How To Get Better At Backpacking

Want to know the secret to being great at backpacking?

Efficiency.

From the time I started tossing a pack on my back and walking up or down a trail, I’ve found that when it comes to being good at backpacking, the number one thing is to be good at being efficient in nearly all aspects of it from beginning to end. From the clothes you wear, how you walk, how you pack, and what you pack, the name of the game is efficiency.

We could talk until we’re blue in the face about what gear to take and when, but it won’t do us any good if we fail to make efficiency our number one focus and priority when planning and executing a backpacking trip. Let’s break this down into three parts and see how it looks.

Image courtesy of Tim Foster @timberfoster

Contents of this Article

• Efficiency with Gear

• Efficiency with Your Body

• Efficiency with Clothing

• Parting Thoughts

Efficiency with Gear

What happens when you’re inefficient with your gear?

For starters, you’ll have a much heavier pack than needed. Next, every time you sit down to grab something out of your pack, you’ll look like you’re setting up a yard sale because you either brought too much gear or you failed to organize it the right way.

Blaming it on a lack of organization is the common excuse, but if you didn’t have all that extra stuff in the first place then organizing it isn’t a problem. So really, it starts with what you put in your pack rather than how you pack.

The less you bring, the less you need to organize.

Efficiency with Your Body

I used to start my hikes out like a bat out of hell. It felt good at first, then at some point, I’d be smoked and wishing I would have slowed my roll a little. On hikes where I had a lot of miles to do ahead of me, it ruined my day. I burned all my energy up in the first few miles, pounded my joints too hard, and wasn’t smart about it.

Fast forward to today, I go slow at first and take lots of breaks. I’ve learned that I can go much further in a single day if I'm efficient with my body. This allows me to cover more ground and gives me the chance to accomplish bigger hikes in less time.

If you want to see more country and do more hikes, be smarter and more efficient with your body during every phase of the hike. If you burn yourself out in the first few miles, you’ll be catching up the rest of the trip, and no one likes to feel like trash.

Efficiency with Clothing

Image courtesy of lucas Favre @we_are_rising

It sounds strange, but if you’re constantly putting on and taking off layers, then you’re not being efficient while on the trail.

I once backpacked with a guy that was having to take his pack off every 15 to 20 minutes because he wore the wrong layering system. He’d heat up fast, start sweating, take his fleece off, then freeze when his sweaty cotton shirt clung to his body whilst sucking the warmth right out of him. Eventually, he’d get cold and have to toss the fleece back on. This happened for two days straight and was a struggle to watch.

Depending on the trip you're on, think about what you’ll need with you and choose your layering system accordingly. If you’re going to be moving all day long, then you don’t need to bundle up. On the other hand, if you’re not covering much ground and expect it to be cold out, toss in another layer.

You want to keep your clothing system limited and efficient. You don’t need a change of underwear for every day on the trail. Backpacking is a dirty sport so get dirty. Wear materials that are anti-fungal like merino wool or high-end synthetics.

A simple layering system includes a short sleeve, long sleeve, warm jacket, and a rain shell. Bring something for your legs, like pants, shorts, or leggings, and you’ll be just fine. Two pairs of socks to swap when one is wet or sweaty and a hat with fingerless wool gloves can round out the system.

Don’t overcomplicate the clothing part. Be efficient, and your body will thank you.

Parting Thoughts

It may sound easy, but trust me when I say it’s not. Being efficient takes time, but if you start by keeping it at the forefront of your mind, you’ll naturally avoid bringing non-essential or extra gear, increasing your overall efficiency in the field. From there, it’s only a matter of continual refinements.

Backpacking becomes even more fun when you no longer have to think about it.

As always, if you have any questions at all, please reach out and connect with me. I’d love to help you reach your backpacking goals!

Emory, By Land

Hello! My name is Emory and I’m here to help you get better at backpacking and other outdoor adventures. Thanks for checking out this article and hanging around the site!

If you have any questions, comments, or just want to connect, shoot me a note at emory@byland.co. I’m always happy to help however I can.

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