r/backpacking

Hello!

I am new to the idea of backpacking and I’m looking for book recommendations - anything related to backpacking, hiking, camping etc.

I have plenty of local guidebooks (ie: paddling Algonquin; Parks of Ontario etc) but hoping to find some real-life or fiction stories of though-hikers etc.

I’m currently reading Pack Light by Shilletha Curtis and it has been enjoyable. I’ve seen the movie “Wild” a couple times and don’t feel the need to read the book. Any other ideas you may have are welcome.

Thanks!

I have the Patagonia Capilene Daily Cool Hoody and the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody.

I tend to wear the Patagonia more often, as it feels cooler. The Mountain Hardwear one is nice/softer, but also feels warmer.

I'm ideally looking for one that is the coolest/lightest. What I don't like about the Patagonia is that it doesn't have thumb holes (but I did just cut some once while doing a JMT section). Also I had to do some emergency work under my van recently while on a trip and got motor oil all over the back of it while laying on the ground in a parking lot, so I'm in the market for a new one. I'm probably just going to get another Patagonia but I'm also curious of other options. I know they also have the Capilene Cool Sun Hoody (which is slightly different - has thumb holes and a button by the neck - but I haven't seen it in person so I'm not sure if it's the exact same material/weight).

Any other sun hoody you swear by for hiking/backpacking?

Only looking for sun hoody options, I've got hats/other stuff covered.

Hi, I need help deciding on a backpack that will hopefully be multipurpose. I’m looking for a backpack that works in place of a carry on suitcase that can be used when traveling to places like Europe from hostel to hostel. I’m also hoping this backpack can be used for daylong hiking trips and for work.

I’m traveling soon for my first ecology/wildlife research job in a remote part of western Texas. I won’t have my own car so I must pack with that in mind that getting more clothing or gear is not really a convenient option. Once I unpack all my stuff after the plane in the provided housing, I’ll use this backpack for my job where I’ll be outside 6-8hrs per day and won’t have a ton of access to getting more supplies like food or water throughout these hours either.

I was originally deciding between the Cotopaxi Allpa 42L and the Osprey Daylite 45L because I really like the clamshell opening feature with laptop sleeve (I have a 15” Macbook Air I will be bringing). I feel that these backpacks are the best replacement for a typical roller carry on. But then I realized, maybe I can find a backpack that can be used for hiking as well? I only have my Eddie Bauer Stowaway 20L but it hurts my shoulders with no hip belt if the hike is long and I don’t think it’s large enough for what I need during this job. I’m also a very good packer/organizer and I don’t necessarily need the convenience of a clamshell opening or specific compartments. I’m a very light/minimalist traveler so maybe 42L+ is unnecessary too and I could manage with 35-40L.

To Texas, I’d be taking this backpack as my carry on, along with my Eddie Bauer Stowaway 20L as my under the seat personal.

With that, does anyone know of a backpack that fits this criteria:

1. Can be used as my travel backpack for both outdoorsy and city type vacations (1-3wks long ideally)

2. Can be used for my ecology work where I’ll be hiking for prolonged hours (has a hip belt or comfortable straps)

3. Is 35-40L

4. is under $230 (but ideally $120-170)

*and (but is not entirely necessary)*

5. Is available in nice colors such as purple, pink, green, or blue (I love Cotopaxi vibrant colors such as their pink “Fig” color and “Blue Spruce/Abyss” colors)

6. Has a good warranty (I love Osprey’s lifetime warranty)

Thank you in advanced, I appreciate any response! This is also my first post, so apologies if I didn’t follow certain Reddit etiquette.

My bf and I wanna do something this summer for vacation. However our budget is quite tight. We live in Germany and I was wondering if you and any good advice on what could be our cheapest holiday. We were thinking that European countries where it is legal to wild camp would be best. And then maybe travel via interrail? since gas prices are high and plane tickets generally expensive

idk just looking for general advice and inspiration

I have limited backpacking experience and training currently for a 3 day backpacking trip in September that will cover about 40 miles. Problem is that it will be a dry hike, there is no water source anywhere on this trail.

How hard will this be and how do i prepare for it? How much water should I bring?

I (22m) am going on my second backpacking overnight trip ever. I’ve gone with Eagle Scouts and am going with another Eagle Scout friend. Spending about a week in the Ozark highlands trail and am wanting to know if this list is good. (Going in late May)

Durston X mid 1 $269

Altra lobe peak 8 SIZE 10.5 $80

Sawyer squeeze $46

Soto Amicus with igniter $50

Durstan kakwa 55 $279

Kelty Cosmic down 20 $190

Petzl tikkina headlamp $10

TOAKS pot $26

Tito Long handle spork $9

Cascade mountain trekking poles $30

Braid $5

Trekology Inflatable Pillow $20

Coglans outdoor compass $9

Cnoc Outdoors 2L bag $30

Nalgene $13

Total $910~

Hello, is anyone interested in splitting a private boat to Rinca Island for a one-day trip?

