So, I’ve really started to make some large changes to my life after many years of being a degenerate and all my money going on smoking weed and doing other drugs with friends etc.
It all started when I got diagnosed with ADHD, got medicated, since stopped as the cons were worse than the pros now I’m on a good track, re-trained as a software developer and have been in my first role a year and I’m late 30’s now.
Weed was the last thing to quit and it’s been almost a month and I’m finally able to do all the things I could never afford. Bought a nice watch and booked a session for a sleeve tattoo I’ve always wanted.
I still need something to focus on to keep me happy and I love being out in nature and just milling about, but I’m a city kid, north UK, so really don’t know anything about surviving outside; but I want to go out for weekends and see the stars and just explore and be self sufficient.
It all just seems so overwhelming and I have no clue where to start. I’ve been watching YouTube videos and still it seems so overwhelming. My plan is to start purchasing everything you would need with a view to start from April next year but I honestly don’t know where to begin. What do I buy, which tents should I be looking at, how do I learn about water supplies I can drink from, what about cooking; can I make bacon and eggs for instance, what sleeping bags, cookers, backpacks, shoes, etc.
The list goes on and on and I guess I’m just looking for good resources to consume over the next 10 months to make sure I can go out and be safe, considerate, and not a burden on anybody else.
Thanks for any tips you can provide.
Edit: I have a lot of comments here to reply to, but I’m pretty sleepy right now so will reply to you all tomorrow. Thanks.
I’ll echo the most given tip: start slow, with only an overnight at a place near you.
If you want a “longer” trip, you could also consider going to a campsite where they have all the commodities like water and showers, setup your tent there and do day hikes from that place. You’ll get a feel of what you need for food and cooking, but still have the safety and commodities of a public campsite at your disposal.
youtube rabbithole and gear: Don’t get dragged down in the youtube rabbithole and all its gear recommendations. Gear is really, REALLY personal. Before you know it, you’ll spend hundreds of pounds on gear. Although you could view reviews of what you’re looking for, most “top 10 things you need when backpacking” are just ads for specific brands and/or very much a personal preference. Accept that you will buy gear you dislike in actual use. And that (if you find out you like backpacking) you can gather your gear over the years to suit your need. You’ll learn more from 1 actual backpacktrip than 40 hours of Youtube.
Don’t buy everything all at once, it will most likely be a waste of money. The stuff you have lying around will be heavier than “backpackgear” but will be more than sufficient to see if you like backpacking at all. You’ll find out what type of camping/backpacking you actually like and can buy gear accordingly:
- You like hiking but not setting up all the stuff? You won’t need sleeping gear as you’ll go from lodge to lodge/hostel to hostel
- you like having one base camp where you’ll hike from? You’ll buy heavier, more durable luxury gear.
- you like walking many miles and only have the minimal gear to sleep and eat? You’ll be buying lightweight gear that is super light.
- you’re a combination of any of the above? The gear will be a combination of the above.
There are so many ways of backpacking and camping. That is where Youtube will not help you. It is so important not to impose any arbitrary rules on how you should backpack/camp yourself until you actually know what aspect of it is important to you or what you enjoy most.
One more thing about buying gear(which again, I would try to minimize buying anything for a first trip) You’ll (almost) always have a tradeoff between 3 attributes: Weight, Durabilty and Price
- Gear is durable and cheap, but heavier.
- Gear is lightweight and cheap but less durable
- Gear is lightweight and durable, but expensive.
Then, 2 rules for what gear to bring:
- You need less than you think.
- Always, ALWAYS test your gear at home if you’ve bought something. Have a tent? Set it up. Have a stove? Try it out. You don’t want to be out and about without a clue and a guide to setup and use your stuff.
food: Check your local supermarket for products that can be easily prepared without needing cooling. Some types of bread have long expiry dates and are excellent for backpacking trips. Nuts and energy bars can be great too for snacks. Something like an apple is a great snack too. Try to see what you normally eat, and see if there is anything that would be practical to take with you on a trip without needing a fridge.
If you have a stove with you on your backpacking trip, special dried backpacking meals are lightweight, easy to make and (can be) tasty without being too expensive.
Part of the hobby is the journey itself. So give yourself the time to find what you like, what you need, and how get the most reward/enjoyment out of the hobby.
It’s only as overwhelming as your trip. Start simple: Overnight in a tent somewhere close to home. Bring what you think you’ll need, and if it turns out you overlooked something vital, you can always go home whenever.
Baby steps. Nobody camps a week in the wilderness alone, miles away from civilization their first time.
On short trips nearby, you can get by with the bare minimum: tent to sleep in, something to sleep on, something to sleep under. A sleeping bag can cover the two latter points. Personally i like blankets better, provided I set up the tent so.ewhere reasonably soft. Bring as much food and drink you think you’ll need - It doesn’t have to be a full meal. If it’s only over night, even a bag of chips and a bottle of water will do.