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{{Short description|Outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back, while hiking for more than a day}}
{{Other uses|Hiking|Camping|Backpacking (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Trekking}}
[[File:Backpacking in polish carpathians cm01.jpg|thumb|Backpacking in the [[Beskids|Beskid Niski]] mountains, in the Polish part of the [[Carpathian Mountains]]]]
[[File:Backpacking in Grand Teton NP-NPS.jpg|thumb|right|Backpacking in the [[Grand Teton National Park]], [[Wyoming]]]]
[[File:Footpath in Zerfenti - at the back Rufa'el church.jpg|thumb|Trekking route '''14''' in [[Zerfenti]] (Ethiopia)]]
'''Backpacking''' is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while [[hiking]] for more than a day. It is often an extended journey<ref>"Travel or hike carrying one's belongings in a backpack: [e.g.] a week's backpacking in the [[Pyrenees]], [or] he has backpacked around the world" (''New Oxford American Dictionary'').</ref> and may involve [[camping]] outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and [[mountain hut]]s, widely found in Europe, are rare. In New Zealand, hiking is called [[Tramping in New Zealand|tramping]], and tents are used alongside a nationwide network of huts. <ref>H. W. Orsman, ''The Dictionary of New Zealand English''. Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1999.</ref> [[Hill walking]] is equivalent in Britain (but this can also refer to a day walk), though backpackers make use of a variety of accommodation, in addition to camping. Backpackers use simple huts in South Africa. <ref name="footprint.co.za">{{Cite web |url=http://www.footprint.co.za/Development_introduction.htm |title=Trail Development |access-date=2013-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401014642/http://www.footprint.co.za/Development_introduction.htm |archive-date=2014-04-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> '''Trekking''' and [[bushwalking]] are other words used to describe such multi-day trips.

Backpacking [[backpacking (travel)|as a method of travel]] is a different activity, which mainly uses [[public transport]] during a journey that can last months.

==Definition==
[[File:Mountain Jack and a Wandering Miner .jpg|thumb|A backpacker during the [[California Gold Rush]]]]
Backpacking is an [[outdoor recreation]] where gear is carried in a [[backpack]]. This can include food, water, bedding, shelter, clothing, stove, and cooking kit. Given that backpackers must carry their gear, the total weight of their bag and its contents is a primary concern of backpackers. Backpacking trips range from one night to weeks or months, sometimes aided by planned resupply points, drops, or caches.

==Research==
Anthropologists argue carrying weight, via a backpack, was likely more common than running.<ref name=ruckingScience/> And carrying loads is an extreme difference and quality humans had over other animals.<ref name=ruckingScience/>

They hypothesize, humans used running to catch prey,<ref name=ruckingScience/> and humans evolved to carry food and weight over longer distances.<ref name=ruckingScience>{{cite web
| url = https://www.runnersworld.com/training/a36131472/rucking-benefits/
| title = How Rucking Can Benefit Your Running Performance
| last = Easter
| first = Michael
| date = 11 May 2021
| website = runnersworld.com
| publisher =
| access-date =
| quote = }}</ref>

===Fitness benefits===
A weighted carry from backpacking taxes muscles.<ref name=ruckingScience/> A weighted load stresses the shoulders, delts, back, abs, obliques, hips, quads, hamstrings and the knees.<ref name=ruckingScience/> Research highlights a weighted carry for exercise helps avoid injuries.<ref name=ruckingScience/>

A differential exists between a man running in comparison to a man walking whilst carrying a backpack.<ref name=ruckingScience/> A 175-pound man running, without a backpack, loads his knees with 1,400 pounds of stress per stride.<ref name=ruckingScience/> Whilst a 175-pound walking man, carrying a 30-pound pack, loads his knees with 555 pounds of stress per step.<ref name=ruckingScience/>

Research shows humans can carry weight under 50-pound in a safe manner.<ref name=ruckingScience/> Research also shows a weighted carry is as beneficial for the cardiovascular system as a light run.<ref name=ruckingScience/>

==Accommodations==
[[File:Pocosin cabin.jpg|thumb|left|The Pocosin cabin along the [[Appalachian trail]] in [[Shenandoah National Park]] ]]

Backpacking camps are usually more spartan than campsites where gear is transported by car or boat. In areas with heavy backpacker traffic, a hike-in [[campsite]] might have a [[fire ring]] (where permissible), an [[outhouse]], a wooden bulletin board with a [[map]] and information about the trail and area. Many hike-in camps are no more than level patches of ground free of underbrush. In remote [[wilderness]] areas hikers must choose their own site. Established camps are rare and the [[ethos]] is to "[[leave no trace]]" when gone.

