Preparing for your trip can often feel daunting if you’re looking to take your first steps into the exciting, intrepid world of backpacking. No matter your experience in the great outdoors, there are always things to learn — and plenty to remember to keep you comfortable and safe.
Thankfully, our outdoor enthusiasts are extremely well-travelled and well-versed in the art of backpacking! To help you start your journey, we’ve put together an easy-to-follow beginner guide to backpacking. So, grab your walking boots and explore our hiking tips!
Choose a backpacking destination.
Our first bit of advice? Choose a destination that is beginner-friendly. It’s important not to underestimate the terrain and challenges you’ll face on your journey and to consider your experience and skill level.
With that said, it’s also vital that you decide on somewhere you want to explore and connect with. Whether that’s a bucket list destination or an old favourite you’re familiar with and want to explore further, ensure your backpacking spot is engaging.
- Pick a destination that’s relatively close to home.
- Research the area and connect with experienced backpackers or hiking clubs to learn more about the destination.
- Keep your first few backpacking trips relatively short, avoid areas with excessive elevation, and avoid overdoing it.
- Ensure the trail is well-travelled, close to a water source and ample places to camp.
- Plan your first backpacking trip around the summer months or fairer weather.
Acquire the essential backpacking gear.
When you first start backpacking, you don’t need all the bells and whistles immediately. Instead, invest in the hiking essentials you’ll require for your maiden trips, then invest in more once your experience and the difficulty level of your backpacking grow.
We recommend acquiring:
- Backpack: The clue is in the name, right?! Your backpacking trip will require a good-quality rucksack to stow away your belongings and backpacking essentials.
Specialist backpacking packs are available for longer trips, but for many starting out, a day pack may suffice for shorter trips. Consider the size, weight, rucksack accessories, and features of the backpack—and remember not to overpack, which can make your first trip uncomfortable and less enjoyable. - Tents: Backpacking trips will involve camping overnight and getting the most out of what the destination and the surrounding areas have to offer. It’s this factor that separates backpacking from hiking, which you would complete within the same day. You’ll need dependable, durable camping equipment, with a tent topping the list.
Whether you need a pop up tent, an inflatable tent for easy pitching, or a family tent for larger groups, plenty of options are available to meet your needs. - Sleeping bags: As well as a tent, a sleeping bag is essential for getting a good night’s rest and readying yourself physically and mentally for the next day of backpacking.
At Taunton, you’ll find everything from a backpacking and lightweight sleeping bag to a space-saving family sleeping bag. - Sleeping mats: The surface of your chosen campsite may be uneven, which can lead to discomfort. It pays to invest in a sleeping mat to combat this and to benefit from its insulative properties, keeping you warm against the cold ground.
Plenty of options are available to fit your needs, from a backpacking and lightweight sleeping mat to a family sleeping mat for larger tents and groups. - Camping stoves: You can’t tackle a long day of backpacking without some essential refuelling, but to cook up a storm, you’ll need a good quality camping stove—and don’t forget those camping utensils!
We recommend a lightweight camping stove for shorter trips in the interest of packing and travelling light. However, a family camping stove will be more suited to larger groups where you need to provide more portions. - Water purification: Although many streams and rivers might appear clean, they could hide harmful parasites, pesticides or chemicals. Rather than taking your chances and risk feeling uncomfortable or falling ill, we recommend investing in a water purifier or water purification tablets for your backpacking trip.
Take suitable backpacking clothing.
As mentioned earlier, we recommend taking your first backpacking steps in the summer or in warmer weather, but that doesn’t mean you can set out in a simple shorts, t-shirt, and trainers combo. After all, the weather can soon take a turn—especially if you’re backpacking in the UK!
You don’t need an entire wardrobe to keep dry, safe and warm during backpacking. Instead, focus on some essential hiking clothing that you can layer:
- Baselayers: A baselayer is great for slipping comfortably under jackets and heavier layers. It balances warmth and sweat-wicking properties to keep you comfortable in varying weather conditions.
Of course, even hot days can experience cold nights, in which case your baselayer can double up to keep you cosy as you sleep. - Removable layers: Next, you’ll need hiking clothing that you can throw on or peel off depending on the conditions. Hiking trousers are a fantastic option. They keep you protected from rocks and foliage but can easily be removed and stowed away when necessary. They’re also available in various lengths to suit your needs.
We also recommend investing in a versatile softshell jacket. This lightweight jacket offers some protection while being breathable enough to keep you cool, and when not needed, it’ll easily fit inside your backpack. - Insulative layers: A fleece or mid layer will keep you warm and dry during chillier, rainy conditions, while a vest or gilet is also a great option for layering and keeping warm on the go, as and when needed.
