before getting to the trailhead and parked up the road a bit. On our way out we passed the alternate trailhead and realized the road was much smoother leading to it

Tip: Check reviews on apps like AllTrails or look for previous trip reports to look for info on the road to the trailhead. It is common for roads to only be accessible by larger or 4 wheel drive vehicles or potentially impassable due to mud or road damage.

While it is impossible to make no mistakes on your first backpacking trip, I hope this article helps you avoid my mistakes so you can make entirely new ones. Backpacking can be an amazing experience that everyone should try but small mistakes can make it extremely uncomfortable (rather than just a little uncomfortable). Happy trails and get out and explore!

ADDITIONAL HIKING TIPS

• Practice Leave No Trace. Including packing out what you bring in and camping on surfaces where others have when possible.
• Dispose of your waste properly.
• Research permits. Some trails require you to apply for a permit in advance, some you can register at the trailhead, and some don’t require a permit at all!
• In dry climates prepare for cold nights. We had 90 degree days and I had been afraid packing a hat and gloves would be overkill, but I’m glad I had them when it got to 20 degrees at night!
• Check for for bear information. Know if there are bears in the area and what type. Research if a bear canister is required or if it is sufficient to keep food high in a tree.

SAVE IT FOR LATER