Backpacking vs hiking: It’s really quite interesting to see that two very similar things could have so many differences.
So, you’re interested in knowing the difference between backpacking and hiking.
When I first started out on my outdoor adventures, I had this exact same question.
And since I’m one of those people that deeply researches a subject before taking action, I learned just about everything there is to know.
Rather than share with you a bunch of resources and make you do the hard work yourself, I went ahead and put together this guide for you to quickly understand the key differences between backpacking and hiking.
And hopefully, start doing the one that intrigues you the most.
Let’s get started!
What is hiking
According to Wikipedia, hiking means going for a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails in the countryside.
Super helpful, right?
But, that’s exactly what hiking is at its basic level
Hiking is just a means of exploring.
You go out for the day, take next to nothing with you, and just get lost in nature (maybe not actually lost, but you know what I mean).
Whether that is deep within a forest or through some rocky terrain; the choices are endless.
Now, did you know there are 3 main types of hiking?
Thru hiking
Thru hiking is the big kahuna of the 3 styles of hiking.
With thru hiking, you’ll embark on a hike that lasts 4+ months, taking you across a large distance (a lot of times crossing multiple state lines).
Take for example the Continental Divide Trail: a 3,100 mile, 5 state, 6 month long trip.
Hiking 17 miles a day, you’ll be able to finish the trail in 6 months.
Now that’s quite a hike!
From what I’ve read, the best part about thru hiking is it tests your mental and physical limits.
Have I ever attempted a thru hiking trail?
Honestly, no.
I’m not ready to pack up and leave my life at home for a 6 month journey.
That’s why I prefer the next two styles; section and day hiking.
Section hiking
Upon Googling thru hiking trails in your area, you might find that they are just a bit too long.
But, the website says that they boast some of the most beautiful views ever to be seen!
If only there was a way to skip the 6 month journey with all the monotonous scenery (how do they not go crazy? After a while all pine trees look exactly the same!).
Well, in comes section hiking.
Rather than embark on your journey at the beginning of the trail, you get to skip to the best parts.
Section hiking is like skipping through commercials for a TV show.
It has many benefits, including:
- The overall time of your hike is cut way short, but you still get to see the best parts.
- You get to choose what you want to view.
- Since you’re not going as long, you don’t have to ‘prepare for anything’. Just prepare for the weather you’ll be facing.
- You won’t have to worry about hiking those 17 miles a day to finish your hike, so you can take things slow and enjoy the scenery.
The other cool thing is many sites that host the trail maps for thru hiking trails also provide visitors with the best sections of the trails.
Section hikes can still take a few days or weeks depending on the trail you pick.
If you simply don’t have the willpower or time, just take a day hike!
Day hiking
Sometimes you don’t want to pack up the gear and head on a week long trip.
Maybe sometimes you’re just looking to leave the gear behind and take a small hike.
In comes day hiking.
The third, most common form.
While I won’t say you don’t need ANY gear (some water, a knife, and compass will work wonders), this is where you just head to your favorite trail and start walking.
Day hiking is for those moments when you just want a breath of fresh air or some mild exercise.
What is backpacking
Hiking revolves around minimalism.
You take only what you absolutely need, because shaving off every bit of weight is essential to making the journey less of a struggle.
If I had to put backpacking on a scale of most intense, I’d say it’s in between day hiking and section hiking.
Backpacking is a step above minimalistic, allowing you to add in some comfort items on your journey.
You most likely won’t be out for longer than a week, so focusing on bringing the bare necessities isn’t as…necessary.
While you can, of course, go hiking for a short period of time, hiking is really about moving quickly.
Whereas with backpacking, you’re there to enjoy the journey.
When comparing backpacking to hiking, you’ll likely have some key gear differences as well (more detailed comparison in the next section):
- A more durable tent
- Thicker sleeping bag/pad and other optional comfort accessories
- Pots, pans, and other cooking supplies
- Lighter water purification (ALWAYS bring water treatment, but you won’t need to be preparing for 6 months of purification)
- A spare change of clothes
- Entertainment accessories (portable speaker, deck of cards, etc.)