We are a couple very interested in Komodo Dragons, and Rinca seems to be the best place to see them. We're mainly interested in going to Rinca (which will take 1.5hr-2hr), and happy to discuss any other activities to do on the day.

We're planning to do the trip on the 18th of May. (Depart early morning, return to Labuan Bajo by 5pm)

The cost of a private boat tour for the day is 6,000,000 idr total which is a bit expensive for us alone 😅

Let me know if you're interested!

Heyy. I will visit to Prague for 2 days. And I'm looking for a travel partner for exploring city together

About me:I am 20 yo med student and this is my first trip abroad

Hey everyone, I’m planning my next solo trip after returning from a journey in March, and I’m torn between two amazing destinations: Vietnam or the Philippines.

A bit about me: I’m a solo traveler who’s super into beaches, water activities, and adventure sports. I also love trying new things and being social—even going to parties while traveling! So, I’m looking for a place that gives me a mix: beautiful beaches, exciting adventure options, and a social vibe to meet other travelers.

Also would it be good idea to do both together, one after other if my the budget allows…. I’m really drawn to the idea of doing the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam—so, if anyone’s done that, I’d love to hear your experience!

Hi everyone! I’m from Ethiopia and I’ve noticed more people are becoming interested in visiting. If anyone is planning a trip, I’d be happy to share local tips, help you plan your itinerary, or even guide you to some amazing places you might not find online. See ya there 😊🙌🏽

Yooo everyone, I’m 19 and i’ve basically spent the last year working my soul away at a local warehouse in Chicago just to make this trip happen. I was doing those brutal 5 AM shifts, moving boxes and stacking pallets, but seeing my bank account finally hit my goal was such a massive win. I’m officially flying out to spend two months with my cousin in Brisbane later this year! I haven't seen him in ages, and he’s been hyping up the beaches and the local scene so much that i'm actually starting to get hyped.

Since i’m going to be there for a solid 8 weeks, i really need to figure out my phone situation. I’m definitely going to be posting a ton of photos, doing FaceTime with my parents so they know i haven't been eaten by a spider, and obviously using maps because my sense of direction is non-existent. My cousin is currently with Telstra, but he told me they just jacked up their prices again and he’s actually looking to switch providers. We were talking about finding something better so we can both just sign up together when i land.

He said something about getting some solid prepaid mobile plans on a monthly basis instead of being locked into anything long-term. It just seems way more chill for a two-month stay since i don't want to deal with contracts or hidden fees while i’m supposed to be on vacation.

If any of you guys live in Oz or have traveled there recently, what are the best options that actually have decent data and don't cost a fortune? I’m looking for something that uses a good network but is easier on the wallet than the big main companies.

Hello, I've booked a flight to Guatemala at the end of May and a flight from Peru to home (London) 7 weeks later. Aside from these two countries, I haven't planned to visit anywhere else but am realising that 7 weeks is long enough to see at least one more country in the region.

Therefore, does anyone have any recs on another country to visit? I would have loved to check out Colombia or Brazil but have ruled them out as I am a 21 female solo traveller and don't want to take the safety risk.

What I'm looking for in a 3rd country: culturally rich, not too expensive, not especially dangerous. Also, I'm much more interested in seeing locals living their daily life or exotic animals in the wild compared to looking at waterfalls or lying around on a beach.

I was thinking about Mexico especially as it's close to Guatemala, but am worried about safety.

A bit about me for context: I've done lots of solo travelling around Europe and speak intermediate level Spanish. As stated earlier, I'm a 21 year old woman and will be going to Latin America for 7 weeks on my own, hence why I'm being overly cautious!

Hello people of r/backpacking

Hopefully I have put this in the right place

I am seeking advice on how to properly apply nikwax waterproof coating to my jackets, to preface I have used tech wash only so far on all of my jackets

Patagonia powder bowl gore Tex insulated shell

Pants and ski shell- washed with tech wash and I bought tx direct but am on the fence about using it because I don’t want to waterproof the inside wicking lining. Is drying on low and SPRAY on tx direct the next step?

LL bean insulated jacket- sorry if I have linked this incorrectly, I am not sure which spray on is better for this nylon shell fabric, fall under soft shell or hard shell coating? Wet or dry?

