The Beginner's Guide To Backpacking, Part 2 - Getting The Gear

Unfortunately, getting out into the wilderness and spending a night or more involves acquiring a fair amount of stuff. Worse yet, that stuff can get fairly expensive. Like most things in our consumer culture, it can get extravagantly expensive if you let it, but it doesn’t have to. It is important to acquire gear that does its intended job and doesn’t weigh you down so much that you can’t enjoy your trip due to the feeling that you’re carrying a small RV on your back. Qualities you will learn to appreciate as you begin to use backpacking gear are simplicity, light weight, and multipurpose. Below is a list of the essential items you will need to buy, borrow, or rent before heading out on your first trip. These items are very similar to the 10 Essentials of Hiking, but that list is designed to provide precautions and preparations for day hikes. Specifically heading out for backpacking involves a bit more depth and specificity in some areas.

The Beginner's Guide to Backpacking, Part 1 - Getting Familiar

So, you’ve become interested in backpacking. Maybe you’re reading this because you accepted an invitation for a wilderness trip and want to know what to expect. Maybe you’re an experienced hiker and/or car-camper and want to get a little more wild, spending a night or two in the backcountry, away from big crowds, RV generators, and shrieking children zooming through campgrounds on bikes and scooters. Perhaps you’ve never strayed from climate-controlled rooms for more than a few hours but think backpacking sounds exotic and exciting. No matter your motivation, I think almost anyone can enjoy backpacking and the countless benefits it offers (it is guaranteed to make you look and feel sexier despite the frequent sightings of zip-off pants, the lack of showers, and the abundance of insect repellant.) That said, spending time deep in the wilderness demands a certain amount of knowledge and preparation to ensure safety. If it feels a little bit scary, that is perfectly normal (I admit it was for me on my first couple of trips.) In fact, overconfidence and blind ignorance of potential emergency situations can be a recipe for disaster. A healthy dose of nervousness and anxiety can be great motivators to properly prepare. And once you face those fears and realize that you CAN go out into the wilderness with only a sack on your back and not only survive but have a great time splashing in creeks, standing atop mountain overlooks, or just star-gazing amidst tall trees, you might just find yourself immediately hooked (I was.) As you begin planning or simply contemplating your first trip, you might consider some of these suggestions: