Beginner Backpacking – How to get Started
Beginner Backpacking – How to get Started
How do you get started backpacking. Well I will tell you it’s not at an outdoor store. Don’t buy your gear just yet. Do these things first!
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Great idea sir! Hope you keep up with this and make more. Rapid fire info like this is great. Hike on!
Perfect timing Frozen! Just started planning our first thru hike on the Oregon Coast Trail for Aug 2023.
Started planning my Triple Crown after watching your AT Thru Hike. Been to other hiker’s channels but I respect your advice too much to miss any more of your videos, so I’m going through your catalog bud and can’t wait to learn!
Looks like this will be a great series, looking forward.
Hike with a friend. Borrow their gear to see what you like or dislike. This will help you get your foot in the door without needing to buy a bunch of stuff right away. It will also help you refine your taste of gear for when you eventually buy your own.
great video really enjoyed it ❤️ from your friends in Ireland 🇮🇪
Loved your other beginner series. Hope to find tips on this one too. I’m more of a day hiker but would love to try to venture onto a few overnights at some point.
In regards to backpacks, make sure you can reach your water bottle WITHOUT having to take your pack off or need a hiking partner to grab your bottle for you. My current backpack does not allow me to reach my water bottles when I need a drink so I have to stop, take off my pack get my water bottle, drink, replace water bottle, put on the pack…. you get my point it’s a pain in the ass when hiking alone.
My advice is always really think about the weight of the backpack itself. And not to buy a backpack that weighs over 4 lb. Me and my husband have been working on lightning or load for the last 2 years now. And a lot of the advice from you has been helpful. I’m loving my new dynema tarp with doors. So much lighter than my old tarp. This year I am slowly replacing my sleeping bags with quilts.
Listen to this guy because he can save you a ton of money and time. I am so stoked that you are doing this series! I have learned so much from you over the years which gave me the confidence to start back packing and hammock camping. His beginner series on Hammock camping is very detailed so you must check that out too. I set up my tarps the way he does which was a game changer for me. Thanks Frozen!
I’ve been there when it came to buying gear.
Good video, but the porno jam music was a bit ott. Maybe turn it down in the mix
I absolutely can confirm everything he says, I’m just starting out and ended up spending over 2k only to return most of it as I figured out what I need.
Wow Frozen! Great video! You definitely have more miles under your soles than us. I’m going to drop some shameless self sponsorship. 😉 TrailLark is a small company that has a whopping amount of 2 employees…Myself and my brother. We are trying to make ourselves known for having the best price to weight ratio on Amazon for a free standing tent. Our 1-p tent weighs just 2.63 lbs and costs just $99 on Amazon. We think its the perfect beginner’s/intermediate tent because its super light yet affordable. We all have been there…lugging around a massive overweight tent miles upon miles in the wilderness….We hope that no one has to endure that ever again! See you on the trails! -TrailLark
Good to see some vids Frozen. I started backpacking not too long before i started watching your channel and I too had a very large pack Osprey Aether 70L. Watched you all along. A lot of help from you and others I’m around a 12lb base weight for three season 10lb mid summer. With a chair! I need it so don’t give me crap! lol Thanks for all these years and I’ll be watching.
What do you do about cameras and batteries?
I’m here two years after the making of this video. About to watch the next & final one you have. Make more beginner content pretty please! 😃
Interesting Frozen. Its cool that your redoing a series you did many years ago. But your much more advanced now. It’ll be a cool comparison series for yourself as well.
Sounds like a great series. Lately, I’ve been concentrating on upgrading to stuff that packs smaller. Would be really nice if it’s smaller and lighter. (within a reasonable budget)
Do you have a list of PA backpacking trails you could share? I’m a newbie (and fellow Pittsburgher!) and while watching your videos I’m finding new places to explore. I’d like to start my own bucket list, but I don’t know what all is out there.
Just started out. hiking and i love it. I’m looking forward to your series. I’ve done the table rock national forest trail. Nothing crazy just some overnighters. I’m hoping your going to touch on how much food to bring for a 5 day hike and what kind of food.
Great video for beginners! You said all the important and no BS. Great job Jason! Looking forward to more content!
Hi frozen, I am very excited about your new series I watch your channel more than five years and I’m into UL 🤙since three years. Best wishes from the Black Forest Germany ! Rocky greetings and I hope for lot of tips, tricks and no ticks 😉 Peter
So this is why I’m watching this video. I’m 25 years old, underweight (7 stone) and I decided to pack an 80L heavy pack with 3.5 stone worth of gear and food and head off on a hike, turns out Hiking with half your body weight when you’re already skinny and light causes some of the worst pain going. Cuts on the lower back from the pack, back feels like I’m 90 years old, tension headaches from back and neck muscles. You don’t even want to know how much I fit into this pack and how much unnecessary crap I took, big mistake. So my plan is to find the cheapest lightest stuff, only take what i need and plan a trip where I can easily purchase things I need along the way like food, water, batteries etc.
So sad you haven’t kept this series going!!!
This guy has good advice. I also buy most of my stuff from REI, however having said that I bought an ultralight backpack, ultralight tent and ultralight sleeping bag from companies like Z-Pack and 6-Moons. REI doesn’t cater to those items as ultralight. Also start off on an overnight trip first before jumping into multi day trips. Go for used items such as tents, stoves, packs. I have been backpacking for 50 years and 42 years in a row (missed this year). Good luck, and have fun. I have never met mean people backpacking, everybody seems to be friendly and helpful Ask questions on their gear and food.