Free country softshell jacket- obv softshell spray on but apply wet or dry?

Thank you for your time

Hi everyone,

I’m Vince, 23, from Hungary. I’m finishing my bachelor’s degree around mid/end of May and (hopefully) starting a job in corporate banking, latest in September.

Because of that, I’m thinking of using this summer as potentially my last chance for a longer trip with full freedom (for a while at least).

Idea:

I’d like to travel (probably solo) for 1–3 months somewhere outside Europe to collect heaps of memories and experiences that I can treasure for a lifetime.

Right now I’m considering:

• Overlanding-style trip in Latin America
• Or Asia (Central / East / Southeast Asia)
• Or maybe a round-the-world (RTW) type trip

I believe N. America would be too expensive for a longer trip like this (Though I have friends in various states).

I’m open to trains, buses, etc. I don’t mind slower travel if it makes sense. I’m not planning Europe, since I can do that later more easily.

Constraints/considerations:

• Budget: ~5k–10k EUR (absolute max max max ~15k if really worth it)
• Time: 1–3 months (flexible)
• Season/weather matters as I don’t want extreme rain/heat/cold making it unenjoyable or dangerous
• Flight prices also play a role (now, due to the conflict in the Middle East, the price hikes could strongly influence my trip)
• Can depart from Budapest or Vienna

About me (travel style)

• Active traveler (walking a lot, exploring, not just chilling)
• Keen for adventure, but still like to have my comfort levels, though I am open to getting out of my comfort zone depending on the situation
• I fell in love with hiking in New Zealand (did several 7–9h day hikes, no multi-day yet)
• Not really into partying and not drinking at all
• My mindset about travel expenses is: in general, I am mindful of my spending; however, if I want to enjoy something or a great opportunity/experience comes up, I am not afraid to spend when needed. I am all about experiencing as much as possible, especially if I travel so far away.
• I consider myself a very social and friendly person who enjoys meeting people + good food
• I’d prefer a mix of exploring/sightseeing, nature/hiking and some cultural activities to not fully exhaust myself every single day
• Not the type to sit on a beach all day
• I am fine with hostels (the better quality ones if available), but some occasional “luxury” cannot hurt :)))
• OK with both fast and slow travel, depending on which one makes more sense

Travel experience (outside Europe)

• USA West Coast + Hawaii (Oahu)
• Mexico (Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Chichén Itzá, etc…)
• Thailand (2x Phuket + a bit of surroundings)
• Travels in 2025 (7 months total):
  • Singapore (6d)
  • New Zealand (5 months exchange, lived in Dunedin on the South Island – easily the best time of my life)
  • Fiji (10d)
  • Australia East Coast road trip: Sydney to Cairns (4w)
  • Bali (2w)
  • Qatar (short stop)

Honestly, last year’s 7 months of travelling is what made me fall in love even more with travelling, and hence I have this urge to go far again.

Gear/backpack question

• Since last year, due to my exchange semester, I had to travel around with a huge, heavy luggage, I started thinking about the ideal way to travel. After seeing countless other young people travelling last year, I thought of buying one of those bigger hiking/trekking backpacks (55-65L) and having that as my check-in luggage, and then bringing a backpack as a carry-on. I’d be carrying these around everywhere I go**,** I guess. I looked at the Osprey Atmos AG LT 65 as a first look. Open to other suggestions
• But I also see many people recommending carry-on only to save costs and to be more mobile; however, I am not confident how it would work, considering that more and more airlines only allow 7-8kg carry-ons (sometimes both pieces combined), and my Airback backpack is already quite heavy even when empty. I guess if I am travelling somewhere where I will face colder climates too, then this option is surely out due to the extra things I’d need to bring.

Travel/hiking backpacks I already have:

• Airback (built-in compression) backpack - the original size (22-48L based on their website).
  • I am still trying to decide whether it was a good decision to buy this (lol), as the empty bag is quite heavy already. Overall, cool backpack though.
• Mountain Warehouse Pace 20L - Small (20L) hiking backpack
• + other regular backpacks

My main questions

1. Based on my profile, which region would you recommend most and why?
2. Does Latin America vs Asia vs RTW make sense with my budget, time and current season?
3. Any routes/regions you’d strongly recommend or avoid?
4. What would you do differently if you were in my position? Any suggestions?
5. Trekking Backpack vs carry-on only? What’s realistic for this type of trip?
6. Maybe some good-to-know precautions about regions/countries (dangers, vaccination, etc.)

I would appreciate your kind advice regarding my potential trip; every input is highly appreciated!

Best, Vince