Is Backpacking a Skill?

By Anna Duncan

Backpacking is often seen as a skill, but it is more than just having the right gear or knowing the right trails. It’s a way of life and an attitude towards life and nature that often goes beyond the physical.

Backpackers need to be able to assess their environment, plan for their needs, and make decisions on the fly. They need to understand their own capabilities and limitations, as well as those of their equipment. This makes backpacking more than just a skill – it’s also an art form.

The first step in backpacking is choosing the right gear for your needs. There are so many different types of backpacks available that it can be overwhelming. But by taking into account your size, weight capacity, intended use, and length of trip, you can narrow down your options and find the perfect pack for your journey.

Once you have chosen your gear, you need to be able to properly use it. This includes setting up camp, packing and unpacking efficiently, putting together a meal plan that can sustain you throughout your trip, navigating with a map or GPS device (if applicable), understanding how to stay safe in the wilderness, etc.

In addition to being able to use the right equipment for backpacking trips, backpackers also need to know how to read terrain. Knowing which type of terrain will be most comfortable for camping (flat vs hilly) or which type of footing will be easiest for walking (dirt vs rock) will help ensure a successful trip.

Conclusion

Backpacking is much more than just having the right gear or knowing the trails – it’s an art form that requires knowledge of the environment around you as well as an understanding of yourself and what you’re capable of doing in order to stay safe and enjoy your experience. Is backpacking a skill? Absolutely!