DUMBEST beginner mistakes - HIKING & Backpacking (don't make these!) 

My man sounds like a youth pastor.

I think overpacking is fine. Particularly for beginners. Infact I'd encourage a beginner to overpack, as it takes time to learn what you do and don't need. The other thing with overpacking, is that you don't know that you've overpacked until you get home. If the weather turned bad, or something breaks and you have the gear on you to deal with it, then it turns out you packed appropriately. If the weather stays good, you will always feel like you overpacked. But the consequences of overpacking are much less than underpacking.

On point #5, my summarization has been: You can either be comfortable during the day (light load) or comfortable at night (plenty of toys to cook with/sit on/entertain yourself with). Not both.

I still make dumb mistakes. On a recent AT hike it was 50 and raining hard and I got soaked all day. I was so exhausted when I camped that I didn't bother to eat anything and went straight to bed. My body couldn't generate enough heat and even though it was only 50 my 15 degree bag couldn't keep me warm.

"buy once, cry once" 🤣 such a great point! I'm all about budget gear, too, but you're absolutely right that sometimes I go through so many budget versions I would have been better off spending more initially. Love these tips! Thanks for sharing!

For creek crossings over your mid-calf it’s a good idea to face upstream and sidestep. It prevents your trailing leg from being swept behind your weighted leg as you are taking a step. I have crossed creeks up to mid-thigh while fishing. Also, make sure you undo both belt and sternum strap in case you do get dumped you can take the pack off to stand back up.

I went through the progression of robust camping, take everything you might need ever, to "boy scout" camping of "be prepared" and take quality stuff you can make do with in all situations, to "ultra-light" of take the lightest possible only necessary stuff. . . and now have settled on a happy medium between "Boy Scout" "ultra-light" and comfort. Which is basically a "Goldi-locks" middle-light setup that keeps me prepared enough to get by and get out, comfortable enough to enjoy my time, and light enough to make carrying it pretty easy without risk for injury and allow me to do longer miles. I like my current setup at about 12-13 lbs and it makes me want to hike more and go out on longer trips. Find your "Goldi-locks" set up, and you can adapt it for things like trip distance, weather, location, etc to dial it in.

"Buy Once, Cry Once" 100 percent agree!! Worth saving up for a one time purchase, for instance a puffy, then cheaping out and having to buy twice.

It has been over 20 years since backpacking in New England. As far as extra gear and food, I always carried an extra two days of food and fuel, extra two days of wool socks, and wool sweater/ long underwear for 25 degrees colder than expected, three different ways to light a fire, a backup knife, 50 yards of cord and a piece of inner tube to throw on the fire in case I needed a signal. Now 80% of the time I was backpacking solo on sometimes little used trails, so I was a bit overly self reliant. I've woken up with fresh snow on the tent and even heard tree branches burst due to sap freezing. But always was warm. I was filtering water before giardia was a widely published thing. There was the Columbus day weekend that the bear pulled 3 days of food for the two of us down from the tree branch, and even then we made it back to civilization.

"buy once cry once"... some friends laugh at me because i try to do thing cheap as possible then step up to mids then finally good tier... maybe i should re think things, lol i love it

For tip #6 you could also throw any silica packets you may have in your storage container to absorb any moisture out of the air in the container.

I was just having buying remorse for splurging on a high quality puffer for my upcoming backpacking trip. Your buy once cry once motto is perfect. Thanks for making me feel better!

As a relatively new hiker I found this video VERY helpful. I still can't get over the guy who did NOT filter his water. When I first saw it I thought it was some kind of soup .... exactly, who would put soup in a bladder! That looked nasty and the health issues aren't worth the risks. Keep these coming a I plan to do a LOT more hiking in the years ahead and during retirement.

I got giardiasis from drinking creek water. It’s no joke. ☠️

A trick my grandma taught was this, if you store your camping gear , store it with a cotton cloth bag of dried beans or rice and it will help draw any moisture out.

4:15 Just some extra advice when it comes to crossing running water: always unbuckle your pack from your body so if you do get swept into the water, you can easily dump your pack and not get dragged down by your pack.

About storing gear and fear of left over water: you know those little packets that come in your shoes that say "do not swallow" those are specially designed to keep moisture out during transport and storage. So I keep a few, when I get a new package, to store various things!

One trick I use when storing my gear is to use silica gel packets. A pack of 50 costs around 10 bucks. For example, after letting my sleeping bag air out after a trip, I'll put a packet in the sleeping bag before I put it in a mesh bag for storage. Maybe I'm overdoing it but I like to play it safe when protecting my gear.