I’ve followed this channel practically since it’s inception. I’ve seen how your gear has morphed from that Osprey pack and that Eno hammock. If theres one thing I’ve taken away from these videos it’s to really research a product before you buy. YouTube is a great resource for that. But don’t take one person’s word as law. There are plenty of YTers out there making instructional videos who are completely clueless. I can say with confidence after several years of following Outdoor Adventures that Jason’s advice and recommendations are sound. Heck, the guy even convinced me to try trail runners and I haven’t looked back. My Oboz boots are work shoes now. I can’t wait to see where this series takes us.
Generally great advice about how to start out. I would just add one thing: Watch as many Frozen videos as you can!! (That’s what I did.)
I love incorporating bushcrafting and hiking together. Of course, that requires a little more heavy duty pack … or so I thought. I picked the best 35L Maxpedition Falcon 3 tactical pack and loaded everything up into side Mille pouches with no food or water plans. I tested it out at a state park. I’m in decent shape but that pack had no frame and it was after just 1000’ or so on the trail and my shoulders were already killing me. You HAVE to use the stuff you purchase. I’ve realized that fire starting, water purification and knot tying are the most important immediate things to practice. First aid, navigation and gear repair are a close second.
Haven’t hiked in years. My goal is to do the lake to ocean trail soon. I’m going to start w shorter day hikes to see how I do.
Bro, when the background music interferes with my taking on board what you’re trying to convey, the music is too loud.
You don’t need any music, Jason, just you.
Stop trying to be edgy. Your content speaks for itself.
I’m by no means a beginner, but I’ve been following your channel since before you started the AT and I wanted to see how it’s grown. The production of the video is so much better than your beginner hammock videos (which was still good, and informative).
I agree with you about REI as an information source, and I’d like to add, if they don’t have it, they’ll tell you where to find it. I would say most of the employee are also active individuals and have their own great experience base. Plus who doesn’t like free money for next year, yes get the membership!
A suggestion to add, research multiple sources. Many backpacker on youTube have their version of discounted equipment to find, and various other great ideas (or hacks) to get you by with out paying a fortune!
Awesome video, a lot of great tips! I’m brand new to backpacking and am piecing together my kit now, of course I bought a 65L pack first lol. I’m still working up to going on a multiday trip and have only knocked out a couple solo overnighters so far, but I’m excited for the rest of the series. Thank you!
LOL at “click that dislike button twice”
It cancels the dislike.
*taps temple*
I see what you did there.
Hi Jason I started out in the 70’s so the bulky frame packs were easy to over pack but learned quick to tone it down.
HI Jason, I enjoyed watching your thru hike of the AT. I have hiked a lot in NH & ME for the past 69 years, and always looking to learn something new and try new gear. Thanks, Rick
Start SLOW! Don’t try to hike 20 miles on your first day. Your body will need to build up to the weight and the distance.
I’ll be watching even though I’ve watched ALL your past videos and continue to learn from your presentations. I believe one thing that can help newbies is finding a group events to visit before they purchase any equipment. You’ll see at these events all sorts of equipment and get many opinions as to what you may need or not need. This could help you save money right from the start. In my opinion, solo hiking/camping is a very hard way to get into this hobby, just my opinion!
I discovered your channel and I find it awesome. I subscribe from Vizcaya (northern Spain).
Great video series. I can’t wait to watch all of it! 😁
I have been section hiking for over 5 years now and still need around 50L pack for a 2-3 day trip,
60L if for 6 or more days w/out resupplying. I don’t feel that I have too much stuff.
I like most of it to fit inside the pack w/ nothing dangling on the back.
Yes I’m gonna love this series! BTW being a dad looks good on you!
When going to REI and talking to associates, are they *actually* helpful, or are they going to suggest you buy the most expensive stuff in the rack. I’ve considered going and asking someone, but that’s a concern.
I love your style Frozen, and I’m looking forward to watching this series. I’ve only been at it for a few years but one thing that’s really upped my love for backpacking is that there are so many ways to do it and it all really depends on what you want in a trip.
"Click the dislike button twice" LMAO. I see what you did there, good one.
Thank you for all the great videos Frozen.
If I can give any advice to a new hikers it would be to buy a good pair of hiking shoes and socks first. Blisters and hurting feet will very quickly turn people off to hiking. I returned to backpacking after many years absent. Getting back into backpacking was almost like starting over for me. The first thing I bought was a pair of Altra Lone Peak 5’s and a pair of Darn Tough sock’s. That was the best money I could have spent. Having the right foot ware was a game changer for me.
You look great and reenergized. Fatherhood looks good on you. Happy trails.
I always enjoy your videos Jason. I especially like the clarity of your presentation. Yup my first hike was a solo SOBO from Delaware Water Gap. 45# + pack not in good shape and set my goal entirely too high. I have come a long way in 8 years.
Thanks looking forward to the ins outs tips and tricks!
Looking forward to the series. I hunt in Colorado and spend hours per day walking in the back country with a pack and heavy hunting gear, but I’m looking to start backpacking and camping for several days at a time. Much different set up.
Yes I’m gonna love this series! BTW being a dad looks good on you! ✌🏻