If you’re backpacking in elevated terrain, it’s also a good idea to bring a pair of gloves and a hat—you never quite know what the weather will throw at you once you ascend higher. - Waterproof layers: Last but not least, always pack a waterproof jacket, just in case. Although a fleece or light jacket can withstand a bit of drizzle, you’ll need something a little more substantial if conditions take a turn for the worse.
Waterproof jackets are still light enough to be packed away, but they’ll ensure you’re fully protected against sudden downpours that can quickly turn backpacking into a miserable experience. Taunton Leisure also stocks a fantastic range of waterproof trousers, which we recommend if hiking at higher altitudes.
Layering is key to staying safe, dry, and in good spirits during your backpacking trip. It allows you to quickly change clothes on the fly and adapt to whatever conditions are thrown at you.
Don’t forget your backpacking footwear.
As comfy or stylish as they might be, unfortunately, trainers just won’t cut it for backpacking. Even routes that are relatively flat can throw obstacles at you that most footwear would be unsuitable for, and that’s without mentioning the weather conditions (again!).
Investing in a quality pair of walking boots or walking shoes will really make a difference to the quality and enjoyment of your hike.
- Hiking boots are ideal for all kinds of backpacking conditions, providing all the necessary support, protection and waterproofing. You’ll also find a range of fits available to suit your foot type, including narrow, medium, wide and extra wide fit hiking boots.
- Mid height boots or ankle boots offer more freedom of movement. They’re perfect for flatter routes, but a standard hiking boot will provide superior support and prevent rolling or spraining an ankle if you’re traversing rocks and ascending peaks.
- Walking shoes are also great for more accessible routes and flat trails and ensure complete freedom of movement around the ankle. If you’re confident that your backpacking journey is reasonably even and easy to tackle, a walking shoe could be the choice for you.
- Approach shoes marry the durability of walking boots with the flexibility and performance of climbing shoes. These attributes make them perfect for backpacking across flatter and rockier routes or those who want to enjoy different activities.
Make the final preparations for your backpacking trip.
Any backpacking trip requires a certain degree of preparation, but this is especially true and more important for beginners. Before heading out into the great outdoors, we suggest running through these checks to ensure you’re all set to enjoy the experience to its fullest.
- Prepare yourself physically: Although backpacking isn’t a physical feat on the scale of a decathlon or marathon, it’s still rigorous exercise, and if you are not properly prepared, you can soon injure yourself.
We recommend preparing for your trip’s physical demands by warming up with plenty of walking and shorter hikes, building up to the equivalent distance of your journey over the course of a few days.
If your route contains ascents and descents, factor some of these into your preparations, and don’t forget to get used to carrying the weight of your backpack and the feel of your hiking footwear. - Ready yourself mentally: Backpacking can be as challenging for the body and the mind. Things can go wrong during your trip, the weather can turn, or unplanned events can occur that might knock your confidence.
To mentally prepare, you should revise your route beforehand so that you’re comfortable with it. You should also have practice runs of things you’ll need to do during the trip, e.g. pitching your tent, purifying water, setting up and cooking on your camping stove, and ensuring your backpack has room for all the essentials without being too heavy.
It’s also a good idea to familiarise yourself with any navigational equipment, such as maps and compasses, and ensure you know basic first aid and how to use a first aid kit. - Figure out the logistics: Any backpacking trip requires plenty of planning, so don’t leave the logistics until the last minute. If places along the route require permits or passes, take care of these in advance and check for any private land that you might need permission to enter.
You should also organise travel to and from the start and end points of your route—and always inform a friend or family member of the route, where you’ll be, and when you expect to finish, especially if you’re backpacking solo. - Pack your rucksack and acquire backpacking food: Never leave preparing your backpack until the last minute! Doing so will increase the chances of leaving behind some essential equipment you’ll have no way of reaching once on your trip.
We suggest setting out everything you’ll need and practising packing it away well in advance; this way, you’ll know what you need to take and where it goes. You should also weigh the rucksack to ensure it’s not too heavy; the general rule here is to aim for a weight that’s no more than 20% of your body weight.
Lastly, purchase sufficient camping food to keep you going throughout the trip. Taunton Leisure provides hiking food for all meals of the day. The meals take up minimal room, are easy to cook, and are packed full of everything you need to keep you well-fueled and energised throughout your backpacking experience.
If you’d like more pointers and information on planning for your backpacking trip, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Taunton Leisure. Our team of experienced outdoor enthusiasts would be more than happy to help you and provide product recommendations.
If you’re looking for more advice, check out the Taunton Leisure Blog, which offers a range of guides and reviews.
