How To Backpack | Backpacking for Beginners

My favorite gear for backpacking:

Planning your first backpacking trip can be challenging and intimidating. To help simplify things for beginner backpackers, this video is all about the basics of backpacking, and how to plan a successful backpacking trip.

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[ShowMeAnAdventure]

Decided that my “midlife crisis” is to go backpacking (with my husband) next year when I turn 40! I’ve always loved hiking and camping… just never tried backpacking. Starting with a local, state park trail that’s just 5 miles in, camp, 6 miles back. Baby steps!! 😅 thanks for the tips!

[sandyhumissouri]

"Young" hikers does not equal "inexperienced" hikers ...love your videos, you get right to the point and don't yammer and yack unnecessarily. Thanks!

[Mvjesty]

Quarter life crisis is starting and the woods are calling my name. I must answer that call

[danalovelace]

My husband and I have watched several of your reviews and found this particular video helpful.
We fall into the category of; done a lot of camping, a lot of hiking, and a lot of Mtb biking but never backpacked or bike packed.
After much research, We have stated purchasing the gear. My biggest fear is weather / nature related. How to be prepared for the unexpected. How to determine when to shelter or when to keep moving.

[snorly]

I just turned 15(I know very young), but I’ve always loved the wilderness and I yearn for exploration. It’s quite weird since I’m very techy but I’ve saved up a bunch of money and want to start backpacking. Thanks for insight. Great video as well.

[HarryBible]

I’ve gone backpacking once, and it was an amazing experience, and I decided to watch this since I’m not going with the same person I did last time

[IanJenn]

Nice video! I'm getting into hiking but want to get into backpacking, so I'll be spending every saturday doing 10+ mile hikes to build my strength up and to find ways to make my backpack more efficient.

[iTsTrems]

Hey! Im planning my first adventure with my wife and I found this video full of super helpful information. I think for future content, it would be better for people like me to have a bit more in depth info on basic gear needs :)

[borg]

Thanks for considering us 30%ers. Well done!

[rashaski]

I'm a 30%er! My husband and I started day hiking for the first time a little less than two years ago and we're dreaming of the Appalachian Trail. Grateful for this video.

[michaelcapeless]

Jeez, I thought I was an unreconstructed gearhead, but then I look at the background of your presentation (your gear shelves), and somehow I don't think I'm that far gone. Thanks for the presentation, Eric.

[dafz]

Going on my first backpacking trip and I'm glad I had these down already thank you.

[Boots]

Love your videos! I’m going to be looking through a ton of them in the next month. For my bachelor party, me and my groomsmen are planning on going to Isle Royale National Park. Lots of planning to do!

[DadBodBiker]

I am super new to hiking. I never thought that I was physically capable of doing it. I am hoping to do my first overnighter by the end of August. Thanks for all your great vids.

[jamesdeason]

A lot of good content here, Thank You!

[cherylmacklin]

