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Backpacking: Is it Better to Pack Light or Pack Heavy?
In the world of backpacking and outdoorsmanship – for lack of a better term – there are a few schools of thought. One of the most popular ideas for backpackers is that packing light not only reduces the weight on your back, but makes everything simpler when it’s time to set up a camp. Another school of thought feels that extra weight is worth the extra convenience. And yet another school believes that you should be able to survive with a flint, a knife, and the clothes on your back. Who’s right?
If you want to learn more about yourself as a backpacker, you’re going to have to tackle two different ways of learning: experience and experimentation. You never learn anything unless you actually do it, and in order to do something, you’ve got to take a leap of faith and actually experiment.
For those of you light packers out there, how many times have you actually gone backpacking without your light equipment? Is there better equipment out there that improves the quality of life you have when you’re backpacking?
For the heavy packers, have you tried packing light? What was the experience like? Answering these questions will help you find out exactly what kind of backpacker you are – and what’s more you’ll finally have evidence to support your philosophy.Some people believe that packing light for hiking and backpacking is a great idea. But they don’t think it’s because you should pack light, it’s that you should pack next to nothing at all! Survivalists are people who enter the wilderness, striving to learn how to live by their wits and skills alone (with perhaps a tool or two). Although this skill certainly isn’t easy to learn, it can be easy to maintain with experience.
What kind of backpacker or hiker are you? Are you able to point to an experience in your life where you can definitely say “This is why I know the other way of doing it is wrong”? Have you given another way of doing things an honest try?
If you want to backpack more often, you should learn the many different skills that come with backpacking, not just a specific way of doing things. After all, isn’t the fun of backpacking the novelty of creating new experienced and seeing land you’ve never seen before? Why not blaze a few new trails?
Photo Credits: thechosenrebel
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Solitude vs Socializing: Which is Better for Backpacking?
Many people who have gone on backpacking trips have done it to learn more about themselves – they want to get out into the world, into nature; they want to discover who they are by bringing themselves and only themselves into the world with them. But not everyone takes this approach. Some people take a friend or travel in groups, and find that backpacking trips can be just as transformational and life-changing that way. So which way is better, and which way should you approach your backpacking trip? Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both.
Going Solo
Advantages: Going solo is a big investment in your personal growth. By exposing yourself to the world with you and your wits, and nothing else, you literally force yourself to become more independent. You grow up a little. And you learn that you can meet challenges that you didn’t think you were capable of overcoming. Many people go solo simply because it provides this amount of self-discovery.
Disadvantages: Going solo can be great for the above reasons, but it also has its dangers. If you get lost in the wilderness, there’s not much you can do to get back home without a good amount of technology. You can also run into trouble if you find yourself in need of a few friends because someone wants to pick a fight. You’re on your own; sometimes it works for you and sometimes it can work against you.Going with Friends
Advantages: Going with friends can add a buffer against some of the dangers of backpacking, giving you support when you need it and help when no one else would otherwise be there. Bringing friends along on a backpacking trip also has the benefits of giving you a shared experience; it’s one thing to view the stars over your head while a fire burns by yourself. It’s another thing when you and your friends can share that story forever.
Disadvantages: Having a buffer is great. But it can also handicap you. If you’ve never been by yourself before, perhaps that’s exactly what you need. Being on your own can build independence and self-reliance, while bringing your friends would only buffer you against from those kind of personal growth experiences.
What type of backpacking sounds good to you? Ultimately, of course, it’s up to you. But if you know what you want to get out of your backpacking trip – personal discovery or simply some good times – you have a head start and know which way to lean.
Photo Credits: justinjohnsen
