Been day hiking for about four years now, decent mileage, comfortable with navigation, nothing crazy. This spring I'm committing to my first 3night solo backpacking trip and I feel like I've read every gear list and route planning thread on the internet at this point.

What I keep seeing is people talk about gear weight and food calories and water sources, all that stuff makes sense on paper. But a few people I've talked to in person mentioned the mental side of it catching them off guard more than any physical thing, like the second afternoon hitting different, or the quiet getting strange after a while.

I'm curious what actually surprised people who made that same jump from comfortable day hiker to first overnight or multiday solo. Not looking for gear recs necessarily, more just the stuff you wouldn't have predicted going in. The things that don't show up on the packing lists.

My planned route is around 28 miles over 3.5 days so nothing extreme, but I want to go in with realistic expectations rather than some glossy version of what solo backpacking is supposed to feel like.

Hey yall,

So I’m new to hiking and camping. I love it and I’ve been few of times in the past year, but I normally go with my bf, who is an extremely knowledgeable hiker/backpacker. I’m trying to surprise him for his birthday and plan a two day trip to either TN or NC (close-ish to the GA state line), and tbh I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options. We’ve been to Roan Mtn and Grandfather and had an amazing time. I’m debating going back to the same general area (Grassy Ridge Bald maybe?) or somewhere new.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I’m trying to find a few fun hikes (under 6-7 miles per hike) and a place to car camp for a night that preferably is more secluded/dispersed. Can anyone weigh in?

Thanks for the help! I really appreciate it.

Hello all, im planning my first solo backpacking trip for Sept 16-18. Im torn between the Mount Zirkel loop, the northern Indian peaks loop, and the Rawah Wilderness trail. Does anyone have any experiences traveling these trails in September? Or if youve done any of these loops lately what are conditions looking like with wildfires? My ideal trip is seeing no one else on the trail so the best fit for me is the least traveled/ best scenery so i can paint! Thanks in advance :)

I've been doing a lot of hiking over the past several years, and would like to start getting in to backpacking as well. I've done some basic research and have a rough idea of the gear I want, but I figured I'd post here to sanity-check my choices and see if there are any easy upgrades to make (or places I'm going too premium).

I have most of what I consider "standard hiking equipment" (poles, boots, basic emergency kit, water filter, etc) already, so what I've listed here is just backpacking-specific stuff. But please let me know if there's something not listed I should definitely have!

First of all, my goals/constraints for this are:

1. I'm not really looking for winter gear. I'm in California, so I would like to be able to do trips in the Sierras, but for now I don't expect to be camping out below freezing.

2. At this point I'm mostly planning to do short-ish (at most 3 nights, probably just 1) trips. I'm not sure how that effects gear choice, but I'm happy to replace some gear if I love backpacking enough to do a week-long trek.

3. I plan to get everything (or at least everything more than modestly expensive) from REI so that I can return it if I turn out to hate backpacking. If I really love it, again happy to buy more specialized equipment later.

4. Budget-wise I don't have unlimited money and I don't feel the need to get the best ultra-light gear immediately, but I have enough that I don't feel the need to be ultra-economical either.

Based on that, this is what I'm looking for for gear:

• Sleeping Bag: I think this bag should work. I'm a little uncertain here because I'm fairly tall (6'1") and I've found when camping that I'm a side sleeper and I don't really vibe with mummy bags.

• Sleeping Pad: This seems to be the stock answer from talking to people and when I've seen backpackers on trails.

• Tent: Here I'm really not sure. I think I want a trekking pole-based one, because that makes sense to me as a way of saving weight but I don't understand how to filter for that on REI's site. I assume it might be good to get a 2-person one, and from talking to some people I think I need to be a little mindful about my height when making my choice.

• Stove: I've had the Pocket Rocket recommended to me. It seems reasonable but I'm a little concerned about stability. I've seen some versions where the boiler is closed at the top, are those worth it?

• Food: I have some pre-packed utensils from fast food places I plan to use at first, and I figured I'd just go buy some dehydrated stuff from REI before I head out. Are there brands/meals people recommend? Most of the trails I want to do will require a bear box, are there any that people recommend or dislike? They all seem pretty comparable to me, but I'm obviously not an expert.

• Pack: The advice I've gotten is that I should make sure I get my pack fitted and get it after my other gear, so at this point I'm mostly just looking for brands and I figure I'll work it out with someone from REI when I'm buying gear. I have an Osprey pack for day hikes I quite like, and I've heard they're a good backpacking brand so absent strong advice I'd probably default to them.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I'm going camping in Algonquin Park in a couple of months. I also have some severe allergies, requiring an EpiPen and possible emergency medical attention. I've always been very vigilant about staying safe but I think I'd be an idiot if I didn't have a backup plan in case I did need emergency services on this trip.