hi eric🌷
I “LIKED” on this vid when I 1st watched it, many, many, etc.. U & Dan we’re right here in my backpack on the Centennial trail, SD. I live right near the Northern terminus Bear Butte Mountain ⛰ I live almost downtown Sturgis, & they moved us in the middle of the 75th Motorcycle 🏍 Rally !, Buddy wasn’t real happy about it! I watch you all the time!, I like ur demeanor! Helping the beginners.
I been an outside person my whole life, been camping since I was a baby, took my kids too! Camping was the only thing I cud really afford, once u have ur basic gear ! Idk how ?, but I didn’t know backpacking even existed in my world,
Finally, now that I’m old, broke, & VERY Broken!!! I’m gonna be backpacking in Yellowstone & Grand Tetons backcountry w/my little service dog Buddy 🐾 had him the day he turned 8wks., he’ll be 13 yrs on July 4th, which he HATES ! ( no boom-booms!!) We, He led us on centennial trail 3days last fall. Last spring we went on our 1st bikepacking trip! From past Custer to home in Sturgis, 76mi., absolutely beautiful! But I wudnt do it again! No route for no bicycle!!!! Scary coming round blind mountains w/trucks & NO SHOULDER! I wudda felt safer on the friggin Interstate !!! 🛣 Buddy was cool w/it but I think I prefer more rail trail or singletrack! Buddy’s gonna Race w/me! I wear him in front like a baby front facing backpack. But during Covid I saved up & acquired a lot of neat backpacking gear! So Also we got thrown around groomers and even tipped!, they did not do all their job!!!, & did Not Say! So when I took him to the Vet, I was told 1yr TOPS!? 😢 Buddy has a mass/growth on one of his anal glands! I’m praying he stays w/me longer ! w/o being in any pain or discomfort!!!! He seems to be doing very well! So we’re going on our bucket list trip together!, we’re gonna Do 25KLOOP MTB Race in West Yellowstone, then 3 CGs, Yell, Gran Tet, Gros Ventre CG, front country, ⛰ 🦌 THEN 2 diff BP Overnight hikes in Grand Tetons back, backcountry, I Never did this before so its hard to do something, you don’t know how to do!?
I tried to acquire the proper maps for my specific trails being done. I found both on my all trails map app, but didn’t get sent the right ones from amazon, decent general maps of trail in yell, G.T., but not the ones I was looking for! So I have little to no experience with the planning part cuz I have no friggin clue what I’m doing!! Ranger Nicolas from G.T., was very helpful !, but I still feel I need to know More. I tore out the back seats of my car and made a mini car camper! 🚙 goes right thru to the trunk so I can sleep INSIDE the car @ CG’s ! People so careless w/food, then crawl up in their $250, 000 hard shell camper! I’m praying 🙏 that Old Car holds out for us cuz IF the car 🚙 DIES ON ME/US it Then becomes a bikepacking trip!
🐻🐺🦊🧸🚴🏼‍♂️🏕🎒
So I gotta be REALLY PREPARED! I already got my resupply boxes 📦 pre-addressed to 1st & 3rd CG’s, send backpacking gear to Jenny Lake visitors center & when Done ✅ Stuff Bike in box, put box & Buddy on 🚎 bus home. 🏡 PLAN B - Bikepacking, then 2 diff Backpacking trips, then RUN HOME TO CATCH BUS 🚎 BACK TO S FALLS for DR.Appt. ! Wow 😯 🥾🧢🕶🧤🌂🍹
If you can help me more I wud Greatly appreciate your time and patience. You look pretty busy busy 🐝 too!!! I’m here if u have the time to help me!? ~
~thx 💕
ps. Buddy is too cute!, too Smart, & too Good, rides the bus 🚎 w/me once/mo., EVERY MO., & you’ld NEVER KNOW HE’s THERE !!! If you get back to me I’ll send a pic! Absolutely adorable and DEFINITELY IRREPLACEABLE!!!! Argh...😢. So SAD!!! He’s a Great little backpacker, too little for his own! He brought me a tiny empty water bottle, like he wanted more, for me to FIX IT, when Daddy knew better & cameled up our coffee and dinner next day! HE KNOWS BETTER NOW! ? Knumbnutts wudnt listen, musta wanted to learn the hard way!?? ( our water supply !💦 )
Anyway SO EXCITED!!! I’m praying 🙏 BUDDY keeps doing well!! We R getting HAMMERED rt now!!! 🥶BAD IN SD!!!
It’s Sat nite, my bus on mon, dr appt tue, 400mi away & looks like Rapid city will still b ICED/SNOWED BLOCKED
Looks like gonna Storm thru Sunday, & city under ice, snow ❄️ & my ride is on mon morning???? Idk 😐bout that!? Ttyl
~kind regards
Cheryl & Buddy 😊🐾

[GetOutsidewithSteve]

We are planning our first three day hike in Jasper Alberta, and I have to say it is quite overwhelming. I'm an over packer for any trip, and I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to Cary everything. Thank you for all your knowledge. I've been doing my homework watching your videos.

[TaterChip]

You sir are my hero today. Thank you for mentioning the 2nd hand websites. That is much appreciated!

[gerganafotakieva]

I live and plan on exploring Bulgaria and here are no camping regulations at all but the way you speak is so engaging it made me unknowingly listen on the topic for 7 minutes or so 😅

[UberHypnotoad]

#1 piece of gear I see every beginner neglect - sleeping pad. If you made me choose between my pad, sleeping bag and tent, I’m taking the pad every time. Beginners don’t realize how much heat the ground can suck out of you, even in the summer.