First-Time Backpacker Fails (and How to Avoid Them)
- Humble Traveller
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
There isn't a person alive who has ventured into the backcountry and not made one of these mistakes. No matter how many times we shoulder a pack and head into the wild, there's always something we could have done better. There's always something we wish we had brought but didn’t—or something we did bring, carried for miles, and never used once.
Whether it’s your first time venturing into the backcountry or your four-millionth, this list can serve as a helpful guide to avoid those small missteps that can have serious consequences.
I’ve undoubtedly made every mistake on this list at least once. So don’t be disheartened if all of this is new to you. We all have to start somewhere.
Here are some of the first-time backpacker fails to look out for, so hopefully you don't make them yourself!
Contents
Take Advice from the Right People
Hiking Gear Ain’t Cheap. If It Is Cheap, It’s Probably Rubbish
Don’t Take Too Much Stuff
Break Those Boots In!
Take Water, Think Water
Test Everything Before You Go
Do Not Leave Clothes Out Overnight
Please Keep the Discos in the Cities
Choosing a Terrible Campsite
Do Not Feed Wild Animals
Leave No Trace, or Better Than You Found It
Take Advice from the Right People
When asking for advice about destinations, some people will share positive experiences, while others focus on the negatives—complaining about unfriendly locals, bad weather, or the rubbish they encountered. The list of complaints can go on and on. It’s important to remember that two people can visit the same place and have completely different experiences. How they view the trip often depends on their expectations, what they hoped to see and do, and how prepared they were for the journey.
When it comes to hiking trails, I always make sure to listen to the right advice from the right sources. The rangers and staff at the visitor information centre near the trailhead are the ones whose guidance you should trust.
Hiking Gear Ain’t Cheap. If It Is Cheap, It’s Probably Rubbish
Less is more when it comes to hiking. So don’t be surprised if you’re staring at a piece of gear thinking, How can something so light cost so much? The answer: it costs so much because it’s so light.
The same principle applies across the board. Go ask someone who’s been walking in the rain for a solid week if all their “waterproof” gear actually stayed waterproof. I bet it didn’t. "Waterproof"—believe it or not—is a relative term. Nothing stays waterproof forever. But you can increase your odds of staying dry, comfortable, and safe by doing your research and investing in trusted brands and lighter, higher-quality gear.
There’s a reason you can walk into one of those big-box outdoor stores (that shall remain nameless) and buy a sleeping bag and a tent for $25. It’s because that gear is rubbish. It won’t last, and it won’t perform when you really need it to.
And while we’re on the topic of gear: it’s not just about having the right equipment—it’s about having the right gear for the conditions. There’s no point bringing a tropical sleeping bag if nighttime temps are going to drop below 30°F. You’re going to freeze. Or suffer. One of the two.
Don’t Take Too Much Stuff
You’ve packed your bag the night before, shouldered it, done a quick lap around the kitchen and lounge room… and dropped it. Hmm, it’s a little heavier than I thought, you think, but you convince yourself, It’ll be fine. Unfortunately, if your pack felt heavy after a 30-foot stroll around the house, multiply that feeling by a thousand when you're hauling it over rugged terrain for a week. You’ll soon be digging holes just to get rid of stuff.
“Hey Jane, where did the plates and cutlery go? You were carrying them…”
“Uh… well… I’m not... umm... sure, Steve.”
It’s so common to see exhausted trekkers arrive at camp, set up, and then pull out picnic sets with wooden chopping boards, bottles of red wine, wine glasses, and 20 pounds of cooking gear. They have a great first night. But by the end of the trek, they’re eyeing that wooden chopping board and wishing they could just leave it behind in the forest.
Here’s the thing: you can make homemade, preservative-free, freeze-dried meals that only need hot water to prepare. Or you can buy these ready-made meals from any good outdoor shop. Eat your dinner straight from a near-weightless bag with a lightweight disposable wooden spoon. Drink from your Jetboil cup. It’s simple, lightweight, and practical.
Break Those Boots In!
Hands up: who’s taken an underdone pair of boots on a big trek? Did you have fun? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Well, my hands are up too. Both of them.
I once bought a pair of Keen hiking boots just a day or two before setting off on a trip, thinking they felt comfortable when I tried them on in the store. WRONG! About 30 minutes into my hike, I started feeling what can only be described as dagger-like pain repeatedly striking my right heel. I pushed through for a few hours, making several stops along the way, but I couldn’t enjoy the walk at all because of the constant discomfort.
In this case, there was a defect with the boots, and they were sent back to Keen. But the message remains: If you're rocking your first pair of hiking boots and they're the wrong fit, need breaking in, or—like mine—something sinister is rubbing against your heel, you need to address that before hitting the trail. Get it sorted while you're still in town. Trust me, your feet will thank you.
Take Water, Think Water
You’re probably made up of about 60% water, that wondrous combination of hydrogen and oxygen, and your body doesn’t do so well without it. The catch? One gallon of water weighs about 8.3 pounds, making it one of the heaviest essentials you’ll carry on any hike.
