How Do I Plan My First Backpacking Trip?

You don’t actually need that much to start backpacking! While REI and other gear-merchants might insist you need the greatest, newest thing — that’s just not true! You need very, very little to be able to go backpacking and have a good time! For a one-night outing within a few miles of the trailhead, these five items get you there and back with comfort and safety:

• A reliable weather report (it’s simple: don’t go backpacking in weather where your kit won’t work)
• A backpack (20-35 L backpack that you already own)
• Water
• Clothing you already own
• Food
• Cellphone and Battery Bank
• Something to comfortably sleep on the ground

You’ll be surprised how far the items you already own can take you. If you’ve hiked before, you likely already have most of what you need! As with all outings, you should feel comfortable bailing out if risks exceed what you’ve planned for.

Weather

Well, let’s get into it! We’ll discuss each of the 7 items above, and what you need to know to be pretty happy. The most important thing is the weather.

Be Prepared to Bail

It doesn’t matter what gear you own or what experience you have. Quite simply, you should always be prepared to bail from a trip if risks become too high to continue. This requires being attuned to risks of the current situation, and what options you have to mitigate risk or to assess risks as they develop. Most injuries and deaths happen because folks decide they shouldn’t bail on a trip, even though conditions indicate otherwise.

You should be prepared to bail from a trip if any of the following is true:

1. You are injured or sick, and continuation of the trip is likely to exacerbate the injury or significantly jeopardize your safety
2. The weather is changing from what you are prepared for
3. Trail conditions are unsafe
4. Continuation is likely to result in injury or death

Plan Ahead

The shorter a trip, the easier it is to get accurate weather reports and plan accordingly. In the mountains, it can be difficult to get accurate weather reports. Depending on the location of a trip, it may be necessary to bring specific gear to ensure you will be safe given uncertainty and unpredictability for different weather.

Sleeping and shelter systems should be changed depending on weather situations. For instance, there is a very big difference between a winter backpacking setup in the mountains and a summer backpacking setup in the desert. If you’re only taking a backpack and a fleece blanket, you’re going to need to plan a trip that has predictable, moderate weather and temperatures.

Weather Prediction

The main weather service that I trust is the National Weather Service (NWS). Almost all weather platforms leverage NWS data. Different services may use additional predictive models, but for most things across the country, I find that the reliability and ease of using NWS is the first thing I turn to for reliable forecasts. You can click on the NWS maps to get to fairly high-resolution predictive areas, and use the 24 to 48 hours forecasts to reliably plan trips.

I heavily discount weather predictions that are more than 48 hours away, especially for areas that may be impacted by mountains or oceans

Planning Your First Trip

In a small daypack, you should be able to fit: 2 Smart Water Bottles, a fleece blanket, and a jacket or some extra clothing. With limited effort, you can attach a $20 closed cell-foam pad to the outside. You can use your extra clothing as a pillow, and if temperatures are above 50 degrees at night, the fleece blanket is likely to be adequate for warmth.

Planning Your First Trip

The longer you’re out, and the further removed you are from a car, the higher risks will become. With backpacking, it’s all about managing and mitigating risks for what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re going to be far-removed from your car (> 5 miles), then you’ll likely want to take additional gear to mitigate risks and to increase comfort. In general, the more mild and predictable the weather, the less gear you’ll need to bring!

Choose a Location with Mild Weather

For your first backpacking trip, you should choose a location with very stable, predictable weather that is comfortable. What is comfortable? Well, that can change for different people, but in general — I’d say: lows in the 50s and highs in the 80s (Fahrenheit). Additionally, you’re going to want to choose a location where you’re not likely to be rained on. While rain can be unpleasant to sleep in when it’s 50 degrees at night, it can be downright lethal if temperatures drop to 40 degrees and you remain wet.

I’ve Chosen a Mild Weather Location. Now What?

A backpack is the basic tool you use to carry the actual items that you need. You need different items and tools to remain safe. Weather and climate are the main thing that determine what you should pack. If you’re going to be hiking in high alpine in a high alpine environment in the winter, you’ll need very different things compared to hiking on the Pacific Coast in the summer. If you’ve chosen a mild weather location for a trip, with no expected precipitation, you need very, very little to remain comfortable.

Once you have a location in mind, you need to figure out the appropriate things to pack. If it’s mild weather with no rain — you really do not need very much. The minimum includes:

1. Water or tools to give you sufficient access to water
2. Food
3. A Sleeping System

Water

For your first trip, you should keep it pretty chill. Something that’s likely less than 5 miles away from the trailhead you’re parking at. If you’re only 5 miles away, that means you should be able to get back to the car in under 4 hours. For a single night trip with mild weather, 2 Liters of water is likely sufficient for drinking. Depending on food, cooking setups, and temperatures, you may need access to more than 2 Liters of water. It’s worth noting that water is heavy — each liter of water is over 2 pounds.

