Instead, you will get up superearly to catch a sunrise, take advantage of the free hostel breakfast, steal bread for lunch, and head out to go exploring. Around midday, you will start to get a little tired, so you will find somewhere to chill, play cards, and perhaps have a beer or two. You’ll bump into someone you vaguely recognize, or meet someone new entirely, and, seven beers later, you’ll be out on the town.

If you’re heading somewhere relatively clean, you might get just a bit of an upset stomach. If you’re going somewhere a bit dirtier? Brace yourself. I’ve seen a friend fall into a long-drop toilet, which is one of those toilets that’s underground and there’s a place for you to sit on top.

it makes sense to go for dark colors. Having said that, despite the fact that everybody is wearing sweaty, dirty clothes, backpackers still all somehow tend to look amazing

Team up with an experienced friend. Knowledgeable company is good for peace of mind, and a shared backpacking experience is usually more fun than going solo

You’ll want to consider such factors as your trip’s length and difficulty, as well as any special considerations (hiking with dogs or kids) or interests (wildflowers, waterfalls, history, etc.).

A one-night trip makes sense for beginners. Keep the round-trip distance to 10 miles or less. It is reassuring to know that civilization is not too far out of reach

It’s a time-tested assortment of wilderness travel gear that ensures you have the basics for safety and comfort and equips you to handle emergencies. You may never refer to your compass or use firestarter—two of the Essentials—but it’s good to carry them, just in case.

REI’s Backpacking Checklist includes more items than you’ll ever carry on a single trip, but we made it that way so you don't forget anything important.