Backpacking tips for beginners: your first trip, done right (2025)

ByEntraveller

Backpacking feels like freedom. You move at your pace, sleep under the stars, and spend less than a hotel weekend. If this is your first backpacking trip, you need a plan that keeps costs low and the stoke high. Below you’ll find practical backpacking tips for beginners: how to choose a route, build fitness, pack smart, and stay safe without overspending. We keep it simple, budget-first, and field-tested—so you can focus on the adventure, not the guesswork.

Choose a beginner-friendly destination

Start with routes that match your fitness and comfort. Look for loop trails with reliable water, clear signage, and easy bailout options. Check permit rules, campsite quotas, fire bans, and recent trail reports. If you’re new to altitude, pick lower elevations for your first outing. Aim for milder seasons and avoid storm-heavy periods. For budget travel, target shoulder months where transport is cheaper and trail traffic drops, but services still run.

Plan an itinerary you can actually enjoy

String together short days (8–15 km / 5–9 miles) for night one and two. Mark campsites, water sources, and resupply points on your map app and download offline layers. Add a “flex” day for weather or rest. Build a turnaround time each day. Share your plan with a trusted contact and set a check-in window. Simple rule: if something takes longer than expected, reduce distance, not recovery—fatigue is the fastest way to ruin a first trip.

Get trail-fit the simple way

You don’t need a boot-camp routine. Walk hills three times a week and add a loaded-pack hike each weekend. Focus on calves, glutes, and core with bodyweight moves. Practice in the boots you’ll wear. Do at least one shakedown hike with your full kit. You’ll learn how your pack rides, where hotspots form, and which items you can ditch before day one.

Dial in beginner backpacking gear (budget-first)

You need gear that’s light enough to carry and tough enough to trust. Rent or borrow the “big three” (pack, shelter, sleep system) if you’re not ready to invest. A 50–60L pack fits most beginners. Aim for a tent under 2.2 kg (5 lb) or a budget trekking-pole shelter. Choose a sleeping bag or quilt rated a bit colder than the forecast and pair it with an insulated pad. Break in trail shoes or mid boots before you go. Headlamp, power bank, paper map, and a basic first-aid kit round out the essentials.

Pack light and pack on purpose

Every item should earn its place. Split shared gear. Repackage toiletries and food. Use compression sacks for soft goods but keep your insulation fluffy. Pack heavy items close to your spine, mid-back height. Keep rain gear, snacks, phone, and filter handy. Do a final weigh-in: beginners often land near 12–16 kg (26–35 lb) including water. If you’re above that, cut extras before you cut calories or safety kit.

Simple budget: what a weekend trip really costs

For a 2-night beginner trip, expect:

  • Transport: €20–€80 (buses, regional trains, fuel split).
  • Permits/campsites: €0–€30 (many beginner routes are free or low-fee).
  • Food: €20–€40 (dehydrated meals + snacks from a supermarket).
  • Gear: €0–€60 (rent/borrow big items; buy small consumables).

Tip: Book transport early and travel off-peak. Borrow before you buy. Upgrade slowly as you learn what you love.

Food and water made easy

Plan 2,500–3,500 calories per day depending on size and terrain. Keep it simple: oats with nuts, tortillas with tuna or hummus, instant noodles with dehydrated veg, and high-fat snacks. Sip often, not only at breaks. Carry a squeeze filter or pump and a backup chemical tab. Scout water sources on your map in advance and confirm with recent trail logs. Start each morning with full bottles to avoid “dry miles.”

Navigation you can trust

Use two of three: phone app with offline maps, paper topo, and compass. Label decision points and bailout options. Watch junctions, not just distances. Check your position every 30–60 minutes so small errors stay small. If you’re off route, stop, breathe, backtrack to the last known point, and reassess. Don’t “bushwhack” a shortcut on your first trip.

Core safety for first-timers

Pack a small first-aid kit: blister care, pain relief, tape, gauze, and an emergency blanket. Add a whistle and a lightweight battery bank. In bear country, learn local protocols and carry spray where legal. Set weather alerts before losing signal. If the forecast turns rough, shorten your day or camp early. Tell someone your plan and when to call for help if you miss the check-in window.

Learn and follow Leave No Trace

Protect the places you came to see. Camp on durable surfaces, pack out all trash, and keep soap and food scraps out of water sources. Store food as required. Use toilets where provided or dig a small cathole at least 60 m from water, trails, and camps. Keep groups small and noise low. Good habits keep trails wild for the next crew—including you.

When things change, adapt

Weather shifts, feet swell, and plans bend. Build margin into your route and your ego. If you’re tired, stop earlier. If a river runs high, wait or turn back. Safety beats summit fever every time. Your first backpacking trip is a baseline; the win is learning what works for you.

Quick checklist (screenshot this)

  • ID, permits, offline maps, shared itinerary
  • 50–60L pack, tent/shelter, bag/quilt + insulated pad
  • Weather-ready layers, rain jacket, warm hat, dry sleep socks
  • Headlamp + spare battery, power bank, first-aid kit, whistle
  • Filter + backup tabs, stove + fuel (or cold-soak jar), lighter
  • Daily food plan + 10% extra snacks, trash bag
  • Sun protection, bug repellent, repair tape, small knife

Transport tips to save more

Use regional trains or buses to reach trailheads and avoid car shuttles. If driving, park at the route’s end and bus to the start so you hike back to your car. Travel mid-week for cheaper fares and emptier camps. Pair trails near budget grocery stores so you can grab last-minute food at local prices, not at tourist kiosks.

Seasonal advice (what to expect)

  • Spring: Unstable weather and snow patches at higher elevations. Pack warmer sleep gear and microspikes if advised.
  • Summer: Longer days and lighter kits, but higher crowds. Start early to beat heat and secure camps.
  • Autumn: Cooler nights and fewer bugs; watch for early storms and shorter daylight.
  • Winter (not for first-timers): Requires specialized skills and kit—save it for trip three or four.

Internal resources to go deeper

Level up with these Entraveller guides:

FAQs: beginner backpacking

What size backpack do I need for a first trip?
Most beginners do well with 50–60 liters. That size fits a tent, a warm sleep system, food for two to three days, and spare layers without overstuffing. If you’re disciplined with weight and share gear, 45 liters can work. Bigger isn’t better if it encourages overpacking.

How do I keep my first-trip costs low?
Borrow or rent the big-ticket items and buy secondhand where it makes sense. Plan a route close to home to cut transport costs and choose free or low-fee campsites. Shop for trail food in supermarkets, not specialty stores. Upgrade slowly—only after a few trips will you know what deserves premium spend.

What should I eat on the trail?
Pick foods you already enjoy that pack calories per gram: oats, tortillas, nut butters, tuna, instant rice, noodles, and dense snacks. Aim for a balance of carbs, fat, and protein. Practice cooking a meal at home with your stove. Always carry a small snack reserve for delayed finishes or cold snaps.

How do I pack a backpack correctly?
Place heavy items close to your spine and mid-back to keep balance. Fill gaps with soft layers and keep quick-grab gear up top or in exterior pockets. Use a liner or dry bag to protect your sleep system. Adjust hip belt first, then shoulder straps, then load lifters—small tweaks reduce fatigue.

What fitness level do I need?
If you can comfortably walk 10–12 km (6–8 miles) with hills on a day hike, you’re in range. Add a few weeks of hill walks and one loaded-pack shakedown, and you’ll handle a two-night beginner route. Focus on steady effort and recovery, not speed. Your goal is consistency, not records.

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