Most beginners don’t quit backpacking on the trail. They quit before they ever go.
After hiking the Pacific Crest Trail solo and coaching hundreds of women over the past four years, I’ve seen the same beginner backpacking mistakes over and over again.
It’s not about strength.
It’s not about gear.
It’s not about age.
It’s these beginner backpacking mistakes that keep women stuck at home and in research mode for years.
Let’s break them down and how to fix each one.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #1: Waiting to “Feel Ready”
This is the biggest mistake I see. So many women tell me, “I just want to feel more confident first.” Here’s the truth no one tells you:
Confidence is not a prerequisite for backpacking. It’s a result of backpacking.
When I started my solo thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018, I didn’t feel ready. I was nervous. I questioned myself the entire drive to the Southern Terminus. I wondered if I had enough experience. I even tried to talk myself out of going. But I went anyway.
Confidence doesn’t come from planning. It comes from doing. If you’re waiting to wake up one day and magically feel brave, that day won’t come. You build confidence by taking action.
Start small:
- Go on a solo day hike.
- Choose a short, well-traveled trail.
- Set your tent in your backyard and spend the night in it.
- Try one overnight trip close to home.
Every step builds evidence that yes, you can do the hard things.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #2: Thinking You Need a Backpacking Partner
So many us have been taught that going into the backcountry alone is unsafe or irresponsible. So, we wait for the “perfect” hiking partner. Years go by and still we haven’t gone backpacking. This beginner backpacking mistake keeps many women stuck for years waiting for someone else to join them.
Here’s what I’ve learned after hiking thousands of miles solo:
The safest thing you can do is be skilled and prepared, not be dependent on someone else.
Waiting keeps you powerless. Learning skills makes you capable.
Start by:
- Practicing solo day hikes.
- Learning how to read a map.
- Practicing water filtration.
- Telling someone your trip plan.
You don’t need a partner. You need competence and competence is 100% learnable.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #3: Over-Researching Instead of Taking Action
You’ve watched hundreds of YouTube videos.
Compared countless backpacks.
Downloaded multiple packing lists.
And yet, you still haven’t gone.
Over-researching is one of the most common beginner backpacking mistakes I see. Information can feel productive. But sometimes it’s just avoidance disguised as preparation. You don’t need to know everything about backpacking.
You only need to know what’s essential for your first overnight trip:
- How to carry your gear
- How to eat
- How to sleep
- How to stay safe
Plan one simple overnight trip. Learn only what’s necessary. Go. Evaluate. Adjust. Repeat.
Backpacking is learned by doing, not with endless research.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #4: Buying Expensive Gear Before You Know Your Style
Many beginners spend thousands of dollars before ever stepping onto a trail. But how do you know what works for you if you don’t know what kind of backpacker you are yet? Buying gear before you understand your hiking style is a classic beginner backpacking mistake.
Are you:
- A slower-paced, camp-focused backpacker?
- A mileage-driven hiker?
- A weekend warrior?
- A once-a-year adventurer?
Instead of buying everything at once:
- Borrow gear
- Rent gear
- Buy used gear
Experience first. Gear upgrades later.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #5: Training Like It’s an Elite Fitness Competition
This beginner backpacking mistake often affects women over 40 the most. There’s often a belief that we (women over 40), need peak athletic conditioning before we’re “allowed” to go backpacking.
Backpacking is just walking…with a pack. You don’t need a hardcore training program.
Start with:
- Regular neighborhood walks.
- Adding your loaded pack.
- Simple strength training if possible.
Consistency builds endurance. Consistency builds confidence.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #6: Letting Fear Run the Show
There’s a difference between actual risk and imagined risk.
Actual risk asks:
- What are the trail hazards?
- What’s the weather forecast?
- Do I have navigation tools?
Imagined risk says:
- I’m definitely going to get lost.
- Something terrible will happen.
- I can’t handle this.
Preparation reduces real risk. Small steps reduce imagined fear. Letting fear take over is one of the most emotionally draining beginner backpacking mistakes.
Start with shorter, well-traveled trails. Carry safety gear that makes you feel safe and always tell someone at home whom you trust your plan.
Fear is often a signal to prepare, not a stop sign.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #7: Choosing a Trip That’s Too Big
Social media can make it seem like your first trip needs to be epic. It doesn’t.
A three- to five-mile hike with one overnight spent in your tent is more than enough for your first adventure.
Momentum is built through completion, not intimidation.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #8: Packing Your Fears
“What if I need this?”
“What if I run out of food?”
“What if I get cold?”
So, you pack EVERYTHING and suddenly your bag weighs 45 pounds. Packing every “what if” item is one of the most common beginner backpacking mistakes.
Instead, use a packing list. Make decisions from preparation, not anxiety.
Discomfort is part of growth. You don’t need to eliminate every ounce of it. You just need to manage real risk.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #9: Comparing Yourself to Younger Backpackers
This one hits close to home for me. As a woman in my late 40s, I don’t just pop up and head to the trail like I used to. These days, I have to work at it.
I have to work at staying active. I have to work at maintaining strength. And honestly? I have to work harder mentally to even get myself to the trailhead sometimes.
Yes, younger backpackers might hike faster. They might push bigger miles. They might take bigger risks.
But as older, more mature backpackers? We have life experience. We have better decision-making skills. We understand consequences. We know when to pivot. We know when to turn around.
Backpacking is not a race. It’s not a competition. It’s about your experience. Your growth. Your strength.
Comparison steals joy. Focus builds confidence.
Beginner Backpacking Mistake #10: Believing You Have to Figure It All Out Alone
Even if you’re planning a solo trip, you don’t have to navigate the learning curve in isolation.
Guidance shortens the learning curve. Community builds momentum. Learning from someone who has done it before can help you avoid years of overthinking and stalled progress.
You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to start.
If you recognize yourself in any of these beginner backpacking mistakes, you’re not alone and you’re not behind. Every one of these patterns is fixable with small, consistent action.
If you’ve been thinking about backpacking but haven’t taken the leap yet, I’d love to know, what’s the ONE thing that’s been holding you back? Drop it in the comments below.