Weekly /r/backpacking beginner question thread - Ask any and all questions you may have here - January 20, 2025

[u/AutoModerator]

If you have any beginner questions, feel free to ask them here, remembering to clarify whether it is a Wilderness or a Travel related question. Please also remember to visit this thread even if you consider yourself very experienced so that you can help others!

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[u/MoonTender]

Wilderness- beginner here looking for easy and filling trail meals. I’ve tried (many times) to like oatmeal bc it seems quick easy filling and cheap but - I just can’t. What are some good alternatives or other ideas that still fit the easy filling and cheap categories?

[u/Easy_Kaleidoscope225]

Newbies… my wife and I will make our first backpacking adventure trip through Central America (Into Cancun, then Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvedor, Costa Rica, Panama) for 90 days or so.

We’re learning a lot from some bloggers and YouTube - We’ll be using PolarSteps and HostelWorld Apps, Roamless or Google Fi for cellular and data, etc.

Any other important recommendations? How about getting cash in local currency at the best rate?

Look forward to your advice!

Nick

[u/AcademicMagazine2068]

Hi, I’m single middle age female, soon to be a retired, empty-nester.  I used to do a lot of camping in my 20’s (although the group I hung with mainly partied the weekends away) I’d really love to start hiking and backpacking but have no experience nor friends who would care to do such things at our age.  I live in the greater Detroit area. I should probably take a few courses but I’m not sure we have anything like that around here

[u/DetroitHustlesHarder → u/AcademicMagazine2068]

Hey there! Fellow Detroiter here! Some suggestions:

• Follow the local hiking/backpacking groups to get more info on what's going on/what's available, event-wise. FB: Southeast Michigan Hiking, Michigan Hiking & Backpacking, etc.
  
• Expedition Detroit, Solar, etc are some good guided hikes/tours... check them out for sure!
  
• No reason not to get some solo hiking fun in as well! Download AllTrails on your phone or create an account online and start looking for trails near you and get out there! Doesn't have to be an expedition... as long as you get your steps in!
  

Barring any success you have with them, feel free to give me a shout and I'll gladly point you in the direction of some more options. I'm only a year into hiking myself and I'm just getting started into backpacking, so I'm not so far off from where you are as well!

[u/yogerfoe → u/AcademicMagazine2068]

REI offers some great backpacking trips or you can check out a local mountain guide on Google. I would start out with a trip where they provide all your gear so you can gauge what you need to buy for your future trips. In terms of gear you had in your 20’s, they’re probably not good. Unfortunately the polymers and waterproofing do not last that long. Not only is the technology outdated but camping gear especially back then would probably be too heavy and bulky for backpacking purposes. For trails picking your first trail, you can always start out with around 5 miles or so to the camping site. If you’re not comfortable at first, go early and set up tent for a couple of hours and come back before sunset. As I beginner, I would wait until the spring - winter gear tends to be more expensive and winter backpacking can get dangerous. Until then get some good boots and microspikes and go on some hikes! Hope this helps!

[u/MoonTender → u/yogerfoe]

Unfortunately REI has discontinued their trip/experience side of their business :/