Backpacking can be a happy medium between wanting to take a short trip to the nearest park and hiking the longest thru-hiking trails.
And the gear you choose reflects that medium!
Optimal Gear For Backpacking Vs Hiking
As discussed above, backpacking and hiking are very different in both intensity and the nature of the activity.
And you’ll want to pack accordingly.
In general, the longer your journey, the lighter you’ll want to pack (minimalism is very much welcomed!).
Let’s take a look at the necessities and then some when comparing backpacking vs hiking gear.
The Necessities
Before we dig in and compare, I want to bring up the essentials.
This gear is the same whether hiking or backpacking, and it’s a precaution to make sure you are prepared in any case.
These are:
- Water purification: while we go into detail about purification down below, having clean water is essential to a safe journey
- Map & compass (or guidebook): phones die. Phones lose service. Make sure you bring along a map and compass just in case you get lost (and know how to use them!)
- Knife: while we also detail which types of knives work best below, having one is key. You never know what you might run into!
Now, onto the comparisons.
Water source
Hiking: if you are day hiking, then you’ll suffice with just bringing all of your drinking water.
Anything longer than a couple days and I would recommend bringing some form of water purification with you.
Pack a light water bottle and either tablets, chlorine dioxide drops, or something similar to the LifeStraw.
Pack enough to get you through your entire trip.
Backpacking: similar to hiking, if only going for a couple days you might be able to get away with packing all your drinking water.
Some forms of purification are extremely lightweight and won’t take up too much pack space, so I’d still recommend bringing some purification for your trip.
You never know what might happen.
Camping tip: regardless of how far you will be traveling, knowing how to find a water source in the wilderness is a really valuable skill that could save you in a pinch.
Food source & cooking gear
Hiking: at first glance, one might think that while thru hiking you’ll need to either:
A: pack the amount of food you’ll need for the whole trip (6+ months)
B: resort to setting up traps and feeding off the land
How the heck else are you supposed to get food out in the wilderness?
And fortunately, you don’t really have to worry about that.
Thru-hiking (and section hiking) trails will often take you through or nearby towns and will also have designated resupply points where you can stock up on food.
You’ll want to plan your resupply points ahead of your trip, and bring what you need to make it there.
As for cooking gear, many experienced hikers opt for bringing a small stove to make things easier.
Backpacking: depending on how you want to spend your trip, a small stove might not be necessary.
While you’ll want to pack enough food for your trip, some opt for starting fires the old-fashioned way.
Having the luxury of a shorter trip also means you can carry a few extra ounces and bring other kitchen accessories.
Just make sure you bring enough food to finish up your trip!
Clothing
The golden rule: no cotton!
This applies for both hiking and backpacking.
Cotton absorbs way too much moisture and does a horrible job at regulating temperature.
Instead, opt for polyester, nylon, or merino wool (think athletic fabrics that wick away moisture).
For colder months: polyester fleece works really well.
A puffy jacket with polyester fill will also help if your going through extreme cold.
For the rainy season: a waterproof, breathable jacket.
Breathable is extremely key here, as you want it to keep your body from getting wet, but you don’t want to be insanely hot while wearing it.
Hat (optional): keeping the sun or rain out of your eyes is never a bad idea.
Depending on the area/conditions you’ll be hiking in, this will be worth it’s extra weight (sunglasses are great for sun protection too. Who knew?)
Hiking: As for packing, don’t bring any duplicates.
One shirt, one pair of pants.
The exception is to bring 2 pairs of socks and underwear.
And prepare for the conditions above if applicable of course.
Backpacking: since you’ll already be loading up on extra weight in the other categories, I’d stick with the same logic as with hiking.
If they can go 6 months wearing the same clothes, I think one week won’t kill ya!
Shoes or Boots?
A note about hiking boots/shoes: when shopping around, get the next size up from what you would normally wear.
Hiking through trails is strenuous on your feet, which will cause them to swell.
In colder months you’ll likely be wearing thicker socks than normal as well, which require more room.
You’ll thank yourself for making a purchase of the next size up.
Hiking: either a pair of boots or trail shoes (those tennis shoes won’t last long, and your feet won’t either!).