Define overpack, it's really up to your own values. I might 'overpack' on water, food and socks myself. But then again i like something to munch on food and have a fresh pair on daily. On the other side i am not easily cold so i don't pack alot of warm/comfy clothes.. I think it all depends on your own mentality and need of comfort of it all.

When I store my gear, I put dessican packs (saved from electronics) or unscented crystal kitty litter in a tea filter to remove any residual moisture.

In the past I always have defaulted to the budget option, regretted it, and ended up buying the quality( read: durably, light, and yes pricy) option. Now I’m pushing 60, I just save up and get the quality right off the bat. Peace of mind is part of the equation also. Great video Jeremiah! As usual.

with packing too much. i'm a big believer in the ... whatever clothes you think you'll need. cut it in half. extra socks being the only real exception. With food. I've found, actually taking a bit of time (i love wasting time at work, doing nerd research on hikes/trips i want to take. i devote some of that time to this) account for your actual calorie needs. consider the caloric density of foods. ... like oil. olive/coconut oil. can pack a lot of calories in small weights. things like nuts, vs meat snacks like jerky. or dried fruit... consider what the caloric amts for the weight are. chocolate is actually pretty calorically dense, but also maybe... try not to just bring tons of junk food

You've made some really good points. I don't hear too much about storing gear. And I definitely recommend spending a bit more for essential kit, especially shoes!

This is the first video on RU-vid that makes sense about weight. I have stress in my life and I hike to release it. My hike needs to be far enough to be an adventure and an achievement (25-35 km). I don’t go looking for an extra challenge - personal fastest time, personal most distance in a day etc. I have enough of that Monday to Friday. My leisure time is to give me a mini adventure and a stress release. I’d rather walk a bit less distance, a bit slower, but have so much more fun- hot meals, not hungry, not cold or wet, maybe a bottle of wine. If I was walking a wilderness trail for 4 weeks it would be different, but I don’t have other commitments to family etc and wouldn’t want to do this. Maybe if I was young and single it would PME different.

I almost died wearing frog toggs cause I got soaked to the bone on a cold rainy day when I was running a chainsaw on a trail crew. I was all about budget up until that point, but after that day I immediately went and bought some heavy rubber commercial fishing rain gear and it’s the best purchase I think I’ve ever made.

The list is always a good idea. I do this every time. Out backpacking and camping I make list of things I could use the next time. Something always gets crossed off, but the items become more and more efficient for what you actually need. Also for dampness I utilize those dehumidifier tablets that come with medicines or electronics.

Thanks for the info! My only advice, If you’re using abbreviations or acronyms it’s a good rule of thumb to spell it out on first reference for newbies. For example: Fastest Known Time (FKT)

Those teeth are noticeably awesome, you've earned my like and comment

I'm a serial over snack packer! I love yours and @johnkelly's enthusiasm in your videos! You guys seem more excited and genuinely happy in your videos than most of the RU-vidrs out there. Thanks for the great info and positive vibes! 💗💖

I have a two page camping checklist that I use for backpacking as well as car camping. Every piece that I may take packing I have weighed and noted that on the list. Makes it easier to justify taking or not on each particular trip. Happy trails!

I die without water when hiking or running. Lol I get thirsty so fast. But give me water and I’m like Captain America, I can do this all day.

I don't recommend spending a lot of money on expensive gear until you know that you like hiking enough to justify the expense. It's a double-edged sword because you may like hiking a lot more if you have expensive gear.

That was one of the most enjoyable beginner backpacking videos to watch. I'm not sure if it was just how relaxed and friendly you were or how you acknowledged that we all have to start somewhere with our gear! Thank you Jeremiah Stringer Hikes!

I took a week vacation from both of my jobs. I will be doing my first thru-hike on the knobstone trail this coming September. I love camping and I’ve always loved hiking but have never been able to take off of work to do something serious. Im doing research on the type of gear I should be bringing for a beginner 3-4 day hike. This video was very helpful. Thank you!!

to handle the mold put some moisture absorber packs and the drilling of holes in containers really helps

About the budget gear... I started out decades (30+ years) ago buying the cheapest, lightest gear I could find. It didn't take long to realize how quickly things got worn out or broken. I started checking out Army/Navy surplus stores, flea markets and places like that. The gear was still cheap enough, but way more durable. It also helped that I had two older brothers in the Army back then. They used to send me things all the time. ALICE packs, ruck sacks, duffle bags, BDUs. Pretty much anything they could get away with sending home. I still have and use most of it.