If you need to carry more than 2-liters of water, you should bring a water filter, and make sure that the location you have chosen for backpacking will have streams or lakes that you can filter from. If you’re hiking fewer than 5 miles for an overnight trip, you can likely carry all the water you need. You should make sure your vehicle has at least a gallon of water in it as well. For desert environments, the typical recommendation for water consumption is 1.5 gallons of water per person per day

Food

Sleeping

If there is no anticipated precipitation, you will not need a shelter of any sort. Shelters are required

Why You Might Need New Gear—And When to Hold Off

Every extra item adds weight and decision-fatigue. Before rushing out to buy the latest gadget, ask:

• Am I truly exposed to new risks? (cold nights, heavy rain, remote terrain)
• Does this upgrade solve a problem I’ve actually faced?
• Can I borrow or test it first?

Only invest in gear that reduces a real pain point. On your first few trips, you’ll quickly learn which luxuries are must-haves and which stay at home.

Managing Risk: The Right Gear for the Right Trip

As you push farther from your car or stay out multiple nights, risks grow. Mitigate them by adding gear in stages:

Distance/Time Gear Step-Ups • 0–2 mi out & back • Keep the five basics • 2–5 mi out & back • Add a lightweight shelter (tarp, emergency bivy) • Overnight • Introduce warm insulation (puffy jacket or 20 °F bag/quilt) • > 1 night or > 5 mi out • Carry a stove, extra fuel, and simple first-aid • Remote or winter • Include navigation back-ups, satellite comms, and a heavier shell

This continuum keeps your pack lean while giving you just enough safety net for each new challenge.

Comfort on the Ground

A good night’s sleep is the secret sauce to enjoying backpacking. You don’t need a 5 lb mattress—just something that blocks cold and dampness:

• Closed-cell foam pad: ~$15, indestructible, 8–12 oz
• Budget inflatable pad: $––$$, R-value 2–3, 12–16 oz
• Luxury ultralight pad: $$$, R-value 4+, 8–12 oz

Test your pad with a backyard campout or living-room shakedown. You’ll quickly feel which thickness and firmness work for your body.

Staying Connected & Informed

Your phone does more than play music—it’s map, weather radio, and emergency beacon when used right:

• Download topo maps offline (Gaia GPS, Avenza)
• Carry a 5,000 mAh battery bank to recharge daily
• Bookmark your route’s waypoints and water sources
• Check forecasts each morning for wind, rain, and temperature swings

If you’re truly going remote, consider a PLB or satellite messenger. But for most first overnight trips, smartphone planning and a charged power pack are enough.

Next-Level Tips You Didn’t Ask For

• Learn simple knots—bowline and trucker hitch let you rig a tarp in minutes.
• Use your garbage bag as both rain cover and groundsheet—zero extra weight.
• Pack snacks in reusable silicone bags instead of foil or plastic.
• Practice filtering stream water at home so you know your pump or straw works.
• Always carry a small trash bag to pack out toilet paper and wrappers.

Beyond the Basics

Once this minimal kit feels easy, you’ll naturally spot areas to upgrade: a lighter shelter, faster stove, or warmer quilt. But until then, focus on trail time, not gear lists. Backpacking’s magic comes from simplicity—every ounce you save is freedom earned on the trail.

Foundational Concepts

• “ultralight”: typically a base pack weight under 10 lb (4.5 kg), excluding consumables.
• Why go ultralight: less strain on joints; faster daily mileage; increased freedom for exploration.
• Mindset shift: careful gear selection and continuous refinements trump simply buying flashy ultralight items.

When you start out backpacking, it is unbelievably easy to over-pack your gear. But let me tell you, it is NOT pleasant to be struggling up hill with a 40 pound pack. In my mind, backpacking should actually be fun — not suffering! I much prefer hiking when I don’t need to feel the pain of carrying my pack, and instead I can enjoy the scenery that I’m in.

I’ve often heard people ask: “if you hike 30 miles a day, do you even enjoy nature?” The answer is “yes!” maybe even more so, largely because I’m not suffering from hiking — I’m actually enjoying it because my pack is light and comfortable. Ultralight backpacking is the art of minimizing your pack weight to maximize comfort, efficiency, and enjoyment on the trail. By shedding unnecessary ounces, you reduce fatigue, cover more miles, and open yourself up to bolder routes. TrailPeaches was built around this ethos—offering gear reviews, data-driven trip models, and firsthand after-action reports on routes from long thru-hikes that I’ve done.

Getting Started: The Gear You Already Have

You don’t need a million-dollar kit to hit the trail this summer. With a handful of household or school-bag items, you can enjoy a safe, comfortable overnight in the National Forest—just a few miles from your car.

