5 Mistakes Most Beginner Hikers Make (How to Avoid Them)
5 Mistakes Most Beginner Hikers Make (How to Avoid Them)
In this video, I share 5 (but actually many more) mistakes made by beginner backpackers that cause them to hate hiking forever. Learn how to overcome these mistakes, so that you can convince your friends to give hiking another go.
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▼ MY HIKING GEAR (affiliate links)
Outdoor Vitals CS40 Ultralight Backpack ➜ (Outdoor Vitals: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tool_type=cl&merchant_id=7e589116-9b06-4f1d-beee-aa18820b0454&website_id=00f5b60f-5b24-479f-ab2d-8d5328a2ac5a&url=https%3A%2F%2Foutdoorvitals.com%2Fproducts%2Fcs40-ultralight-backpack)
Outdoor Vitals Fortius 2P Ultralight Tent ➜ (Outdoor Vitals: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tool_type=cl&merchant_id=7e589116-9b06-4f1d-beee-aa18820b0454&website_id=00f5b60f-5b24-479f-ab2d-8d5328a2ac5a&url=https%3A%2F%2Foutdoorvitals.com%2Fproducts%2Ffortius-2p-trekking-pole-backpacking-tent)
Silverlight Merino Wool Socks ➜ (Silverlight: https://www.avantlink.com/click.php?tool_type=cl&merchant_id=9217b535-d13b-4d21-be1f-864f765e7674&website_id=00f5b60f-5b24-479f-ab2d-8d5328a2ac5a&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsilverlight.store%2Fproduct%2Fsilverlight-socks%2F)
Decathlon Forclaz MT100 Trekking Poles ➜ (Decathlon: https://www.decathlon.com/collections/hiking-poles/products/hiking-pole-arpenaz-200)
Water filter ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3riXlDf)
Decathlon Forclaz Trek 100 sleeping pad ➜ (Decathlon: https://www.decathlon.com/products/backpacking-foam-folding-mattress-trek-100-174619)
Cooking pot ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NRcywv)
Spork ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3b2moVk)
Silicone camping cup ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/37YIOoq)
Cooking stove ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/37W4SzS)
Power bank ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gmqRER)
Headlamp ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/37X41iH)
Camera ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3r8OALH)
Lense ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/301mCWh)
ND filter ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3q5GrX1)
Camera mounted microphone ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3r7Yyge)
GoPro Hero 7 ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dXVpvO)
Peak designs capture clip ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dVRQq7)
Sea to Summit trowel ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3iHAMGB)
Gear Air repair kit ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3pXnnfq)
Swiss Army Knife ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MAHrVr)
Decathlon Down Jacket MT100 ➜ (Decathlon: https://www.decathlon.com/products/forclaz-mt100-hooded-down-puffer-jacket-167571)
Marmot PreCip rain jacket ➜ (Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gqiBE3)
Merrell Moab Flight Trail Runners ➜ (Amazon https://amzn.to/3Raey1k)
▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 – Intro
00:11 – Mistake 1
02:36 – Mistake 2
04:19 – Mistake 3
06:44 – Mistake 4
07:38 – Mistake 5
10:14 – Outro
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▼ MUSIC ATTRIBUTION
Music: On Point by Steven OBrien
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11694-on-point
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Music: Horde Of Geese by Alexander Nakarada
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9835-horde-of-geese
Music: Lo Fi Hip Hop 06 by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8167-lo-fi-hip-hop-06
Music: Morning Stroll by Steven OBrien
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10523-morning-stroll
Music: Pizzicato Minuet by Steven OBrien
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10902-pizzicato-minuet
Music: Fromage by Steven OBrien
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10409-fromage
correct me if im wrong but putting a sleeping bag into another could compress the material and make in less warm?
All soap is soap, cut toothbrush down to a nub. 5m of parachord can be split into threads and used for so many things
Good Polarised sunglasses are a must, I once did the Nijmegen march and snow blindness dropped me to the floor in agony, middle of July with no snow around.
Also I take a tube of SiS Electrolyte tablets and put one in my water when I feel a headache coming on.
Water is a must but you must also replace your electrolytes.
I’m a boot wearing person… and I rock taller boots and love them tight…so i dont like your loose tieing thing but I do like saying find a shoe/boot you like. I have tryed so many different pairs on before finding one I like!!