Good backpacks are key! My first backpacking trip my freshman year of college was with a borrowed backpack, old school Kelty external frame pack. (this was a backpack my dad would have used as a guide....that's how old it was lol) Seriously almost ruined my idea of backpacking because it was really uncomfortable. Frame was digging into me, and the hip straps weren't fitted right to me. I loved the trip and exploring, but the comfort of your pack is so important. The next one I demoed an osprey pack and I didn't have to stop on the trail as much to adjust, nor was I toughing out the discomfort. I had more energy. I would say, even if you plan on renting a pack for your first trip (which is a great way to figure out what you like for your own purchase) go get fitted! Try on in a store, don't buy online if you don't have too, and go somewhere where an employee will know how to properly fit you. It will help keep you comfortable on the trail if you're not fighting your backpack.

As far as packing light and food goes I would recommend rice that is impregnated with seasonings and some dehydrated vegetables in flake form. Also dried meat. That is protein and energy. A small fishing kit or net that would fit in your pocket like you see in survival kits and a small frog gig (Looks like a mini-pitchfork) will help you secure food if you intend to be out two or three days.

aint nothing wrong with that much Chocolate :D. So for the food packing situation, there are spreadsheets out there (mostly used by guide services) but can be setup for individual hikers as well. More then willing to share my template spreadsheet with you if you feel you need it. These spreadsheets will tell you how much your food should weigh based upon number days, level of effort and will also tell you how much fuel you'll probably need. It has definitely helped with my food planning over the past few years.

I like the 'Buy once, cry once' idea. A friend of mine used to say 'Buy cheap, buy twice' about his tools for work so your idea would stand people in good stead in a few areas of life. Havingfsaid that, some budget gear is fine & is a really good way of starting out

Bleach and cheese cloth work well for filtering as well as boiling the water if you really want to make sure it is good to go. Very good tips. Although I am ultralight, I realized torso length sleep pads were torture devices and I am happier with an extra 3 oz. for a full length air pad! Your gear organization looks like our house! Agree fully that caring for your gear after a hike is extremely important.

There is no good excuse for not filtering water. The katadyn be free makes it effortless.

I feel ya. I'm a serial overpacker...

This was the first video of yours that I watched. I really appreciate your down to earth, yet experienced approach to relaying information. Subscribing now!

All good advice and we have all done most of them. I still overpack, especially if it's still colder in the evenings. I have reduced the weight of this overpacking by gradually replacing with better gear though. I'm also very guilty of not drinking enough. This isn't good as it can lead to bad muscle cramps if on a long thru-hike. As well as filtering my water I always treat with oasis tablets too as the filters don't take out bacterial level microbes. My sleeping bags are all down now which has forced me to store in net bags. Must admit never used to with synthetics. I store my stuff in crates rather than sealed boxes which helps with ventilation. For waterproofs I always use military surplus goretex which tends to be fairly tough although a bit heavier than some modern materials.

Thank you for the excellent advice. I’m going for the first time this weekend.

I love ultralight gear because it allows me to bring things that will make my trip more enjoyable. To me a lightweight tent means I get to bring a chair with me and experience no change in the weight of my pack. That's all ultralight is for me. My pack weight doesn't really change I just put more stuff in it's place to help me enjoy my time.

I aim for being ultralight and typically I fast during hikes so I dont eat much, I also refill my water on the trail instead of carrying it in

So... what were you thinking when you were crossing the knee deep creeks at the smokeys this past weekend? Lol! Water crossing safety tip #1 unbuckle your pack, so it doesn't weight you down if you fall in. #2 set your trekking poles down stream for better stability. Lastly, I store my water filters and bladders in a mesh bag and hang them.

You have a great , accent, voice and way of talking. I could listen all day 😂

I think the biggest mistake I made was not educating myself before buying gear. Watch videos and get tips before dropping $$.

Great video! Another way to make your pack lighter is to do basic weight lifting such as squats, dead lifts and core training when off hiking season whenever that may be. I love autumn hiking and strong tough gear. Big Carinthie sleeping bag and an old fashion inflation mat. Kept me warm at -10c. An 'army/bush craft' type backpack, sturdy and bombproof, surprisingly comfy. I just want to throw my gear in, no fuzz. Food for three days plus 1, depending on restoring and the trail. 3 Liters of water, even if I drank 0.5 liter and have the opportunity to refill, I do. I find it very reassuring to know that I can all ways set up camp where ever and whenever the circumstances demands it, leaving nothing to chance. It is worth the 'extra' weight, imho. I hike on fat and protein, one chorizo sausage keeps me going for ours, no snacking needed. Even when I get 'hungry' my mind stays clear thanks to ketones. But that rarely happens. I don't cook, except boiling water for coffee end tea. It's every one to it's own taste, I suppose. Great advises, thank you! ps Your storage system is food for thought for me.🙂

i subscribed 36 seconds into the video to give som love, honestly i dont need like half the things because im a child and im packing for a hiking/ bugout bag be safe.