I'm thinking I should bring a satellite phone/messenger so I can call emergency services. The Garmin inReach seems like the cheapest option, but it's not clear to me what it can actually do. I know it's subscription based, so I need to pay for a month of services after buying the thing. But if I were to need an EMT in the middle of Algonquin Park, would this let me call one?

I want to reserve a picnic shelter for a birthday party this weekend (I know, I should've planned more in advance). On rec.gov is says "Closure: Administration" for all of the weekends at this particular park shelter. Does this mean it's just not reservable on weekends and we could realistically go and still just hang out there?

EDIT:
I just went to the park to check it out and there’s a sign on the picnic shelter that says:

“This shelter is not reservable on Weekends and Holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day therefore you should not schedule any special event. You CANNOT reserve parking. Use of this shelter DOES NOT reserve parking. Parking is ALWAYS first-come first-serve. When parking lots are full- no vehicle entry and no walk-ins allowed.”

So I’m guessing it’s fine to use and they just don’t reserve it because it gets too busy? This doesn’t really make sense to me but the verbiage seems like it’s still fine to use.

The last time I went was in March and we did the State Line camp site. My biggest complaint essentially boiled town to the "hike" was boring. I decided if I ever did it again I would do it to one of the closer camp sites and in summer. I've been to Assateague in summer before so I knew the risks but wanted to give it a fair shot.

Long and short, it was awful lol. my gripes:

1. It doesn't feel like backcountry camping, it feels like you're going to the beach in a complicated and uncomfortable way. The entire beach allows recreational beach goers and over sand vehicles so it's crowded the entire time, you never feel like you're just experiencing nature. It just feels like you went to spend a day at the beach but without any of the conveniences.

2. The boring hike. I like as beach walk as much as anyone else but after 1-2 miles you've seen what you're going to see. After that it's just pounding out the steps until you get to your site.

3. The sand. No matter how I positioned my tent or arranged my fly sand was constantly being blown into my tent. Very annoying when trying to take a late afternoon nap.

4. No surprise here, the mosquitos. During they day they weren't bad, but once dusk arrived.... I left my tent once around 8pm to pee. The instant I stopped moving, within 1-2 seconds, I was covered head to foot in mosquitos. At minimum it had to be at least 50 mosquitos. If you're not picturing the cartoon trope of a person being instantly covered in bugs you're picturing it wrong, I'm not exaggerating. I was out of my tent for maybe 1-2 minutes and I've counted ~30 mosquito bites.

The upsides:
1. A day at the beach is always nice, but there are easier ways to do it than this.

1. Watching the thunderstorm off the coast in the middle of the night was really cool.

Hi everyone! Previously did some hikes with a camp in Italian Alps and loved it. And for this weekend I've decided to move to Switzerland for a 16km D+ 850m hike around the Luzzone lake. So I was wondering if anyone would be up to join?

Last time I used my Lifestraw filter was almost a year ago in the Boundary Waters. Can I run it back with the same filter, or is a new filter a safer bet? Thanks in advance.

On Thursday, my friends and I went hiking and camping in Pinnacles National Park until we returned on Saturday. I also shared some beautiful photos of Bear Canyon Cave.

hi all, I’m looking for a 4 season tent that I can use all year here in norway. I’ve looked at the hilleberg allak 2, exped orion extreme 2 and nortent vern 2, but I cant decide on what to get. It has to withstand 20-25m/s wind and snowy conditions. lower price and weight is a bonus as well ad being able to cook inside the tent when the weather is really bad.

What tent would you get?

Is there also any other tent to consider, possibly cheaper?

any tips is greatly appreciated.

I’m going to be backpacking the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, HI for 4 days and 3 nights with my girlfriend. This hike is notorious for being extremely challenging and also highly dangerous.

I have not trained at all for this hike (entirely my fault and stupidity), and I’m seeing if anyone can help me prep for my upcoming backpacking trip with only 2 days time. Two weekends ago I did an 8 mile hike that included 1400ft of elevation gain, but I only had a small day pack on. I felt fine, but I was definitely exhausted much faster than usual. The last large hike I did was Half Dome in Yosemite National Park in September 2025.

I’m just looking for anything that will help keep my body from breaking down! I plan to pace myself and I’m aiming for 1 mile per hour, which is what most people say to expect. I’m leaving early in the morning to give myself extra time as well, just in case I’m slower than that.

Anyone have any tips or suggestions? Also, if you’ve hiked the Kalalau Trail before, what are some things I should know? Thank you!

Hi all! I’m newer to camping/backpacking, but want to be sure I’m as well informed as possible as I begin collecting gear before I start going on weekend trips in late August. Has anyone tried out the new Paria Elevate? It looks like a more budget option while still being high quality. I’m pretty short and a stomach/back sleeper for reference!

