Backpacking, everything on your back.
Walk in, sleep out, walk back. The gear costs real money once; after that the trails are nearly free.
What it is like
Backpacking is hiking with a bedroom and a kitchen on your back. One pack carries shelter, sleep, food and water treatment, and that changes a walk into a small journey with a night under the sky in the middle of it.
The start cost is the highest of the outdoor hobbies here, but it is paid once. Gear lasts for years, can be rented or borrowed for a first trip, and the places it opens up cost little or nothing to visit.
Outdoors · Solo, For two, A club
Is it for you?
You will probably love it if
- You already enjoy day hikes
- You like planning routes and packing lists
- A night without a shower does not bother you
Maybe not, if
- Knee, back or ankle trouble limits carrying weight
- You sleep badly anywhere but a bed
- There is no trail country within a weekend drive
The starter kit - $660
- Backpack, 50 to 60 LFitted to your torso length in a shop if possible$180
- Two-person tentLighter trail models cost more; a first tent need not be the lightest$180
- Sleeping bag rated for the seasonCheck the comfort rating, not the survival rating$135
- Sleeping padInsulation from the ground matters as much as the bag$55
- Stove, pot and water filterHot food and safe water$110
- Everything you need to beginAbout $10 a month after that$660
Typical US prices for entry-level gear, rounded. Last checked October 2026. How we get the numbers
Your first project: one night, close to the car
Three to five miles to a known campsite with water, on a marked trail.
Aim for a pack under a fifth of your body weight. Leave the extras at home.
Route, campsite and the time you will be back.
Pitch before dark, hang or store food as the area requires, pack out every bit of trash.
Check the weather and trail conditions, carry a paper map, extra layers, a light and more water than you expect to need, and leave your route with someone at home. Many areas require permits or bear-safe food storage - read the land manager's rules for the specific trail.
Why people quit
- A pack that is too heavyThe first trip teaches what you did not need. Write it down and leave it next time.
- Too far, too soonA hard first route puts people off for years. Start short.
- Bad weather on trip oneCheck the forecast and be willing to postpone.
How it compares
| Backpacking | Birdwatching | Fly fishing | Shed hunting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start cost | $660 | $161 | $289 | Free |
| Each month | $10 | Free | $20 | Free |
| Space | Trails, and a closet for gear | Anywhere outside | A river or pond | Fields and woods |
| Noise | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet | Quiet |
| First result | 1 weekend | Same day | A few trips | A few walks |
| Mess | None | None | Wet boots | Muddy boots |