- You're happy walking for many hours every single day.
- You're the type who finds joy in simple, repetitive daily tasks.
- You truly feel alive when completely reliant on yourself.
- You always need to be surrounded by many people.
- You cannot tolerate being cold, wet, hungry, or dirty.
- You need constant novelty and stimulation to stay engaged.
Your first moves.
Don't start from scratch. Start from here.
Complete several backpacking trips first
Two to four nights on trail with a full pack is the minimum required to understand how your body and gear actually perform. Many people discover gear problems, foot issues, or unrealistic distance expectations that are far better discovered on a weekend than on day three of a thru-hike.
Get your base weight under 15 pounds
Base weight is everything in your pack except food and water. Carrying a 35-pound pack for five months causes injuries.
Plan your resupply strategy before you leave
Resupply is how you get food along the trail. Some hikers mail boxes of food to post offices and hostel addresses ahead of time.
Break in your footwear completely before starting
New boots on day one of a thru-hike produce blisters that can end the hike in week one. Wear your trail footwear for at least 100 miles of hiking before the start date, including the socks you plan to hike in.
Sort finances and logistics before you go
A five-month thru-hike costs $3,000 to $6,000 all-in. Arrange automatic bill payments, notify your bank of travel, and handle anything that requires your physical presence before you leave.
Start slower than you think you need to
The most common cause of early trail dropout is starting too fast, accumulating injury or exhaustion before trail legs develop. Most experienced thru-hikers recommend starting with 8 to 12 miles per day and letting mileage increase naturally as fitness develops over the first two to three weeks.
Master Thru-hiking with online courses
Find the highest-rated beginner courses on Udemy before you invest in gear.
Trekking Poles
Aonijie 3 Piece Aluminum Pole — Ultra‑compact collapsible poles with excellent reviews for comfort, durability, and easy pack‑down for long hikes.
Navigation Device
Garmin eTrex 32x — A reliable handheld GPS with detailed mapping support and multi GNSS for accurate trail navigation and easy route planning on long hikes.
Related hobbies
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