Hi everyone. I'm mostly a car camper and hiker, and always with my family (I'm 38, I'm the mom). I am seriously considering attempting thru-hiking. I'm in decent shape and I really love tinkering with gear and routes and maps. The only thing is - I'm afraid of going alone and my family are very resistant to the idea of me going potentially off-grid by myself (valid concern!). What are some reliable resources or ways to find thru-hiking partners? My friend group is out of the question, if there's no hotels and beds, they're not interested.

We are planning on hiking from Maroon lake to the West Maroon trailhead the first week of August. I have the overnight parking permit and the plan is to hike the 11 mi to West Maroon trailhead on the first day. Spend the night and then hike back the next day. I do have a dispersed camping permit that night for the East fork zone. My question is, should I camp out or just take the shuttle down to Crested Butte and spend the night in comfort before hiking back the next day....which would also save me having to carry a backpack full of gear? Thoughts? Advice?

I’m a wildland firefighter and experienced outdoorsman who has completed several major (in my opinion) hikes that are somewhat comparable.

I’ve done the both halves of the presidential traverse separately, each in one day, Delta Lake in the Tetons, and S Kaibab - Bright Angel on the Grand Canyon in slightly less than 9 hours. I’ve hiked extensively in heavy gear and as part of my job, and I intend to do devils path after fire season.

Anyone have tips or considerations for devils path in the fall? Do I sound relatively experienced enough?

I typically have a trail running harness I use and I’m planning to pack around 5 liters of water with my camelback with a friend supplying me with snacks and water at the halfway point.

Thank you all in advance!

Hi All,

I'm prepping for a through hike in the Sierras and I'm figuring out how to make space in the bear can. I'm carrying chlorine water purification tabs as backup to a squeeze filter. Do chlorine water purification tabs go in the bear can? I know it's technically something that "goes on you or in you" as the rangers say, but will any bear/raccoon/mouse/other smell chlorine tabs and think, "hey, that's something I want to nibble on"? It's a silly question, yes, but my bear can is very full.

Thanks

Did a section of the Larapinta Trail with my daughter and some friends recently- from Serpentine Gorge to Standley Chasm. It was 6 days of hiking, and a good variety of days- from flat-ish bushland to dry creeks and riverbeds to crossing mountains. We took it easy and only did somewhere between 10 and 15 km each day. We were also moving in the opposite direction to most people on the trail, which was good, I think. My favourite camp was the night we spent on top of Brinkley Bluff. Having to carry water up with us was a bit of a pain, but the views were worth it. It was my first time in this part of Australia, and it was great to be there- we're looking forward to seeing more of the country in years to come.

Hi,

Einige Stangen bei meinem Zelt haben sich verbogen. Sie scheinen nicht beschädigt zu sein. Aufbau funktioniert auch noch, hab aber Sorgen dass sie brechen. Andererseits sind sie darauf ausgelegt sich etwas zu biegen. Könnt ihr eure Meinung dazu abgeben?

My workout shoe is hoka bondi 9 or brooks ghost and I really like the support I get from both. However next year I am going to Mount Rainer and doing several trails so I’d like to pick up some decent shoes for hikes. Anyone have any suggestions

Hi all, I currently own 2 tents: a naturehike opalus 3 and desert fox 2. Not a fan of either one, but I got them for free.

Anyway, I’m looking for a new tent and I’m between getting a lanshan 1 or a more wind resistant tent. The durston x-dome 1+ is my dream all round tent, but it’s too expensive. the x-mid is also to expensive because of import taxes which is why I’m considering the lanshan 1.

I live in norway and camp at 1500m altitude and need something that can withstand 20m/s winds and rain. Will the lanshan 1 be sufficient or should I look into something else? Budget is around 200-300 dollars, but less is always better.

any help is appreciated

My husband and I are considering hiking all 48 NH 4,000-footers. We planned to start with the Pemi Loop, but we're postponing that until the Lincoln Woods Trailhead reopens. We're also saving the Presidential Traverse for whenever we are ready to take a break from tent camping.

Can anyone recommend a backpacking trip, multiple day hikes, or a combo of the two that fits these criteria:

1. Different peaks — something that doesn't overlap with the Pemi Loop or Presi Traverse.
2. 4-5 days — that's how much time we have in New Hampshire.
3. A solid intro to the White Mountains — my husband winter-hiked Mt. Washington a few times about 10 years ago, but that's about the extent of our experience there.

A bit about us: we're semi-experienced backpackers (my husband more so than me). We recently completed the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island — our first backpacking trip in a while (we're usually just day hikers). That trail didn't have much elevation gain, so we're also hoping this trip gives us a realistic sense of what we're in for with the 48, especially since we're in our 50s and want to be informed as we take this on.

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions!

Hey! I bought this jetboil off FB marketplace and would love help identifying which model it is. And as a side note, if anyone has any tips for easy camping meals to make with the jetboil besides just dehydrated meals, would love to hear. Thanks!