In some regions, varying forms of accommodation exist, from simple log lean-to's to staffed facilities offering escalating degrees of service. Beds, meals, and even drinks may be had at [[Alps|Alpine]] [[mountain hut|hut]]s scattered among well-traveled European mountains. Backpackers there can walk from hut-to-hut without leaving the mountains, while in places like the [[Lake District]] or [[Yorkshire Dales]] in England hill-walkers descend to stay in [[youth hostel]]s, farmhouses or [[guest house]]s. Reservations can usually be made in advance and are recommended in the high season.

In the more remote parts of Great Britain, especially Scotland, [[bothy|bothies]] exist to provide simple (free) accommodation for backpackers. On the French system of [[long distance trail]]s, ''[[Grande Randonnée]]s'', backpackers can stay in ''gîtes d'étapes'', which are simple hostels provided for walkers and cyclists. There are some simple shelters and occasional mountain hut also provided in North America, including on the [[Appalachian Trail]]. Another example is the High Sierra Camps in the [[Yosemite National Park]]. Long-distance backpacking trails with huts also exist in South Africa, including the 100 km plus [[Amatola Trail]], in the [[Eastern Cape]] Province.<ref name="footprint.co.za" /> Backpacking is also popular in the [[Himalayas]] (often called trekking there), where [[Porter (carrier)|porters]] and [[pack animals]] are often used.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zurick, Pacheco |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S20hk99x_-MC |title=Illustrated Atlas of the Himalaya |last2=J.Shrestha |last3=Bajracharya, B. |publisher=India Research Press |year=2006 |isbn=9788183860376}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

== Equipment ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}

{{Main|Hiking equipment}}
Backpacking gear depends on the terrain and climate, and on a hiker's plans for shelter (refuges, huts, gites, camping, etc.). It may include:

#A [[backpack]] of appropriate size. Backpacks can include frameless, external frame, internal frame, and bodypack styles.
#Clothing and footwear appropriate for the conditions.
#Food and a means to prepare it (stove, utensils, pot, etc.).
#Sleep system such as a [[sleeping bag]] and a pad.
#[[Survival kit|Survival gear]].
#A shelter such as a tent, tarp or [[Bivouac shelter|bivouac sack]].
#Water containers and purifiers.

=== Water ===
[[File:Canteen 0002.jpg|thumb|right|Military [[Canteen (bottle)|canteen]] with nested canteen cup and cover]]
{{See also|wilderness diarrhea|portable water purification|solar water disinfection}}

Proper [[Dehydration|hydration]] is critical to successful backpacking. Depending on conditions - which include weather, terrain, load, and the hiker's age and fitness - a backpacker may drink 2 to 8 litres (1/2 to 2 gallons), or more, per day. At {{convert|1|kg|lb}} per {{convert|1|L|USqt}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://extoxnet.orst.edu/tibs/partperm.htm |title=Comparisons and Conversions |pages=2nd paragraph |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref> water is exceptionally heavy. It is impossible to carry more than a few days' supply. Therefore, hikers often drink natural water supplies, sometimes after filtering or purifying.

Some hikers will treat water before drinking to protect against [[waterborne diseases]] carried by [[bacteria]] and [[protozoa]]. The chief treatment methods include:

* Boiling
* Treatment with chemicals such as chlorine or iodine
* Filtering (often used with chemical treatments)
* Treatment with [[ultraviolet]] light

Water may be stored in bottles or collapsible plastic bladders. [[Hydration bladder|Hydration bladders]] are increasingly popular.

===Food===
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}
[[File:OatcakesTrangia.JPG|thumb|Baking oatcakes on a gas-fueled backpacking stove]]
{{Main|Camping food}}
{{See also|Nutrition |Outdoor cooking |Survival skills}}
[[File:CampCooking.jpg|thumb|left|Cooking in the outdoors using a heated stone]]
Backpacking is energy intensive. It is essential to bring enough food to maintain both energy and health. The weight of food is an important issue to consider. Consequently, items with high [[food energy]], long [[shelf life]], and low mass and volume deliver the most utility. Taste and satisfaction are issues that are of varying importance to individual hikers, as they consider whether it's worth the effort (and trade-off against other gear) to carry fresh, heavy, or luxury food items. The shorter the trip and easier the conditions the more feasible such treats become.

