Getting into backpacking does not require a garage full of expensive gear. For most first trips, three things make or break the experience: your backpack, your sleeping bag, and your sleeping pad. Outdoor folks call these the “Big Three.” Get these right and the rest is easy.
Before you spend a dollar: you probably need to buy less than you think. Borrowing, renting, and buying used covers most people, and a pack that fits a smaller person matters far more than a pack that is new.
FreeArenas is reader supported. Some links below are affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The most common mistake is buying a pack that is too big. Capacity should match what a person actually carries.
A good weight target for a younger or smaller hiker is 15 to 20 percent of body weight. A 70 pound hiker should top out around 10 to 14 pounds loaded. A short packing list, plus refilling water along the trail instead of carrying a lot at once, keeps the smallest hikers comfortable.
What to look for:
How to measure torso length: tip the head forward, find the bony bump at the base of the neck, and measure straight down the spine to an imaginary line between the tops of the hip bones. That number, in inches, is what pack makers list for each size.
School backpacks, hydration packs, and small daypacks will not carry an overnight load comfortably. They lack the frame and hip belt that move weight onto the hips.
Starting points (borrow or buy used first):
What to look for:
Leave home the big rectangular bags made for sleepovers and car camping. They are heavy, they do not pack down, and they will not fit in a backpack.
Starting points:
A pad does two jobs. It cushions you from the ground, and more importantly it insulates you from the cold ground, which otherwise pulls heat out of your body all night. That insulation is measured as R-value (higher is warmer). For summer trips at elevation, look for an R-value around 2 or higher.
Three types work for backpacking:
Not suitable: pool floaties and full size air mattresses. They have no insulation value and will leave a sleeper cold all night no matter how thick they are.
Starting points:
Before buying anything, check these:
A used pack that fits beats a new pack that does not.
The gear is only half of it. How you plan the trip decides how much everyone carries and how much fun they have. A few things set a first outing up to succeed, especially for younger hikers:
Dial in the Big Three, keep the load light, and a first backpacking trip becomes something a new hiker actually wants to do again.
Want to go deeper on any one piece of the kit? These are the guides we trust:
A photo field guide to the trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and berries of the East Idaho mountains, with a plain edible-or-poisonous verdict on every plant, including the deadly lookalikes.
Are you feeling the blues because the trails are covered in snow and it’s too cold to ride? Fear not, mountain bikers! The off-season is the perfect time to focus on your fitness, skills, and mental well-being so you can hit the trails stronger and more confident than ever before. You could sit around watching videos of others enjoying rides when the weather was good or here are 8 ways that you can do to stay engaged, fit, and happy during the off-season.
Perhaps a friend cancelled on a hike last minute, there is no one free to go skiing that day, or maybe it is simply because experiencing the wilderness alone can be immensely therapeutic and powerful. There are many reasons why someone may want to go outdoors alone. Whether mountain biking, hiking, backpacking, or even rock climbing, you may one day find yourself venturing into the great outdoors with only the rustling of the wind through the trees and your footsteps in the dirt to give you company, if you are so lucky.
Years ago, my scout troop went to Moab, Utah to bike some of the amazing trails there, specifically the world famous Slickrock trail. I was 15 years old. I had an old, rickety bike that sent shockwaves through my body as I hit every bump. Even though the ride was uncomfortable, I fell in love with mountain biking. Mountain biking is something that has always been important to me ever since.
Tin foil dinners can be as easy or as difficult as you would like. For my family, we usually make these or prepare them before a camping trip. We believe that just because you’re going camping (or in our case, glamping) you don’t have to compromise a gourmet meal! These tin foil dinners take a little bit of home preparation, but will be worth the extra thirty minutes.
I had been invited to go on a hike up Mt. Timpanogos in Utah Valley, and I happily agreed. I liked to do the hikes surrounding my home, and throughout other random parts of Utah. I was excited by the thought of hiking a new place instead of returning to one of my regulars. I quickly realized after our arrival at the base of the mountain that this would not be like the “hikes” I was accustomed to.