• Daypack or school backpack (20–35 L)
• Lightweight running shoes or trail runners you already own
• T-shirt and shorts. Folks are often told to avoid cotton. However, in arid environments where temperatures are going to be high, cotton is actually a perfectly reasonable material. You do not need to go out of your way to buy a new set of synthetics to be safe or to feel comfortable.
• Extra socks (pack in plastic bags)
• Any windbreaker or rain shell you have on hand
• One-liter water bottle (carry at least 2 L total). You can buy smart water bottles for $1 to $2 at most gas stations
• Snacks: trail mix, energy bars, peanut butter sandwiches
• Headlamp or flashlight with spare batteries
• Basic first-aid items: bandages, blister pads, pain relievers

Why This Works

• You’ll learn minimalist packing without major upfront cost.
• Familiar gear removes the intimidation factor—focus on the experience.
• If something fails, you’re never more than a couple miles from your car.

Trip Planning & Dispersed Camping

National Forests are public land. In most areas, you can camp for free anywhere outside designated campgrounds—no reservation or fee required. Here’s how to plan your first easy overnight:

1. Choose a trailhead within 5 miles of your car.
2. Check local Forest Service maps or GAIA GPS for dispersed-camp symbols.
3. Verify water sources (streams, springs) and seasonal flow.
4. Look up weather forecasts; plan around heat, thunderstorms, or high winds.
5. Lay out a simple route: 3–5 miles out, pick a campsite, then return next morning.
6. Practice Leave No Trace—pack out all trash, bury human waste 6–8 in off water.

Key Planning Tips

• Download offline maps to your phone and carry a paper printout as backup.
• Tell a friend or family member your start/finish times and trail name.
• Start hikes early to avoid afternoon storms and beat the heat.

Essential Gear Categories

1. Shelter
   • Ultralight tents vs. tarp-and-tarp setups.
   • Key metrics: packed weight, cuben fiber vs. sil-nylon, stake requirements.
2. Sleep System
   • Quilt vs. sleeping bag: weight savings vs. comfort trade-offs.
   • Pad choices: inflatables, closed-cell foam, hybrid.
3. Pack & Suspension
   • Minimalist frameless vs. lightweight frame sheets.
   • Fit guidelines: torso length, hipbelt pressure points.
4. Cooking & Water
   • Canister stoves vs. alcohol stoves: boil times, fuel availability.
   • Ultralight filter vs. chemical treatment vs. UV light.
5. Clothing & Layers
   • Base layers, insulating mid-layers, waterproof shells.
   • Balance durability vs. weight.
6. Navigation & Safety
   • Digital GPS vs. paper maps and compass.
   • Ultralight first-aid kit, repair tools, headlamp specs.
7. Food & Resupply
   • Calorie-dense trail foods: dehydrated meals, nuts, energy bars.
   • Mail drops vs. town resupply planning.

Shelter

The purpose of a shelter is to provide protection from weather, and protection from bugs and insects. The lightest possible option is “cowboy camping” where you are exposed to all the elements. Using a Bivy + Tarp combo is the system that is closest to cowboy camping, while actually providing protection from the elements.

• A tarp + bivy combo can save over 1 lb compared to freestanding tents.
• For solo use, a Borah tarp (8.8 oz) + Cuben bivy (5.8 oz) makes a durable, versatile setup.
• Recommendation: Practice a quick A-frame pitch with fixed-length ridgeline to nail setup in under 5 minutes.

Don’t think a bivy or tarp is quite up your alley? Check out my gear guide for more suggestions and recommendations

Sleep System

1. The Big Three: Pack, Shelter, Sleep

Pack: Your Mobile Command Center

• Choose a pack around 35–40 L to force discipline on volume.
• Look for simple framesheets or frameless designs that weigh under 2 lb.
• Aim to carry about 60–80% of weight on your hips—adjust shoulder straps and hipbelt snugly.

Sleep System: Warmth Meets Weight

• Modern down quilts or bags weigh 20 oz or less for a 20 °F rating.
• Pair with an inflatable pad (R-value 3 +) that stays under 12 oz.
• Seasonally, consider a quilt-only summer setup and add a bag if temps dip below freezing.

Planning & Preparation

• Trail Selection: Review detailed thru-hike afterwords on the PCT, CDT, and Arizona Trail to match your goals and skill level.
• Time & Budget: Estimate daily mileage, resupply costs, and total days on trail; leverage my cost-modeling tool posts.
• Training & Conditioning: Recommended training hikes, strength exercises, and pack shakedowns.
• Permits & Regulations: Compile permit requirements and application windows for major long trails.

Skills & Techniques

Emergency Protocols: Signaling techniques, inReach tracking best practices.

Leave No Trace Principles: Site selection, waste management, respect for wildlife.

Water Procurement: Reconnoiter water sources ahead of time; carry contingency filter tablets.

Route Finding: Reading contour lines; using GPX tracks (Big Sur GPX, custom routes).