Backpacking is a form of independent travel where people carry all of their possessions in a backpack. Traditionally, backpacking was considered a marginal form of travel, but more people are choosing to try this style of traveling. If you’re planning to go backpacking soon, here are some tips and tricks for making it a smooth experience.
Ultralight backpacking
Ultralight backpacking is a way to reduce the weight of your gear. However, you must be careful about which items you choose to cut down. This is because ultralight gear is not necessarily better in terms of comfort or performance. For example, a lighter sleeping bag is not always better than one with a larger capacity. So, weigh all items before purchasing them.
The weight of your backpack is determined by the distance you plan to travel, the terrain, and the weather forecast. You must study the terrain and weather forecast to know how far you need to pack food and water. You should also leave behind all items that you don’t need. You can get away with as little as 12 to 28 pounds, but you must rely on your own judgment.
Some popular luxury items and useful add-ons can be part of an ultralight backpacking setup, but they should only be a part of the overall weight budget. While hiking shorts are a common clothing item, ultralight hikers would limit themselves to one pair of shorts.
Thru-hiking
Thru-hiking is a great way to experience wilderness life. You’ll meet people from all walks of life and form deep bonds. You’ll also spend much of your time alone, in your own head. The whole experience is a gift. Read on to discover the benefits of thru-hiking.
Thru-hiking is a way to travel long distances on foot, often without stopping. It’s traditionally done in a single day, but there are many ways to complete it. The main goal is to push yourself beyond your limits and discover yourself. Thru-hiking is an experience you won’t soon forget.
The most important thing to remember when thru-hiking is to pay attention to your body. You’ll be taking on a physically demanding challenge for months, so you need to know when to stop and rest. During the trek, you’ll be walking many miles a day, so you need to be as efficient as possible. By using your body, your gear, and your mind to hike as efficiently as possible, you’ll be able to maximize your time on the trail.
Thru-packing
Thru-packing is the process of carrying all of your gear on your back, often several times a day. It is important to have organization in your pack and save time and energy by keeping similar items together. To make it easier to find items, use compression sacks and stuff sacks. Color-coding your stuff sacks can help you distinguish between items and make things more organized.
While Thru-packing is a great way to experience hiking in a different environment, it can be challenging. While it is possible to meet other backpackers along the trail, you will likely spend most of your time hiking by yourself. This can pose mental challenges such as dealing with loneliness and self-doubt. Although solo backpacking has become increasingly popular, solo hikers often feel lonely on a long trip. In contrast, shorter backpacking trips don’t pose this mental challenge.
Generally, thru-hikers choose packs in the sixty to eighty liter range. Lighter hikers tend to choose packs in the 50 to 55 liter range. Packs over 70-75 liters are considered extra weight.
Flashpacking
Flashpacking is a way to travel on a tight budget without losing the authentic feeling of backpacking. Although it’s less authentic than backpacking, flashpacking is ideal for those with little time to travel and are looking to save money. For one thing, it’s easy to do alone, as long as you have a decent budget. To begin, you’ll need to take a couple of weeks off from work and book yourself a luxurious accommodation for your trip. You can also take first-class trains or inter-city flights between different areas. Before leaving, though, be sure to do some research on what to do in each area. Websites like Atlas Obscura can help you with this.
While traveling on a budget, flashpackers also take advantage of the many cheap flights available. Many of them choose flights over buses and public transportation, but even if they have to use public transport, they still like to save money. Oftentimes, flashpackers will look for Cheaper Bookings, as they understand that the long bus rides are uncomfortable.
aeorienteering.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