Okay, before I even continue, I’m at .42 into the video. Dude, you have great teeth!! I’m retired dental asst. and you my friend, have fantastic teeth. Take care of them! ❤️💜💚

Finally I hear someone talk about airing out the water filter in a backpacking video. Thank you, I bet this mistake goes unnoticed frequently.

Put thin small strip of colored tape around all your gear. If you get done with a hike or section and you still haven’t taken the tape off, evaluate if you need it.

I hope I meet hikers like you on the appalachian trail this year

This is great info! I love how you always educate me AND manage to make me laugh. :D My husband and I are planning our first big backcountry backpacking adventure for this summer. The goal is 100 miles. I'm overwhelmed right now. But, I plan to do several training hikes and overnighters to get ready, and to test gear, etc. We are complete "noobs" to carrying all our gear and food, etc, on a long hike through the woods - gathering as much info as possible from your videos so we do the LEAST amount of crying as possible! Also, I know how TERRIBLE Giardia is!! You DO NOT want to mess with dirty water, folks. Sadly, despite all the precautions we take when we go camping or day hiking, I actually got infected from staying in a brand new hotel that had not flushed out all of it's pipes properly. o_o So, I guess the moral of the story, sometimes no matter how many precautions you take, those bugs can get you.

A bicycle salesman once said to me: “Price is forgotten long after the quality remains.”

Excellent advice. My plan for hiking is to walk around in my area with a full backpack then camp in my yard overnight. Then, as you suggested work out what I used and didn't. Also work on back pack load out and get used to the pack.

My goodness! thats the one of the sweetest southern accents I've heard! love from the netherlands!

On long-distance day hikes, don’t wait until you are hungry or thirsty to eat and drink. If you stop to eat only when you feel hungry it’s probably too late, and you will hit an energy wall waiting to digest that food. I try to eat and drink something every 15 minutes while walking. Just a cookie or slice of fruit and a few gulps of water is sufficient. Later on when you take a sitting lunch break, you won’t feel the need to gorge, leaving a huge mass of food to digest when you get back on the trail.

Informative and entertaining.. To many fools trying to duplicate hiking do's and don't videos.. I would never think to follow anything those fools have to say.. If I were prettier I would do my own video.

“What, so everyone's supposed to sleep every single night now? ... Haha couldn’t resist with your shirt. Thanks for everything brotha

Homemade wonderlust energy, love it!

Giardia 2x? Pfffft. A *real* FKTer wouldn't stop to drink any water at ALL!!! LOL

Jeremiah In regards to storing your gear you should invest in a heap of silica gel packets, you find these in most postage packets you buy gear from certain companies online, the packets absorb any moisture in the enclosed container. Or you can do the same with rice, package rice in little 1kg string lock bags and the rice also absorbs and moisture inside a container . 👍🏼 ⛺️

Water crossings are a way of life here in Canadian Rockies. Anything mid thigh is doable and it’s fast and ice cold. Once it’s to your crouch it better be flat with no current.

Firmly following the buy once cry once ethos. Opting for a great quality, light weight, well insulated sleeping pad, tent, sleeping bag and backpack will save me in the long term. The merino wool socks are pricey as well but holy smokes my feet have never been happier. 👌

Tip for overpacking: Get a smaller backpack

Great advice and great video! I am new to your channel and I found you through your podcast. It’s probably my favorite backpacking podcast, so much fun.

As a military guy. I can speak to overpacking. Unfortunately you don’t have a choice sometimes . I recently just carried an 80 pound pack on minimal sleep and food through the densest forest and steep terrain in pouring rain. if you can drop a half of a pound. Don’t be afraid to do it. Ounces = Pounds = Pain

i have not hiked yet. Your information is clean to me budget was in my mind ..but those little info probably has saved me .thanks for your time to youtube .

