Recently, my son had his first trip by himself. He was going with some friends to a music festival and he came to me asking for some advices because he wasn't sure how to make his backpacking so I gave him some tips I found in this article 10 Cheap Backpacking Tips for Beginners which gives some good advices for the new generation about what to carry with you for a trip. Some tips are: always take water and snacks with you, carry your camera, use a water proof and comfortable backpack. I share it because it could be useful for anyone. How do you make your backpacking? Let me know your opinion!

Like the three rules of real estate the three rules of backpacking are travel light, travel light, travel light.

One thing I always did before an extended trek (4-5 days or longer) was get out my pack at least a week ahead of time and put everything I thought I needed on the floor by it. I'd spend time every day going through it and removing items I realized I didn't need until my load was typically cut in half.

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You will need water, food, fire and clothing/shelter.

Carry a lightweight filter and/or purification tablets instead of a lot of water.

Lightweight dehydrated food instead of canned goods. Lightweight, high calorie, easy to prepare.

Lightweight clothing, including rain gear and two "space blankets."

Waterproof matchbox, metal match,and military surplus ration heater tablets.

If you don't know how to build a shelter, take a light backpack tent.

Small, high intensity flashlight.

With a good knife and common sense, you're good to go.

AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, A PARTNER! NEVER GO ALONE!

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Though more specifically about wilderness...

Planning carefully is very important, but perhaps more important is the mindset of making do once you are out there. We are so used to having all our preferred crap, much of which can be re-acquired as needed 24/7. Out there you (ALWAYS!) have to make do with whatever you have on hand, or can perhaps improvise (which is pretty much what real life is all about).

Oh, and general guidelines:

A PACKING CHECKLIST
minimizing weight is important
good equipment (know its ins/outs/maintenance and TEST IT before embarking)
ALWAYS take a topographical map and a compass and know how to read/use them

research your trip:

climate (day/night temps (sleeping bag temp rating), rain, thunderstorms)
water availability
physical roughness
animal issues (I take precautions, though have never encountered much of those.)

These days high tech is playing a bigger role, like gps and and satellite phones. That stuff can fail, though, and is no substitute for training in navigation, survival, and having the general survival mindset. Can be worth it, though, for some added security especially if inexperienced or there are risk factors (e.g. high altitude, very rugged terrain, inherently difficult navigation, or poor physical conditioning).

Probably the best, most humanizing thing I have ever done.

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An 8 oz metal flask of good whiskey can be a G-d's send at times.

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Conditioning long before the trip helps, load that pack up and do some gradually longer walks to get the shoulder and hips used to the weight.
Make sure stove fuel is in a good leak proof bottle. No fun to have white gas soaked into your sleeping bag and spare socks.

And make sure your feet are conditioned to your boots. Take some Moleskin.
Amazing how many people take off on a trip with new boots. Break them in first.

Some good reading are the books by Colin Fletcher, which most libraries have.
He had backpacking down to an art.

We are 4 friends planning for some hiking trip or for some adventure, not decided yet but thanks to blamster for your advice.

Really,ya like blamster ? Odd he is buds with freesw an ya know what that means?

I've got a pair of old Red Wing high top leather boots I always wear when I'm hunting/hiking. When I first got them I got them wet and wore them until they were dry, molded them perfectly to my feet. I read somewhere that that's what Fred Bear used to always do and it definitely worked in my case.

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If you require electronics to find your location. STOP and do not go until you can comfortably decode hi resolution topo map and compass. Carry the ten essentials without fail. Know the area you are entering for special considerations such as toxic plants or dangerous predators. And how to deal with those. The rest you can read about but what I just said may save your butt some day!

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