When I switched to dual layer Wright Socks, blisters became a thing of the past.
Once I started wearing double socks, I never got blisters. I wore a cotton athletic sock under my heavier hiking sock. A thin nylon liner sock might be optimal. The inner liner sock acts as a second skin to insulate your foot from abrasion.
30 years building homes I’ve learned finally what the most comfortable shoes on earth for me are. Wide Keen composite toes. Shake your head all you want but you can lace them normal , they last forever , I haven’t had a single blister or sore spot in 7 years since I found these.
I break in my feet. I go on progressively longer hikes. This helps toughen up my feet which keeps blisters at bay. For one HAM (hike across Maryland) hike out of the 7 I’ve done I only prepped in a gym. When I did the hike I had plenty of strength but my feet fell apart (HAM – all 40 miles on AT across MD – Pa. to Harpers Ferry). Lesson learned.
Big heavy black combat boots all year, all weather. No fancy lacing needed, no ankle workout needed. Just blast through any terrain like a tank.
Espresso maker on a hike 😂😂😂… killed me
Water filter you say?! No hiker before thought of this genius move😂😂😂
Beginner mistake: bringing a cheap 5kg tent and suffer all the way due to a heavy pack
Instead of beer, I recommend taking marijuana because it is much lighter
I remember being in boarding school at 16 and we went on a 5 day backpacking trip as a school (yes, it was awesome). Hiking shoes was a requirement for students. I was shocked that 5 or 6 kids were literally wearing theirs for the first time ON the hike. Some had huge issues and a couple even had to cut the toes of their shoes open because they fit so poorly. For kids, this is definitely a parental issue imo but regardless, it was crazy! Don’t do that! Wear your gear, use your kit at home, sleep in the tent in the backyard BEFORE you go on a trip with it!
Rant aside, great video.
I learnt the hard way that taking shorcuts during the path is heavy mistake, you will lose a lot of energy and take the risk of getting injured. Always follow the establish curse, sometimes is a bit boring, but you will cover more km easily
I’m a hiker and these tips are solid! Appreciate you getting to the point. Great content
Concerning the “reflective” quality of an emergency sleeping bag… that’s not really how energy works or at least I should say not primarily. Reflection is trumped considerably by conduction. The most effective way is to have the foil layer(s) next to your body and the air layers next to the cold ground. So put the emergency blanket or bag on top of your mattress.
Ziplock bags are your best friends- dry storage for food, extra socks, mini med kits, lighters & fire starts, they can also be used to help keep your hands warm. So many uses for a very simple, very lightweight item.
I have a pair of Lowa combat boots for mountaineering, bought them 12 years ago online without trying them on. Haven’t had blisters in 12 years. Still going strong, best pair I ever owned.
Also just saying if you use a bin bag liner for a pack instead of a bergen cover, and it rains, it’s actually heavier because of all the soaked up water in the bergen you have to cover.
I don’t bring either, just a rain cloak that goes over me and my pack :]
It is good to remember that no matter how perfect your gear is, the person inside of it will sometimes be wet, cold, and tired. Stay positive! I think this is especially important starting out, because being negative about discomfort on the trail becomes a habit.
And to go further, hike longer not faster!
Love your videos!
My first backpacking experience was in the chilly windy upper Eastern Sierras. So my big mistake was assuming my regular candle lighters that worked at sea level would also work at that high altitude. 😞
I also grew up in New England so I’m at least experienced in camping in colder weather.
Size-up on hiking boots. It will save from alot of foot trauma.
The better hiking stores will let you have up to 2 weeks trialing new boots with indoor only wear in case of poor fit
I am not a violent man and I consider myself level headed even at the worst of times. But if you break out a blue tooth speaker while on a hike with me, that will change rapidly.
I wear synthetic socks for running/trail running and never get blisters
One addition to shoelacing at the end (which I recently learned from the children’s shoeshop owner): pull the lace at the end not through the first hole you come across, but the second, so that the lace is neat: both holes on one side and both lace ends on the other (instead of crossed like you have now: hole – lace end-hole- lace end). This prevents your laces untying by themselves.
on my first hiking holiday I wore second hand army boots. I had a lot of blisters, but still had a great time!