This is up to you.
The boots offer more stability and will protect your ankles but will weigh more.
Trail shoes, on the other hand, are a much lighter, more comfortable option.
They dry quicker should you get caught in any rain or other wet conditions.
However, they lack ankle support.
Which one performs better depends on the length and conditions of the trail you’re on.
Backpacking: as we’ve discussed already, backpacking is more about the luxury of the trail.
As such, you’ll be carrying much more weight than if you were hiking.
Because of this, a sturdier boot would be the best option.
This will help support your ankles from the added weight.
Light source
In my opinion, headlamps can’t be beat.
Sure you’ll probably have your phone with a flashlight with you, but have you ever tried to use it for anything other than walking to the bathroom at night?
It just doesn’t cut it for outdoor applications.
Plus you won’t take up one hand holding the light (or be stuck trying to set up the light to shine on whatever you’re working on).
For that reason, I would recommend a headlamp for both backpackers and hikers.
A solid headlamp with 100 or more lumens will shine bright enough for any application you need.
Double-check the battery life of the headlamp.
Some will last you your entire trip, and some you’ll need batteries to keep them going.
Tent & sleeping gear
Having a solid tent can help protect you from the harshest of conditions.
And in some situations, the right sleeping bag can help keep you from turning into a human popsicle in the middle of the night.
Check out my recommendations for your tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad:
The Best Tent: Lightweight Vs. Convenient
Hiking: as lightweight as possible. Basically just bring some saran wrap and find a stray stick to set up your tent…kidding.
But weight does matter.
Afterall, you’ll be lugging this thing around for the next couple months, so make sure it’s lightweight enough to not get in the way.
This means a 1 person tent, and from there you can decide on size, weight, and durability.
Keep in mind that you’ll be more comfortable sleeping in a bit bigger tent as well.
The final decision is up to you, but in general, go lightweight!
Backpacking: when backpacking you’re gone for a fraction of the time that you would be versus hiking, so don’t stress too much over shaving down the weight.
A nice combination of comfort and lightweight will go very far with the perfect backpacking tent.
You don’t need something as lightweight as my saran wrap joke (*perfectly* viable might I add), but don’t go getting a tent with 11 rooms and a personal shower.
You still have to carry this thing around for the duration!
Sleeping Bags: To Mummy Or Not To Mummy
Hiking: remember when I mentioned turning into a human popsicle?
Sure it might be warm now, but 6 months is half the year.
If you live anywhere with seasons, you’ll need to prepare for what’s to come.
In general, you’ll want to go as light as possible (there’s a theme here with lightweight and hiking if ya didn’t catch it!) while still able to handle the cold conditions of the seasons you’ll be hiking in.
3 pounds is a great number to shoot for; less if possible.
Be sure to plan for wet conditions.
A down mummy bag is water-resistant, but if your tent isn’t than you’ll be in a soaked mummy bag.
If you’ve got a waterproof tent (test this first!) you’ll be fine.
Otherwise, opt for a sleeping bag made of synthetic material.
Regardless of what material, I recommend using mummy style sleeping bags while hiking for several weeks or months.
Backpacking: today’s technology help us to somewhat reliably know what the weather forecast will be for the week.
And that’s what you should plan for when selecting the right backpacking sleeping bag.
If it’s going to be rainy, the synthetic material bags will be perfect.
Make sure you check the temperature and use the correct bag for that temperature.
And don’t worry about getting a mummy style sleeping bag if you don’t want to.
They can be somewhat restrictive with how you can sleep (just look at them to know what I mean!).
As long as you’re not going out in the winter months you should be fine with a normal sleeping bag.
Don’t Skimp On The Sleeping Pad
The ground is hard.
Packed dirt doesn’t feel too good to sleep on, especially if you have to do it for half a year.
While you don’t have to go overboard, a sleeping pad is something I would recommend for both hikers and backpackers.
The R rating of a sleeping pad will help you determine what style you need for your sleeping arrangement.
Hiking: spending the night on the ground can cause some restless sleep.
And this isn’t too ideal seeing as you’ll want more energy to hike through the day.
