10 Backpacking Tips Every Survivalist Should Know Before Hitting the Trail

The gap between reading about survival skills and actually living them on the trail is where most beginners stumble. Every seasoned backpacker has a list of things they wish they had known before strapping on a pack for the first time. In the video above, experienced backpacker Alex Hatlevig shares ten practical tips that would have saved him time, discomfort, and unnecessary weight on his early trips into the backcountry.

Whether you are planning your first overnight hike or looking to refine your wilderness travel strategy, these insights cover everything from gear selection and pack organization to campsite selection and hydration management. Each tip is drawn from real trail experience, not theory, making them directly applicable to anyone serious about building outdoor competence. The backcountry does not care about your experience level, so you need to learn these lessons before you need them, not during the emergency that tests them.

Backpacking is one of the most effective ways to develop the self-reliance and trail competence that translates directly to survival situations. The skills overlap more than most people realize: navigation, shelter selection, water management, temperature regulation, and wildlife awareness are all core survival skills that backpacking pushes you to practice in real conditions. Let us break down the key lessons every backpacker and survivalist should internalize before heading off the grid.

Key Survival Takeaways

• Pack Lighter Than You Think You Need: Beginners consistently overpack. Every ounce matters when you are carrying it for miles. Focus on multipurpose gear and leave the luxuries behind. A lighter pack means more energy for the hike and less risk of injury, which matters even more when you are miles from a trailhead.
• Organize Your Pack by Frequency of Use: Keep items you will need throughout the day, like snacks, water filtration, and a first aid kit, in accessible pockets. Store camp-only items like your sleeping bag and tent deep in the main compartment. This system saves time and prevents frustration on the trail, especially when weather turns and you need gear fast.
• Break in Your Footwear Before the Trip: Blisters can end a backpacking trip before it really starts. Wear your hiking boots for weeks before a big trip, starting with short walks and building to longer hikes. Carry blister treatment supplies like moleskin and athletic tape as part of your essential kit, because even broken-in boots can cause hot spots on rough terrain.
• Pre-Hydrate and Maintain a Drinking Schedule: Drink plenty of water before you start hiking, then sip consistently rather than gulping at long intervals. Dehydration sneaks up on you at altitude and in dry climates, often before you feel thirsty. Plan water stops around reliable sources on your route and know how far you can go between them.
• Choose Campsites With Natural Windbreaks and Drainage: Avoid low-lying areas where water pools during rain. Look for natural shelter from wind using trees, rocks, or terrain features. A well-chosen campsite makes the difference between a restful night and a miserable one, and it affects your safety in storms when exposure becomes a real threat.
• Learn to Layer Clothing Properly: A base layer, insulating mid-layer, and weather-resistant shell give you more flexibility than a single heavy jacket. Remove layers before you start sweating and add them before you get cold. Managing body temperature is a core survival skill that prevents hypothermia and heat exhaustion, two of the most common backcountry emergencies.
• Practice Setting Up Your Shelter at Home: Pitch your tent or tarp in your backyard before relying on it in the field. Familiarity with your gear means you can set up quickly even in bad weather or fading light, which is exactly when mistakes happen. A shelter that takes twenty minutes in your living room should take ten on the trail.
• Master Basic Navigation Before You Need It: A GPS is a backup, not a primary tool. Learn to read a topographic map and use a compass before you hit the trail. Knowing how to triangulate your position, identify landmarks, and navigate off-route if you lose the path can save your life when batteries die or signals drop. Practice on short day hikes where mistakes are low-risk before you are twenty miles from the trailhead.
• Store Food Securely Against Wildlife: Leaving food in your pack overnight is an invitation to animals, from mice to bears. Use a bear hang at least 200 feet from camp, suspending food 12 feet off the ground and 6 feet from any branch. In bear country, carry a bear canister where regulations require it. Never keep food or scented items in your tent, and cook at a distance from your sleeping area to avoid attracting wildlife to your shelter.
• Learn to Read Weather Signs on the Trail: Weather in the backcountry can shift rapidly, and cell service is unreliable for forecasts. Learn to read cloud formations: cumulonimbus towers building in the afternoon mean storms are coming, while dropping barometric pressure signals deteriorating conditions. Watch for wind direction shifts and temperature drops that precede fronts. If you see lightning or hear thunder, descend from ridges and peaks immediately and seek shelter in a low area away from tall trees.

Gear and Equipment

Building a reliable backpacking kit does not have to break the bank, but each item should earn its place in your pack. Start with a properly fitted internal frame backpack that distributes weight comfortably across your hips. Footwear is critical: invest in a pair of waterproof hiking boots with ankle support and break them in thoroughly. For water safety, carry a portable water filter so you can safely drink from natural sources along your route. A good moleskin blister treatment kit is small enough to forget but essential when you need it. For navigation, carry a durable topographic map and compass as a backup to any electronic device. A bear canister for food storage keeps your rations safe and complies with backcountry regulations in many areas. Finally, a lightweight ultralight one-person tent gives you reliable shelter without adding excessive weight to your load.

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Conclusion

Backpacking is one of the best ways to build the kind of self-reliance and trail competence that translates directly to survival situations. The tips in this video are not groundbreaking secrets, but they are the hard-won lessons that most experienced outdoorspeople had to learn the hard way. Internalize them, practice with your gear before you need it, and every trip will go smoother than the last. The wilderness rewards preparation and punishes improvisation, so treat these ten tips as your pre-trip checklist. There is no substitute for time spent on the trail learning what works for you, but starting with these fundamentals will save you from learning them the hard way.