I have fallen in love with this pastime. My wife on the other hand has not.
Rub your feet with Vaseline the night before you set out and no blisters..
Start small! Overly ambitious hikes will turn into a bad experience for anyone. I like to make the first hike of the season not about a distant destination, but about playing with all the gear and taking some notes. A short hike means plenty of time at the camp site, to practice setting up the tent a few times, etc.
In my experidnce you cant trust temperature ratings at all, just gotta find out yourself what the comfort limit is
Unless you are just super average on height, weight, muscle mass, fat distributed etc etc
I’ve doublelaced and used double surgeons for years, they never come undone until you want them to.
For non-vegan hikers salami type sausage is good concentrated source of calories
thank´s for this. I like
The merino wool socks from Costco are pretty good for the price £18 ish for 4 pairs
My very first backcountry trip, my pack was over fifty pounds. That was such misery!! Now I rarely have more than about thirty. So easy to overdo it with food and fuel especially- my old Triangia stove needed a LOT of fuel. I never carry fresh food any more either. People worry about nutrition but five days without fresh produce will not kill you! I love using emergency blankets- so fun to show a newbie that trick and impress them, haha 😂
"overhand knot"
the pre-surgeon knot
Vaseline is my ultimate blister stop…vaseline up the toes…regular throughout my hike
My wife loves the Injinji toe socks…with individual toes…we both dont get blisters .
Given the high number of ankle sprains I’ve seen from my patients who saved money and not buying hiking boots, I highly advise to get a good pair of hiking boots. It’s a good investment. Especially in rocky areas. Nothing can replace good quality hiking boots. To save money I used them several years going everywhere in winter including work. High ankle boots fitting well are a good investment. If you’re concerned about the extra weight, you lose many kg while hiking due to metabolic enhancement.
9:20 why not an e-reader?
Their battery lasts for weeks. You can pretty much carry a whole library with no need for wifi. They are very light. Some have backlight so you can read in the night.
I’m using exactly the same shoes! Very happy with them, I have a 3rd pair now and I’m not going to change anything.
When you are in a desert area hide bottles of water along the trail to pick them up on your way back.
tip #11 if you wanna stay warm and not die: stay at home and wach netflix 🙂
Great video ! Great advice.
I consider myself an experienced hiker/backpacker, but I still watch videos like this one targeted at beginners. I always learn something new – for instance, the shoelace tying technique at minute 1:45. I actually paused the video and tried it out on a pair of my hiking shoes. 😁 Love it! I will be trying it on my next hike.
Another place to save weight – Ditch the cooking pot, stove, and fuel. You don’t really need it. the only thing I ever used it for was to rehydrate hiker-meals.
Some might say that you need it as a backup to sanitize water, but I disagree. I guess, perhaps, it is a necessity if you have to have a cup of coffee every day.
I bring breakfast bars, nuts/trail-mix, tuna, jerky, hard-cheese, hard salami, peanut butter etc.; typically dense items that have a long shelf life without refrigeration. I might take a package or two of Ramen and cold-soak them in a ziplock bag, placed in my expanding mesh pocket on the back of my pack, while I am hiking. Takes a couple hours, but it works. Instant rice works this way as well.
Anyway, I found that leaving the cook-set at home makes life on the trail easier and more enjoyable.
Regards,
BP
Thanks, really video, 🤘!
It is so clear that getting proteins on the trail is very difficult
Don’t set yourself goals, especially unachievable goals, life’s not a race, enjoy where you’re at.
This shoelace tying info is really weak. Instead use a square knot on second or third lace crossing, just above the ball or wide part. Should not be so tight as to compress the metatarsal area, or so loose as to allow the toes to jam forward. Then you can tie the final knot tight enough to prevent heel slip. If the shoe is properly sized this will eliminate 90% of foot problems.I haven’t had a blister in 30 years. You may need to fine tune the square not as shoe breaks in or you change inserts in any way. Tall boots might require 2 square knots.
What’s up with the blisters? Never had any from hiking and I walked long distances and high elevations over several days with even over 15 kg on my back. I just used some everyday socks but thick ones, or skiing socks so far, not merino ones. Maybe I’m just lucky or it’s because I don’t weigh very much.
Thank you