That’s why a sleeping pad, even if very slim, is highly recommended.
There are pads on the market that are 1 pound, and some that are less.
Find a balance of weight vs comfort that suits you and make sure your pad is rated well for the seasons you’ll be sleeping in!
Backpacking: they aren’t super heavy and provide greater comfort than the ground, so why not?
Similar to hiking, you’ll want more energy during the day, so sleeping well at night is key.
Pick a pad that offers some comfort and has the correct R rating and you’re all set!
The Right Knife Is Key
If you’re like me, you can’t help but wonder what other tool they’ll try to stuff into a knife/multi-tool next.
“And today we’d like to reveal our propellor multi-tool. A 4,000 piece tool that also acts as an airplane to fly you through the forest.”
What will they come with next?
That being said, just because they are interesting doesn’t mean they are USEFUL in a practical sense.
Do you need a screwdriver out in the wilderness?
Unlikely.
And because of that, you guessed it, you’ll want to find a balance between usefulness and added weight.
Hiking: you might think I’m being a bit extreme, but knives alone are pretty heavy.
Add in pliers, tweezers, 3 blades, and a screwdriver, and you’re lugging around an extra pound of useless metal.
When choosing a hiking knife, try to think of all the things you’ll need to use a knife for.
Will your gear require it if something breaks?
Will you need a screwdriver to replace batteries?
Keep in mind that you’ll be heading into town for resupply every couple weeks, so if it can wait than don’t worry about the extra weight.
Backpacking: this is totally up to you.
I think it’s a necessity to bring a knife with you, but what that knife contains is personal preference.
Again, ask yourself what tools you’d need if something breaks.
If you can do without, then go for it.
I’ve recommended to “not worry too much about weight” with backpacking this entire post, so what’s an extra ounce or two?
Where Do I Put Everything?…Choosing The Right Pack
Hiking: as durable but lightweight as possible.
That usually means opting for a smaller pack and neatly packing everything inside.
This may take some practice, but a 40-60L pack is often more than enough to fit everything you need.
Backpacking: with all the “don’t worry about weight” suggestions I’ve been making, you might as well pack a suitcase!
In all seriousness, it’s not uncommon for your backpacking pack to be 60L or more.
I would still recommend going as durable and lightweight as possible.
No need to get a super heavy material backpack if you’re not carrying the weight for it.
Somewhat Optional Tech Accessories
In today’s world, your phone can be a lifeline should you need it.
It doubles as a flashlight, and it can call emergency services should you need it.
If you get super bored, you can even use it to play some tunes on the trail (don’t do this if you didn’t bring a charger!).
Having your phone, in my opinion, is an absolute must whether you use it or not.
But what other tech accessories should you bring?
Portable Charger
This is also a must have item in my opinion.
Being able to charge your lifeline is essential for emergencies.
And you don’t know what will happen.
Your phone could run out of charge when you need it.
Hiking: a solar charger is the best option.
You’ll be gone for weeks at a time before resupplying, so portable charging packs will likely run out of juice (especially if you plan to use your phone a lot).
A solar charger will keep things charged and the sun will recharge the charger (what a sentence).
Backpacking: depending on how long your trip is, a portable charger might be all you need. Some can hold multiple charges and will be sufficient.
If your backpacking trip will contain lots of phone usage, or will be longer than a week, I’d recommend a solar charger just in case.
Bluetooth speaker
Hiking: 100% optional.
It’s extra weight, so if you won’t use it then don’t bring it.
Having it can make those long strips of the same exact looking trees seem a bit more fun though!
Backpacking: Again, totally optional.
Having some tunes playing at the camp can be really relaxing after a day full of hiking.
What do you think?
If you happen to pack a little extra on your hiking trip or a little too light on your backpacking trip, no worries.
There aren’t some police force looking to nail you for saying you’re backpacking or hiking.
The goal here is to have some fun.
And hopefully this guide has given you a general idea of the differences between backpacking and hiking and shown you how to prepare for each.
I’m not perfect.
Did I miss out on any tips or things to pack while backpacking vs hiking?
Leave them in the comments below to help out your fellow adventurers!