In many cases, heat, fuel and utensils are used. Small liquid or gas-fueled [[portable stove|campstoves]] and lightweight cooking pots are common. Campfires are sometimes prohibited.

Some backpackers consume dried foods, including many common household foods such as cereal, oatmeal, powdered milk, cheese, crackers, sausage, salami, dried fruit, peanut butter, pasta and rice. Popular snacks include [[trail mix]], easily prepared at home; nuts, [[energy bar]]s, chocolate, and other energy-dense foods. Coffee, tea, and cocoa are common beverages.
Package food in plastic bags while avoiding heavier jars and cans. Dehydrators are popular for drying fruit, jerky, and pre-cooked meals.

Many hikers use [[freeze-drying|freeze-dried]] precooked entrees for hot meals, quickly reconstituted by adding boiling water. An alternative is [[ultra-high-temperature processing|Ultra High Temperature (UHT) processed]] food, which has its moisture retained and merely needs heating with a special, water-activated [[Flameless ration heater|chemical reaction]].

Specialized cookbooks are available on trailside food and the challenges inherent in making it. Some focus on planning meals and preparing ingredients for short trips; others on the challenges of organizing and preparing meals revolving around the bulk rationing prevalent in extended trail hikes, particularly those with pre-planned food drops.

==Ultralight-hiking==
[[File:Tent at High Shelf Camp.jpg|thumb|left|A backpacker's modern lightweight dome tent near [[Mount Anne]] in a [[Tasmanian Wilderness]] area]]
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}
{{Main|Ultralight backpacking}}
Some people seek out lighter equipment for long-distance hikes, as it is easier to carry, reduces physical strain, and allows for ease of long distance travel. Ultralight gear has become increasingly more commonly used in past years as it reduces the strain on the hiker. Specialist ultralight gear is widely available, but can be expensive. Materials can include carbon fiber, lightweight alloys, specialty plastics, and impregnated fabrics.

== Skills and safety ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2022}}
[[File:Bear resistant food storage canister 2.JPG|thumb|right|upright|A bear-resistant food storage canister]]

{{Main|Hazards of outdoor recreation}}
* [[Survival skills]] can provide peace of mind and may make the difference between life and death when the weather, terrain, or environment turns unexpectedly for the worse.
* [[Navigation]] and [[orienteering]] are useful to find the [[trailhead]], then find and follow a route to a desired sequence of destinations, and then an exit. In case of disorientation, orienteering skills are important to determine the current location and formulate a route to somewhere more desirable. At their most basic, navigation skills allow one to choose the correct sequence of trails to follow. In situations where a trail or clear line-of-sight to the desired destination is not present, navigation and orienteering allow the backpacker to understand the terrain and wilderness around them and, using their tools and practices, select the appropriate direction to hike. Weather (rain, fog, snow), terrain (hilly, rock faces, dense forest), and hiker experience can all impact and increase the challenges to navigation in the wilderness.
* [[First aid]]: effectively dealing with minor injuries ([[wikt:splinter|splinter]]s, punctures, sprains) is considered by many a fundamental backcountry skill. More subtle, but maybe even more important, is recognizing and promptly treating [[hypothermia]], [[heat stroke]], [[dehydration]] and [[Hypoxia (medical)|hypoxia]], as these are rarely encountered in daily life.
* [[Leave No Trace]] is the backpacker's version of the [[Golden Rule (ethics)|golden rule]]: To have beautiful and pristine places to enjoy, help make them. At a minimum, don't make them worse.
* [[Distress signal]]ing is a skill of last resort.

== Related activities ==

===Winter backpacking===
{{Further|Ski touring|Snowshoeing}}
[[Image:Bivouac2.jpg|thumb|left|A winter [[bivouac sack|bivouac]] in Germany.]]
Winter backpacking requires a higher level of skill and generally more specialized gear than in other seasons. [[Skis]] or [[snowshoes]] may be required to traverse deep snow, or [[crampons]] and an [[ice axe]] where needed. Winter sleeping bags and tents are essential, as are waterproof, water-repellent, and moisture dissipating materials. Cotton clothing retains moisture and chills the body, both particularly dangerous in cold weather. Winter backpackers stick to wool or synthetic fabric like nylon or polypropylene, which hold less moisture and often have specialized wicking properties to dissipate sweat generated during aerobic activities. Layering is essential, as wet clothes quickly sap body heat and can lead to [[frostbite]] or [[hypothermia]].

