There are lots of reasons why you should wake up one morning and decide to head out on the open road. Just you, the open road, your rucksack, and perhaps some cool music playing in your headsets. If you feel like your sanity has been compromised with all that has been going on in your life, then backpacking is the best way to find your zen.
This is among the various ways you can find your inner peace, interact with your natural surroundings, and most importantly, rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. Backpacking is not only meditative, but it’s a great way to work your systems especially if you have weight management goals.
Most millennials will take this opportunity to overindulge and in most if not all the cases, they’ll miss out on the purpose behind backpacking. This is not the time to overindulge but to creatively focus on things in your life that may need adjusting. Whether you’re cycling, walking, or hitchhiking, it will be a great opportunity to meet new faces, interact with different cultures, and experience life beyond your comfort zones.
Below are expert backpacking tips for beginners.
IMAGE: PEXELS
1. Pack Light
Depending on the duration of time you intend to be out there, the rule of the thumb when backpack king is to go light. The thing is, you’ll not be rewarded by the weight you carry but by what you’ll gain out of the experience. The secret is to avoid carrying any dead weight and instead, only carry your essentials. The problem is, essentials will often be defined differently from one person to the other.
Whatever the case, packing light will mean better control of your luggage, comfort, and flexibility. In addition to this, you’ll have extra room in your rucksack for souvenirs. A guide from these backpacking experts elaborately illustrates how you need to pack and the most important essentials you need to include in your list.
This will help take care of your feet and back because you need to be in good shape on your adventures. It’s also about the rucksack you choose for your backpacking. The thing is, your rucksack will play a crucial role in helping you manage your load. Below are things to include in your backpacking checklist:
- An extra pair of hiking shoes and most preferably, hiking boots
- Sleeping bag
- Tent
- Compass
- Kitchen supplies
- Essential foods to supply you with essential nutrients and energy
- Extra layers of clothing
- Water treatment supplies
- Emergency kit
- Insect repellants
- Torch
- Lighter
- Utility knife
These are the basic essentials you’ll need to include in your backpacking list. However, it might seem like a lot but you can always improvise as you go by stocking up on food essential and toiletries.
2. Read Lots Of Backpacking Guidebooks
If you’re just starting out backpacking, then you’ll need to learn a thing or two about backpacking. There are lots of resources out there you can benefit from and chances are that they’ll include important suggestions that will come in handy in your adventures. There’s more to learn including mastering changes in weather patterns. Ideally, you’ll also want to learn about types of wild animals you need to steer clear from on your trip.
3. Start Off With Short Distances
If you can, and you feel like you are in your best physique to trek for 50miles per day, well and good. But it’s always advisable if you can start small and build your way from there. Essentially, for your very first backpacking trips, you’ll want to concentrate your movements locally.
This will make it easier to trace your footsteps in case you’ve lost your way or are stranded. As easy as it may sound, backpacking is not for the fainthearted. Your supplies can get depleted and if you’re not resourceful, it can get really stressful on your part. If you haven’t backpacked before, it might take some time to learn to live out of your backpack.
4. Avoid Deserted Campsites
There is strength in numbers and this saying couldn’t have come at a better time. If you’re about to embark on a backpacking adventure, it’s important that you camp in established campsites and near other campers. This way, you can be in the company of experienced backpackers. They are really generous at offering unsolicited advice and in addition to this, they’ll show you the ropes, offer supplies you might have forgotten to pack and provide you with protection.
5. Practice Makes Perfect!
Before you embark on a backpacking adventure, you must start off by practicing tent pitching at home. This will make it easier to settle on a campsite without the hustles of having to fidget with the tent equipment.
6. You Can Always Postpone
Backpacking in bad weather is best left to seasoned backpackers. You really don’t want to sleep outside when it’s raining on your first backpacking trip or cook when all the wood is wet. Before backpacking, always ensure to check the weather forecast for the time you’ll be out there. Bad weather will only make your backpacking trip a painstaking experience.
Finally, you must make plans before your trip. This will help ensure that you have all your essentials taken care of. The above pointers will play a huge role in your preparations as well as helping you gain the much-needed skills that will be essential in your adventures.
If you are interested in even more lifestyle-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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