First, let’s take a look at common uses (and misuses) of these terms: It was quite a … “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”. When Adam isn't thru-hiking with his family, you can be sure to find him trail running, rock climbing, planning the next trip, or scouting the next place to call home. involving difficulties or complex organization, a long walk over land such as hills, mountains, or forests, long multi-day hikes in the Himalayan mountains. Amazon's Camping and Hiking store has a large selection of backpacks and bags that are perfect for hiking and camping activites. Read more…. Required fields are marked *. Boots A heavy pack means you’ll need heavy boots. In North America tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain huts, widely found in Europe, are rare. In-depth reviews of the best lightweight backpacking gear, and comprehensive guides to the world’s most amazing trail hiking destinations. It helped me roll out of bed, pack my kit, check my boots for spiders, and get at it. If you’re going through marsh and long grass, gaiters are great to bring along. Nobody’s going to kick you out of camp for confusing hiking, trekking, backpacking, and mountaineering, but you might feel a little less of a noob with a few basics in your vocabulary. with everything we need on our backs. Beginner Terrain You’re going to be on a well-established trail for most of your hike. Carry a map and compass, and know how to use them. If you’re new to backpacking or you like to bring along a few luxury items, you might want to choose a pack with a larger volume. Hiking, trekking, backpacking… ever wondered what the difference is? We’ll stick to our 3 levels of hiking here, but as always, there will be some crossover. Reserve a hiking or backpacking tour with Wildland Trekking - get started today! along with plenty of survival gear. Get inspired by checking out our: Find a jaw-dropping location for your next wilderness adventure by checking out our epic Destination Guides! Your email address will not be published. Yes, trekkers and backpackers are “hiking” too, but when distinguishing between the three, a hike is a day walk. All these disciplines are done on a loop track or a one-way track. MAKE CHECKLISTS. The biggest difference between trekking and backpacking is that you sleep in the wilderness and carry your sleeping gear, food for days, and kitchen gear. Here are a few things to consider when going over your plan. Now that you have a grasp on what makes these 3 disciplines of walking so different from each other, you can start planning your next trip. The hikers, who refer to themselves as “thru-hikers” will often take 4-6 months to hike the duration of the trail. Even if I’m going to a summit, I’ll try to find a ridge to traverse or a different way down, so I don’t wind up going over the same track twice. 10 Best Hiking Poles For Backpacking Trekking January 2021 Results are Based on. You’ll carry everything you need to survive for the trip on your back. The mighty Trekking in Indian Himalayas with its mesmerizing scenic sculpture and wildlife is itself a different realm of wonder altogether. Any routine trekkers or backpackers will definitely have the level of fitness required for one of these walks. If you’re unsure, make sure to give yourself more time than what is recommended by your guidebook. These programs are designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and other affiliated sites. of force. The trail could even disappear entirely in sections. Usually, a well-built trail is there to give access to great scenery. The uphills are tough, but they’re less of a struggle. Hiking is done on a trail during a single day and usually has some level of vertical ascent and descent. Depending on the weather and if the hike is for a day, a few hours or overnight, the equipment one carries varies. No matter the trail, remember, “it’s only walking”. Some backpacking trips may last for only a few days, whilst others may last for several months. You might spend long stretches of a trek in the wilderness, or the majority of your trek on gravel roads traversing meadows. As the degree of difficulty increases, so will your pack weight, and you should be ready to handle this. Backpacking trips are quite the opposite. Osprey Aether/Ariel – Best ‘All Rounder’ Hiking Backpack; Osprey Exos 58 – Best Ultralight Hiking Backpack; Deuter Speed Lite 20 – Best Small Hiking Backpack; Active Roots Foldable Daypack – Best Daypack for Hiking; Berghaus Freeflow 35 – Best Value Hiking Backpack; Deuter Air Contact – Best Backpack for Backpacking Long-Term These locals will help you arrange your accommodation, and even carry your overnight gear for you to lighten the load! Trekking poles provide many benefits to hikers and backpackers from added stability and balance on rough trails to less wear and tear on knees and hips, especially when hiking downhill. