Backpacking (hiking)

For other uses, see Hiking, Camping, and Backpacking (disambiguation).
"Trekking" redirects here. For other uses, see Trekking (disambiguation).
Backpacking in the Beskid Niski mountains, in the Polish part of the Carpathian Mountains
Backpacking in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Backpacking is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while hiking for more than a day. It is often an extended journey[1] and may involve camping outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain huts, widely found in Europe, are rare. In New Zealand, hiking is called tramping, and tents are used alongside a nationwide network of huts.[2] Hill walking is equivalent in Britain (but this can also refer to a day walk), though backpackers make use of a variety of accommodation, in addition to camping. Backpackers use simple huts in South Africa.[3] Trekking and bushwalking are other words used to describe such multi-day trips.

Backpacking as a method of travel is a different activity, which mainly uses public transport during a journey that can last months. It is, however, similar to bikepacking, bicycle touring, canoe and kayak camping, and trail riding, with saddlebags.

  1. ^ "Travel or hike carrying one's belongings in a backpack: [e.g.] a week's backpacking in the Pyrenees, [or] he has backpacked around the world" (New Oxford American Dictionary).
  2. ^ H. W. Orsman, The Dictionary of New Zealand English. Auckland: Oxford University Press, 1999.
  3. ^ "Trail Development". Archived from the original on 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2013-12-13.