25 Thru-Hiking Tips for Your FIRST Thru-Hike (In Just 7 Minutes)

▼ THRU-HIKING POSTERS

▼ GEAR MENTIONED IN VIDEO (affiliate links)

▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 - Intro
00:09 - Tip 1
00:18 - Tip 2
00:23 - Tip 3
00:33 - Tip 4
00:56 - Tip 5
01:12 - Tip 6
01:46 - Tip 7
02:02 - Tip 8
02:18 - Tip 9
02:27 - Tip 10
02:37 - Sponsor
03:18 - Tip 11
03:36 - Tip 12
03:47 - Tip 13
04:01 - Tip 14
04:19 - Tip 15
04:34 - Tip 16
04:45 - Tip 17
04:58 - Tip 18
05:04 - Tip 19
05:31 - Tip 20
05:44 - Tip 21
05:56 - Tip 22
06:13 - Tip 23
06:43 - Tip 24
06:54 - Tip 25
07:37 - Final Words

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▼ ATTRIBUTION
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Sneaky Snitch by Kevin MacLeod

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Bleeping Demo by Kevin MacLeod

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: If Anyone Dies (Instrumental) by Steven OBrien

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Morning Stroll by Steven OBrien

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Chord Guitar 001 by Sascha Ende

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Fromage by Steven OBrien

[uffa]

Some more suggestions:

Have with you, in your fanny pack, two very useful devices against shepherd dogs: some individually sealed dog biscuit, and a pepper spray. Also remember that dogs fear your sticks, they have no idea how light they are.

If you go alone in the wild on trails which are not well known and not popular, have with you some communication device: a PMR radio, a VHF-UHF radio, or a satellite device such as a Spot, a Garmin InReach, or a Personal Locating Beacon (PLB), to be used in case you really have a serious problem such as a broken leg.

Again, if you go alone on wild places, buy a Recco reflector to put on your rucksack: you buy it only once, it costs you €25, and it can help the SAR team to find you in a moment. Always plan for the worst case. "Be prepared".

Always say exactly to some friend or family where you are going, which trail, which route, and stick to that. If a rescue mission must look for you, they will find you in a few hours. Hotel and camping owners will often chat you up on where are you going today and if you are coming back tonight, they don't do it out of curiosity, but because they want to know whether they have to alert the SAR. They are polite toward you and you should spend some time with them showing them what will you be doing.

Don't eat fruits just because they look nice and coloured: there are plenty of poisons out there.

Before you sit on a stone, always beat the stone with your sticks, so that the eventual snake goes away. Don't just sit on a stone.

Never without a hat.

In the Apennines, the Alps and in general in those places where you find wild boars, you will also probably find plenty of cows, horses, sheep and the inevitable ticks: study them, how to recognize them, how to recognize the illnesses that they transmit. Disregard American videos regarding shorts, always use long trousers.

Have with you some magnesium and potassium pills, to prevent cramps or to cure them.

Besides toilet paper, if you want to bring with you some wet wipes, always use the ones "without plastics", marked as "compostable" or "biodegradable". Cover your dejections with some leaves and put some water on your poo to accelerate its degradation.

I personally always wear mimetic colours (no red, no yellow, no blue, no "flashy" greens, no white, only olive oil green, light brown, dark brown, dark green, grey, black) in order to be better able to see wild birds: birds perceive bright colours such as yellow and red as very specific signals, they will fly away and you will see less and disturb more. Don't dress as if you were participating in a Himalayan expedition if you love birdwatching. At least, that's me.

And frankly, a suggestion which is overlooked by many in Italy when they are in group: don't shout, don't make useless fuss.

[alankee]

Great video. Only one disagreement. As a biologist that spent 23 years sampling for the WV DEP, I have never found a soap that should be used directly in the stream. All are harmful to the microorganisms and macro invertebrates. If, in doubt, get a copy of the SDS and see what it recommends. It always disagrees from what the sales copy says. Instead get a pot of water and walk up on the bank well away from the stream.

[qasd]

I really like the quick, concise, nature of your delivery

[tfarrell]

Yep. 1 Bring instant soups and have one at the end of each day's walk. Can also act as sauce on your pasta/couscous for dinner. 2 By yourself? Bring a large stainless steel mug with lid; use it to cook in, to eat off and to drink from. No pots, plates or bowls needed. 3 Bring individual packs of the besterest-superfood of all time; butter. Those little packs stay good even in your hot backpack for 10 days or more as they are laced with salt. The carbs-salt combo fills out everything from porridge to sandwiches to hot meals. 4 At the sweaty end of the day, when you have your shelter set up, take off your sweaty walking shirt and put on your polyprops. Put your sweaty walking shirt on top of that and it will dry quickly. Cold weather? Jacket on top. Still cold? Wrap sleeping bag around you. 5 Each morning pack your lunch near top of backpack so you don't have to unpack the whole thing to find your food come break time.

[anitasoutdooradventures]

Thank you for the suggestion to tie items in vestibule to your tent. Makes total sense and I've never heard this before.

[aaronfalzerano]

When I hiked the AT I wore low top trail runners for the first half but I turned my ankles so many times I switched to hiking boots. It was a great decision and I had no problem hiking 28 miles per day in them.

[craigbritton]

The best TP is to take a roll of blue shop towels and cut it in thirds; then peel it off the cardboard. It does not fall apart when damp; and can be moistened to get a cleaner wipe.
If an emergency fire needs to be built; it is good kindling ( unlike regular TP) And yes put it in a Ziploc

[jeroenbrink]

With each clip I watch of you guys I get. More and more exited for my kungsleden trip this August. Well done !

[chriswhite]

One BIG one for preventing blisters is : Stop the absolute instant you feel even the slightest discomfort in a blister zone.

Get in there fast with a pad and a spot of vaseline. Then carefully examine the liner of your shoe in the affected area. If it's a foreign body, it's nearly always a seed of some kind. They're actually designed to cling on and work their way in. The top of the shoe tongue and around the collar under the ankle are their favourite spots. I've had to pull some out with my teeth, but it was always better than leaving it.

When we're hiking and in the flow, the last thing we want to do is stop, but it's a wise hiker who stops when they can - it may well be a foolish one who stops when they have to.

[MandaPanda]

Gosh I love how this was straight into it, and very useful. Thank you

[niccolopatelli]

great video! My personal hiking tip is to cover your feet with vaseline before wearing socks to prevent blisters!

[JohnJohnson-cpkx]

In addition to airplane mode on your phone, also turn on battery - low power mode.

[chrishennemeyer]

Excellent posters. It would be nice to see one of the Hadrian's Wall Path too.

[mrwes]

I wear a pair of NB Fresh Foam Garoe Mid and my feet thank me profusely every time I wear them. I spent twenty years wearing combat boots, so my feet really got pounded. That was the best switch I ever made.

[TheRodNemisis]

Do Not use the soap in the river
Take some water with you 60m awy from it and then wash with soap
There I fixed it

[BackcountryTreks]

Some good tips but hard pass on the single wall tent. My double wall is still sub 2 lbs.

[marcusgarner]

love your channel one of those poster is on the gear list :D

[lilricky]

Remember kids, hike YOUR own hike, not some youtuber's.

[nelsonsoaresusa]

The backpack tip is really good, I am a beginner and just finished a 3 days 18 mile hike and my shoulder were so sore because of the weight.

[alanwetherelt]

Yet another twisted sternum strap, enjoyed the watch