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Accommodation Where will you sleep, and what kind of sleep system will you need to carry? We mentioned that trekking, particularly in Asia, might involve porters carrying your equipment or providing services. Contact | Privacy Policy. / HIKING / TREKKING / BACKPACKING / SUB-CLASSES OF BACKPACKING / GEOGRAPHICAL QUIRKS / CONCLUSIONS. You could be traveling from village to village, or sleeping in shelters along the way. Hiking-site.nl is een site vol met informatie over hiking, buitensport, outdoor, bergwandelen, materiaal, navigatie, wandelroutes, EHBO, GPS en vacatures. Disclaimer: Ultimate Gear Lists participates in affiliate marketing programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. You’ll always be carrying at least your day’s water, emergency snacks. Since we are now familiar with hiking in general, as well as several special classes of hiking, it might be worth asking…. I spend as much time in the mountains as possible. If you’re hiking, trekking, or backpacking, it is still one-foot-in-front of the other, but it’s more than walking to the supermarket. You’ll improvise camping sites near rivers or under trees. of gear with only 6 lbs. He's recently relocated to Innsbruck, Austria. Minimalists walking the Camino De Santiago might only use a 25l pack, but someone hiking 8 days, staying in outdoor refuges might need to pack a few more things. So in essence these categories capture a hardcore hiker doing a f**king long backpacking trip. Unless it’s raining, your shoes don’t need to be waterproof. Bring along a well-stocked first aid kit, fire starters, foil blankets, and of course a cell phone or radio you can use to call for help if you do get into trouble. It’s a stunning day trip through surreal landscapes, walking past dormant volcanoes. Popular forms of trekking include hut to hut hiking and the Camino walks in Europe, or the teahouse treks in Nepal. Well, differences do exist. Trekkers need to be prepared for varying terrain. It’s important to know the difference between hiking, trekking, and mountaineering so that you can choose the right adventure for you. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. You can see how in some situations trekking and backpacking could be used interchangeably. Always bring backup purification too. If you’re unsure of your ability, pick out a hike that only takes an hour to complete and give urself plenty of time! If you’re just getting outdoors, these hikes are a great way to be active and get moving. Find the right one for you from the list below. Which are the flapjacks? Advanced Hikes You’re almost definitely going to be encountering some steep sections of trail. How long will you be gone? The final of the three styles of walking is backpacking. Once you know how much kit you need, choose a bag that will accommodate everything, with a few liters of extra space. You want something with decent grip and support, but avoid wearing something really stiff unless you know the terrain is going to be very uneven. If you have a heavier pack thicker soles will also help take some of the burden of the weight off of your feet. You may carry a few days of food with you or a few cooking supplies, but usually, there are places to restock food along the way. The big difference between hiking and trekking is the amount of time spent on the trail. JOIN A HIKING GR… Trekkers might need to go off trail, make unbridged river crossing, and traverse scrambly ridges. As a rule of thumb, always carry 1l more than you expect you’ll need just in case something happens to your water supply. The term trekking is widely used in Asia, particularly to refer to long multi-day hikes in the Himalayan mountains (e.g. How cold will it get overnight and what kind of sleeping bag/mat combination suits your trip? Food How much food will you need to bring and how will you prepare it? Trail Legs Backpackers (and trekkers) will throw around the term “trail legs” quite a bit. There’s no physical drawback to revisiting trail, it’s nice to keep the scenery fresh. Or focus in on one of these awesome review sections: In our Ultimate Gear Lists section we provide a list of best-in-class items for specific outdoor adventures. There are many ways to go hiking and trekking, from demanding ascents to spiritual journeys. This often includes shelter, sleeping systems, cooking apparatus, food, water, and more. Trekking in Indian Himalaya is the dream of all backpackers all over the world. Food Will there be places for lunch along the way? I’ll also typically bring a headlamp- even if I’m planning on being home before dark. As backpackers are carrying heavy loads they’ll definitely need to be the in good shape. If I'm not training for my next 100 mile trail race then you can probably find me exploring a new trail with my family. But to others, it can be confusing and annoying. Intermediate Terrain The trail should be well defined for most of your walk. It can also involve climbing. I like to go with entirely cold or dehydrated food when I hike. It’s usually on a trail, but if you’ve planned a route up a mountain through dense forest that’s a hike too. (In comparison, a hike that is not a trek may involve flat easy terrain in the countryside). Of course, I won’t forget the coffee cone and filters either. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. a thru-hiker usually carries a very lightweight backpack, achieved by minimising what they choose to carry as well as making the most of innovative materials and designs for backpacking gear. For ideas, check out magazines like Backpacker and Outside. He's been climbing, hiking, biking, surfing, snowboarding, and working around the world since 2013. Unless you’re an ultralight hiker, you’ll want something that is about 50 liters at a minimum. The kind of provisions you pack, the kind of training you do, and very importantly- the type of shoes on your feet, all come down to how you define your walk. Also, if you plan to use your pack for winter trekking, consider bumping up a size to accommodate heavy, bulky gear. You should also pack some snacks, plenty of water (minimum 1 liter), and a phone or some way of calling for help if you get into trouble. JUMP TO: DOES IT MATTER? If you are in the countryside or wilderness and you are walking a long way, then you are probably hiking!