Although books are a great source of knowledge, the lessons that have stuck with me are the ones I’ve learned by doing. And not necessarily by what I’ve done right. A great many of them have been through mistakes I’ve made.
Sam Levenson helps complete the picture with this one piece of advice:
“You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.”
Mr. Levenson was an author and entertainer, a humorist known for storytelling and comedic lectures. One should find a little humor in their mistakes. Laughing, I’m told, is good medicine. However, from someone who appreciates a good laugh, I also find value in avoiding the pain and discomfort of big mistakes.
Here are a few tips for beginner backpackers that may help with avoiding some serious discomfort and the pain of a good belly laugh.
1. Packing our fears.
We buy and carry things we don't use because we're afraid of something:
These are not unreasonable fears, often supported by the "just in case" rule. It’s easy to come up with a situation where the extra meal or extra shirt might save the day. Those intent on justifying the weight of their pack will have a perfectly good reason for each extra item.
However, as I have experienced, all it takes is several days of a sore back and shoulders and end of day exhaustion to give some credence to other points of view. We begin to ask critical questions like, “so, exactly when am I going to eat these extra 10 pounds of granola bars and trail mix?”
The wisdom of a few thousand miles on trail has brought me to the conclusion that the 10-essentials will cover almost every situation that happens out on trail. Pretty much anything more than that will prove to be less reasonable than our fears may suggest.
The simple advice here is to be critical about everything you put in your pack. Don’t allow fear to govern your decisions. Leave a great majority of the non-critical items behind. Your back, feet, shoulder, and motivation will thank you.
2. Spending too Much
If you want to hang out with the cool kids, you’ll need buy everything ultralight. And to maintain your cool status, you’ll need to work “ultralight” into every conversation while on trail, for sure.
But ultralight is normally expensive, often less durable, and in some cases (like, dyneema fabric) less compact.
If we give in to the ultralight craze, we’ll often spend a lot more and may find that it doesn’t last very long. Of course, this isn’t always true. In fact, many new materials are proving to be very durable and super light weight. But, the cost will get you nearly every time.
Like almost everything in life, we need to balance between all the factors. This backpacking thing is often a balance between weight, durability, and cost. You’ll need to decide which one of these factors is most important to you and buy gear that satisfies your priorities. The advice here is, again, simple: get the lightest weight and most durable gear you can afford. Oh, and when you get a little older, being cool will have run its course and you’ll be perfectly content with not being cool.
3. Footwear
When I first started hiking, decades ago, having big boots was the thing. Big socks. Big boots. But today, it’s all about trail runners, light and breathable.
The boots I bought in the 70’s are still very comfortable, they have no holes or leaks. With the exception of a worn out tread, decades later they are still an amazing boot. My trail runners, which are my primary choice these days, get replaced every year and sometimes more than once per year because they are trashed - torn, ripped, holes, no tread left - AND they cost more. Why does all that make sense?
The problem is that boots are heavy and they tend not to breathe very well. What happens when our shoes don’t breathe? Blisters and foot stress, in great part due to unventilated heat and moisture.
Fording creeks is best with breathable footwear. Some people bring along an extra pair of shoes just to cross creeks, which is fine. But if you don’t want to carry an extra pair of shoes, you’ll want your shoes to be well ventilated so they dry quickly. Sure, you can ford creeks barefoot. But you’ll question that decision the first time you slip on a rock and fall into the creek or the first time you cut your feet on something sharp.
Also, especially on longer trails, heavier shoes will cause greater stress on our legs and feet. A few more ounces doesn’t sound like much, but after 20 thousand steps, you’ll understand. Lighter is often the better choice for longer trails.
Sometimes the terrain demands heavier and more durable footwear. Rocky and otherwise rougher or uneven trails may suggest that boots could be better. But normally beginner backpackers are not going to choose those kinds of trails. So, a good place to start, in most cases, is with some reasonably priced, durable trail runners.
Feet are complicated and the choice of footwear is often based on the condition of a person’s feet and ankles. For instance, heavier people who are very new to hiking may benefit from the kind of ankle support that comes with boots, at least until they have less weight to carry around. Keep in mind that ankles become stronger when unsupported. But for those who already have feet or ankle problems, the decision involves more factors. When in doubt, people with feet or ankle issues should see a podiatrist before deciding on footwear.
4. Going cheap on critical items
Things that can ruin the backpacking experience:
More expensive isn’t always “better”, but in the outdoor industry more expensive typically means:
This doesn’t mean you need to spend top dollar on every piece of gear. But you should leave room in your budget to afford good quality on critical items.
For instance: A friend of mine bought a cheap tent and realized his mistake on his first trip. It leaked, ripped, and collapsed during the first storm. What an awful night that was! He still isn’t laughing about it.
5. Appropriate clothing
If you look great in quality hiking clothes, great! But it's not a fashion show out there. So if you buy “cute outfits”... well, you’ll see how cute you are when you’re cold and wet and 10 miles from anyone who can help you choose better clothes.
Focus on quality, lightweight, wicking, insulating, weather-resistant, and layered clothing that best fits your environment.
Clothes can be expensive. But it’s hard putting a price tag on surviving a cold and wet few days in the woods. There are plenty of affordable clothing options out there. You don’t need to take out a loan to get the most expensive stuff, but your clothes should definitely be fit for purpose.
Like most backpacking gear, get the best clothing layers you can afford.
Conclusion
These five items are among the top mistakes you can avoid by learning from the mistakes of others. If you want to know what my gear choices are, visit my gear list page.
Enjoy the trail!