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What to pack for your first backpacking trip

Backpacking can be a great experience, and no matter if you opt for doing it yourself or with others, it can be a great way to recharge your batteries and come back relaxed and ready to seize the day!

For all the nature lovers out there, this is going to be the perfect article that will walk you through the packing before your big journey. If you follow it through, you’ll be sure not to forget anything important at home, and you’ll make sure to leave out any extra things that will only slow you down and give you some terrible back pain from carrying it around. 

Backpacking can be a great experience, and no matter if you opt for doing it yourself or with others, it can be a great way to recharge your batteries and come back relaxed and ready to seize the day!

Your first backpacking trip-the essentials

Choosing a tent
Don’t be afraid to invest in a high-quality tent. This does not have to mean it will be expensive. Since it is your first trip, the gear can make or break your experience. So make sure to choose from backpacking tents that are high-quality and durable as in the long run, it’ll be totally worth it. Opting for a high-quality tent made from durable materials is a long-term solution to the whole outdoor sleeping situation because it’ll last you for at least several years. Talk about getting your money’s worth! 

Now onto the size and color of it. The good thing is that’s completely up to you. If you plan on sharing the tent with your backpacking group, you’ll definitely need a bigger one. But, if you plan on getting some privacy and sleeping alone a small tent should do. Pick out your favorite color! It would be great if you practice setting up the tent in your living room or your backyard, and online tutorials can be extremely helpful!

Having the right backpack
This is the first and perhaps the most important thing. You cannot go backpacking with the school backpack that you have stored away. After a few miles, your back will be sore to a degree where you cannot walk and you’re completely drained. To avoid that terrible back pain that will ruin the whole experience, you need to invest in a comfy backpack.

There are tons of choices, but it’s best if you look for the one with foamy cushions on the parts where your shoulders and back directly touch the backpack. That way, you’ll have extra comfort without any pressure points, which guarantees a great journey ahead of you. Also, make sure to opt for a backpack with tons of compartments, because that will help you organize better. You don’t want to unpack the whole thing just to find the lighter at the very bottom right? 

Warm clothes and shoes
No matter the weather and season, you’ll need warm and dry clothes. If it’s summer, dress lightly, but still bring an extra pair of socks and a blazer, because nights in the wild can get pretty cold, and you don’t want to freeze the whole night. Store them at the very bottom of the backpack, and find some videos online on how to fold them so they take up less space.

The shoes must be comfortable and the right size. Mind that your feet will swell up after walking, so you’ll need all the space down there. If the trail that you choose has high grass, opt for shoes that will protect your ankles, so hiking boots are perfect for any situation. 

Sleeping bag
You’re probably wondering how you’ll even fit a whole sleeping bag into your backpack. But, we’re talking about a backpacking sleeping bag, that differs from the regular one. If you plan on camping, hiking, backpacking… then you should invest in a backpacking sleeping bag, since they are a lot smaller, easier to fold, and lighter, so you can easily carry them around, compared to the camping sleeping bags. 

Invest in a warm sleeping bag, preferably a waterproof one, so that you can stay dry no matter the weather conditions and ofcourse, warm, no matter how much the temperatures will drop. You’ll also be protected by the tent, so double protection it is! There are different kinds of sleeping bags, each of them offering different benefits. 


Photo by Eric Sanman from Pexels

Enough food and water
Bring enough food and water to last you for the whole trip. If you think that you brought enough water, bring one extra bottle. It won’t take up much space, and it can be extremely important, especially if the place has no drinkable water. Look up some videos online on how to purify water in the wild. If not else, they are really interesting!

Food is also important because you’ll be walking a lot. Have a snack nearby at all times, and don’t worry about calories- you’ll be burning a lot more than you eat anyways!

Summary
In conclusion, you’ll need to own a few really important things, including a comfy backpack, dry clothes, tent, a comfy backpacking sleeping bag, and small necessities such as a power bank, flashlight, lighter or matches, first aid kit… the list of small but important details goes on and on, and it will only enhance your experience. 

Main photo by Ravindra rawat from Pexels

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