I can't even count how many times I’ve handed out water purification tablets to fellow trekkers who forgot to bring their own. I’ve met newbies who were putting their health on the line, drinking straight from water sources near agricultural land. Now, I take roughly triple the number of purification tablets I expect to need, just in case I run into someone like that.
Know exactly where you can refill your water bottles, and plan your water intake accordingly. In colder climates, you’ll need less water than in hot conditions. Are you trekking in a seasonal location?
Where I’m from in Northern Australia, for example, we have only two seasons: wet and dry. Before heading off the beaten path, we need to know exactly how much water is available in the area. Water is essential for survival—don’t take it lightly.
Test Everything Before You Go
You’re 10 miles down a lonely trail, pulling out your gas stove for the first time. And then it hits you: the moron at the shop had no idea what he was talking about, and he sold you the wrong gas canisters for your stove.
It’s too late to strangle him now, and you just know he’s at home enjoying a hot meal while you’re stuck with a useless stove. So what’s left to do? Suck it up and blame yourself. Because, no matter how much of a moron that guy was, you’ve made him look like a genius by not testing your gear first.
It’s crucial to know how everything works before you head out into the wild. Practice setting up your tent quickly—you never know when it might be your only shelter during a storm. And don’t wait until you’re camped out on the first night to realise you brought the wrong batteries for your headlamp.
If you buy a waterproof jacket, the very next time it rains, put it on and go for a walk. You’ll quickly learn how it performs. My dad loves hiking, and he’ll head out in any weather.
On particularly bad days, my mum will look out and ask,
“You’re not going out in that, are you?”
And his usual reply? “Yep! Great day to test out my gear!”
Do Not Leave Clothes Out Overnight
You’ve arrived early at your campsite, hung your wet clothes in the warm afternoon sun to dry, and then... forgotten to pack them away before the sun sets. Uh oh. Unfortunately, when night falls, the dew sets in, and your clothes will probably be wetter in the morning than when you hung them out. And heavier, too. Unless, of course, you’re trekking in a desert—but then, you’ll have other things to worry about.
And while we’re on the subject of leaving things out… food, people! Hang it up in a tree, out of reach of animals. Do not, under any circumstances, sleep with a chocolate bar under your pillow, thinking you’re safe. Location depending - If a bear wants a piece of that chocolate and has forgotten his manners, you will know about it.
Please Keep the Discos in the Cities
If you're one of those people who heads out into nature with a group of friends, only to crank up the drum & bass and have a mini bush doof when the sun goes down, I have one simple question for you: Why? Why did you even come here in the first place?
You can blast that stuff in your living room at home, at the bar in town, or anywhere else you like. If you really can’t live without it, put your headphones in. Some of us come to the outdoors to escape the noise for a while. Unless it’s the sound of the breeze, a river, tent pegs being hammered in, or a distant thunderstorm, then I really don’t want to hear it.
Choosing a Terrible Campsite
It’s funny how two people can look at the same spot and see completely different things. The inexperienced hiker sees a flat patch of land for their tent and a slope behind it for shelter. The experienced hiker sees a patch of land that’s just going to collect all the water flowing down that slope.
Either way, always look for flat land that still has somewhere for the water to go if it pours down in the middle of the night. Find a spot that provides shelter without the risk of turning into a waterfall when it rains.
Do Not Feed Wild Animals
This might not seem like something that’ll have any immediate consequences or get you into trouble (but it should).
One guy feeds a monkey.
Monkey happy.
Next guy feeds a monkey.
Monkey happy.
Next guy says, “No, monkey, that’s my banana.”
Monkey unhappy. Monkey tries to take your food. By whatever means necessary.
My brother recently told me a story that perfectly sums this up - he was previously hiking through a remote part of Javan beach in Indonesia, and to get there, he had to pass through a jungle. It would’ve been beautiful—except they had to carry big sticks to fight off monkeys trying to steal their packs. The monkeys had big teeth, were strong, and honestly, downright vicious, putting him and his group in a really tough spot. He said you could tell people had been feeding these monkeys for years.
The thing is, animals that have evolved without much contact with humans just aren’t built to handle our food. But it smells so good to them, they’ll eat it anyway. And that’s not good for the animals or the environment. So, please—just stop feeding them.
Leave no trace, or better than you found it
This one’s a tricky concept because it’s a mistake that’s unlikely to land anyone in trouble—unless, of course, they’re spotted by someone who’s willing to stand up for Mother Earth. The truth is, if you want to enjoy unspoiled nature, you need to do your part to keep it that way.
If you bring something into the wild, it needs to come back out with you. On the flip side, if it’s already there, leave it where it belongs. Don’t snap something off and take it home as a souvenir. Some places have delicate ecosystems, and that “souvenir” could be more harmful than you think. In some areas, human waste needs to be buried—and in others, it has to be packed out.
And when it comes to where you pitch your tent, be mindful. A beautiful bed of wildflowers is not a good place to set up camp. Nor is an ant’s nest (for your sake and theirs).
Try to remember, "leave no trace" or my personal favourite "leave it better than you found it".
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