Overpacking in itself is okay. It might not make your trip comfortable but you will know first hand that you really never used, kind of used, as well always used. I went on a one day trip for over eight miles and when I got back I tossed a lot of things and even replaced certain gear to make it lighter. Extra clothes are fine but if there is no rain or heavy winter then I can deal with being a small bit smelly. I always pack enough food for an extra day on my trips. I never know when something will happen that will have me staying in nature on my own for another day. For the food weight I don't really pack bricks of chocolate, but I have one or two pop top cans of chili, pasta, and the rest is dehydrated food. There are snacks but it isn't the main focus. It really matters on the person. If you don't mind carrying the extra weight so long as you have the comfort at your camp then go for it. Just be sure to pack your bag correctly so the weight doesn't break your back.

Excellent video! Great stuff. The thumbs down is only from someone who is jealous of your epic beard. Think of it as them pointing their thumb to their own bare chin with a frown.

Love your style and your energy dude, as well as your integrity. Keep it up. Great content.

Rick and Morty shirt gains you respect points Jeremiah!!!

I love how when we get on the topic of over packing, you talk about food haha. I am like what kind of gadgets, cuz that's me lol.

This is great information, i’m sure i’ll still make these mistakes. lol. take care my friend

I also tend to either overpack or underpack the amount of food. Usually I overpack as I find during hot days I don't eat as much. But on the times I don't bring as much food, I will have a snack and/or a meal stashed at the truck just in case. It also helps if I decide to stop at a scenic area for a lunch break on my way home. I also keep a change of clothes in the vehicle. Shorts & shirt and some sweats. This way if I'm really nasty I can put on some clean clothes or if the weather turns cooler than expected I have some sweats to throw on if I'm chilled.

I love that where you are gesturing to explain how the equilibrium with packing works that your expertise as a math teacher really shines through in a pretty brilliant way ;-) Thanks for putting your pedagogical skills to work in this area as well, it's a pleasure to follow!

Make a video on getting your own food! It sounds silly but you get intune to nature so much better cooking fresh trout. Or fresh hare or even bringing a small crab pot for crayfish for boil.

For your bin of water gear, I imagine that would be a great place to toss all the little silicone packets that come in packaging.

For food, Oatmeal is easy to carry and light weight. We try to bring high protein and fibre foods

For most of us (looking at me, here) if I want to cut a few ounces off my trail weight I can lose some fat. Yeah, cheaper to lose a couple pounds in the belly than the pack.

I like to buy everything on the budget side and when things start to brake I replace them with an expensive one, it save on the initial cost and over time you’ll have really nice equipment

Nice Jeremiah all good advice. Buy once cry once, I love it. lol

When you talked about storing your sleeping bag you said don't store it compressed due to moisture and mold. You also shouldn't store it compressed due to what it does to the insulation.

Take care of your gear and your gear will take care of you! Great episode.

My go-to water filter is a katadyne hiker pro... its heavier than a sawyer squeeze bag or life straw but I am OCD about clean water ever since that one trip to Mexico. On the boots, pants and jacket thing... durability and waterproofness is more important than weight or price... and some of that goretex stuff is $$$ like Jeremiah says "buy once, cry once" . I will say what works for me is buying one nice piece of gear about every 12 weeks and also read reviews and always save the receipt

Me and my GF always split the weight evenly. When we're weighing our packs, I put 4-5 20 ounce fishing weights in mine to lighten my load a bit. Just toss those out on the trail after our first rest break.

At minute mark 1:33, who is that good looking guy with that dirty water 😁😁. Good tips brother and cool video 👍👍

its so true, base weight really doesn't matter unless you're older or small etc, I mean big differences like 20 pounds or whatever really does matter especially on week/month-long trips, but I went through all of high school carrying cast iron pans on week-long backpacking trips hahaha. Not smart either, but I just had to work a little harder. It's funny to see 20-year-old fit dudes with ultralight setups for 3 day trips, it's just overkill.

Sawyer Squeeze is really hard to let go! Best filter out there!

Thank god that in new Zealand we can just drink from pretty much any river/creek lol

Thanks to your tip , I thought to empty my pack and get all of my gear cleaned up. I got back from a week out last weekend and while there wasn't much condensation , its definitely a good idea to hang up my stuff and let it air out. Especially my dogs gear hahah thanks bud

I store my bladder in the freezer after washing, I’m thinking you could do that with the filters too? Helps eliminate the chance of mold/mildew.

I always carry extra food and water! And I would recommend it especially for beginners!

For water that I do not make tea or cofee I use clorine with a dropper about 2-3 drops per litter is enough, and yes please try to find a clear watersource.

30 seconds into the first of your videos i've ever seen...and you keep a Gorge map on your wall? Winning :) Edit after watching: Nicely done. I liked how you approached the balance between overpacking and not having critical items on hand. Food isn't meant to be carried for days in your pack and then go home with you due to having too much of it. Cheers.