A winter bivouac can also be made in a [[snow cave]]. It has thermal properties similar to an [[igloo]] and is effective both at providing protection from wind and low temperatures. A properly made snow cave can be 0 °C (32 °F) or warmer inside, even when outside temperatures are −40 °C (−40 °F).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alpharubicon.com/primitive/quinzeetrigger.html |title=Quinzee (aka - Snow Cave) |publisher=AlphaRubicon.com |access-date=2007-01-30}}</ref><ref name="rage">{{Cite web |url=http://www.etisurvival.com/snocv.htm |title=When Storms Rage (or how to build a snow cave) |last=Gerke |first=Randy |publisher=Enviro-Tech International |access-date=2007-01-30}}</ref>
It is constructed by excavating snow so that its entrance tunnel is below the main space in order to retain warm air. Construction is simplified by building on a steep slope and digging slightly upwards and horizontally into the snow. The roof is domed to prevent dripping on the occupants. Adequate snow depth, free of rocks and ice, is needed — generally {{convert|4|to|5|ft|m|abbr=on}} is sufficient. A [[quinzhee]] is similar, but constructed by tunneling into mounded snow rather than by digging into a natural snow formation.

===Fastpacking===
{{Further|Fastpacking}}
[[Fastpacking]] is a recreational activity that combines [[ultralight backpacking]] with [[running]], and, on steep slopes, [[hiking]]. It is a multi-day adventure that usually takes places along [[long distance trails]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2009-08-06|title=Fastpacking: What, and Why? |first=Kate |last=Siber |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/trail-running/a20800756/running-and-backpacking/|access-date=2023-01-02|website=Runner's World|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>Clint Cherepa, [https://www.outdoors.org/articles/fastpacking "Hike Fast, Sleep Hard: Are You Ready to Try Fastpacking?"] ''Outdoors.org'', August 27, 2018.</ref> A sleeping bag is carried and other essential backpacking items, and often a tent or similar shelter, if places to stay are not available.<ref>Ad Crable, "Running wild", ''Lancaster New Era'', June 18, 1993.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Run, don't walk: mastering the art of fastpacking |first=Patrick |last=Kinsella |date=May 5, 2017 |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/run-dont-walk-mastering-the-art-of-fastpacking|access-date=2023-01-02|website=Lonely Planet|language=en}}</ref>

===Other===
[[File:027 Cycling Torres del Paine.jpg|thumb|right|Expedition cycle touring, [[Torres del Paine National Park]].]]
* [[Canoe camping|Canoe]] and [[kayak]] camping
* [[Bicycle touring]] and its lightweight variant [[bikepacking]]
* [[Trail riding]], where gear is carried in [[saddlebags]]
* [[Backpacking (travel)]], where public transport is used to visit cultural attractions, rather than natural ones, though it may also include wilderness side trips.
* [[Adventure travel]], tourism in a highly unpredictable or hazardous region or environment.
* [[Thru-hiking]], traversing a long-distance trail in a single, continuous journey.
* [[Ultralight backpacking]], which minimizes both weight and amount of gear carried, typically employed in highly aerobic back-country pursuits.
* [[Wilderness survival]]

==See also==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Backpacking with animals]]
* [[Bivouac shelter]]
* [[Camping]]
* [[Hiking equipment]]
* [[Long distance trail]]
* [[Mountaineering]]
* [[Nordic walking]]
* [[Rambling]]
* [[Ten essentials]] and [[Survival kit]]
* [[Trekking pole]]
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.americanhiking.org American Hiking Society] Preserves and protects hiking trails and the hiking experience
* [http://www.lnt.org/ Leave No Trace] - The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.

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{{Adventure travel}}
{{Orienteering}}
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[[Category:Backpacking|*]]
[[Category:Scoutcraft]]
[[Category:Hiking]]

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Backpacking (hiking) - Revision history

Samyakk clothing at 03:08, 8 March 2026

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article