| Means | Multi-day hiking + camping |
| You carry | Shelter, sleep system, food, water |
| Vs | Day hiking (no overnight) |
| Difficulty | Beginner to advanced |
Backpacking is multi-day hiking that involves carrying everything you need — shelter, sleeping system, food, and water — in a pack and camping overnight along the way. It lets hikers travel deep into the backcountry beyond the reach of day hikes, and is the foundation of long-distance hiking.
The big three
Your heaviest items are the backpack, shelter, and sleep system — managing their weight defines your base weight.
Backpacking vs day hiking
Add an overnight to a day hike and it becomes backpacking. See day hike vs backpacking.
Backcountry responsibility
Practise Leave No Trace and carry the Ten Essentials; store food in a bear canister where required.
Frequently asked questions
What is backpacking?
Backpacking is hiking over multiple days while carrying everything you need to camp — shelter, a sleeping system, food, water, and the rest of your gear — in a pack. It lets you travel far into the backcountry and stay out overnight, unlike a day hike.
What do you need for backpacking?
The core kit is the 'big three' — a backpack, shelter (tent or tarp), and sleep system (bag and pad) — plus a stove and food, water treatment, clothing layers, navigation, and the Ten Essentials. Managing weight and bulk is a central skill.
What's the difference between backpacking and hiking?
Hiking is walking trails, usually as a day trip; backpacking is multi-day hiking where you carry overnight gear and camp out. All backpacking involves hiking, but backpacking adds the self-sufficiency of camping in the backcountry.
Sources
- Backpacking fundamentals — National Park Service