Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel. It includes the use of a backpack that is easily carried for long distances or long periods of time; the use of public transport; inexpensive lodging such as youth hostels; often a longer duration of the trip when compared with conventional vacations; and typically an interest in meeting locals as well as seeing sights.

Backpacking may include wilderness adventures, local travel and travel to nearby countries while working from the country in which they are based. The definition of a backpacker has evolved as travelers from different cultures and regions participate in the trend. A 2007 paper says “backpackers constituted a heterogeneous group with respect to the diversity of rationales and meanings attached to their travel experiences. They also displayed a common commitment to a non-institutionalised form of travel, which was central to their self-identification as backpackers.” Backpacking, as a lifestyle and as a business, has grown considerably in the 2000s due to low-cost airlines and hostels or budget accommodations in many parts of the world.

Visa laws in many countries such as Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom enable backpackers with restricted visas to work and support themselves while they are in those countries. This allows these backpackers to earn an income while traveling in order to financially support their travels.

Motivations
The three main motivations for backpacking travel are the search for a sense of freedom, the search for authenticity, the ability to adapt and test oneself

The purposes of backpacking are various:

the experience of the journey itself;
the achievement of knowledge of the world by direct acquisition;
knowing people of the place;
learning languages on the spot;
living according to one’s own rhythms.

The philosophy of practice
A backpacker has only the necessities in his backpack, he seeks contact with the local population and is more independent and economical than other tourists. He takes public transport or hitchhikes, sleeps in cheap hotels like youth hostels, or uses accommodation services.

There are various ways to be a backpacker. Some have a fixed route, which they have planned, others only know the first destination and change their plans according to their desires. Some have a specific date back, others do not know at the beginning of their trip when they go home. Some have money for the whole trip, others have a limited budget and will find small jobs on site to continue their journey 3. The general idea of the backpacker is movement, he wants to “carve” or “trace the road” and fits in with the perspective of authors like Jack Kerouac who described the activity as “an ode to the great outdoors, an epic, discovering new worlds. ”

History
Seventeenth-century Italian adventurer Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri has been suggested as one of the world’s first backpackers.

While people have traveled for hundreds of years with their possessions on their backs, the modern concept of backpacking can be traced, at least partially, to the Hippie trail of the 1960s and ’70s, which in turn followed sections of the old Silk Road. Some backpackers follow the same trail today.

Over the past few decades,[when?] backpackers have traveled to South East Asia in large numbers[clarification needed] which has caused popular Thai islands and several previously sleepy towns in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos to be transformed by the influx of travelers. Backpacking in Europe, South America, Central America, Australia and New Zealand has also become more popular and there are several well-trodden routes around the world that backpackers tend to stick to.

Technological developments and improvements have contributed to changes in backpacking. Traditionally, backpackers did not travel with expensive electronic equipment like laptop computers, digital cameras, and cell phones because of concerns about theft, damage, and additional luggage weight. However, the desire to stay connected, coupled with breakthroughs in lightweight electronics, has given rise to a trend that has been termed “flashpacking”.

Backpackers have traditionally carried their possessions in 30 litre to 60 litre backpacks, but roller-wheeled suitcases and some less-traditional carrying methods have become more common, and there has been a trend towards keeping pack weights under the 7-10 kg carry-on limit of most airlines.

Culture
Of importance to some backpackers is a sense of authenticity. Backpacking is perceived as being more than a holiday, but a means of education. Backpackers want to experience what they consider the “real” destination rather than a packaged version often associated with mass tourism, which has led to the assertion that backpackers are anti-tourist. For many young people in Northern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel, backpacking is a rite of passage. In Canada, it is quite common for gap-year students to visit Europe. Backpackers are less commonly from China, India, the United States, Japan, and South Korea, due particularly to their large populations, accounted for by visa restrictions; yet, it is also gradually becoming more popular among affluent people from those countries. Backpacking trips were traditionally undertaken either in a “gap year” between high school and university, or between the latter and the commencement of work. However, the average age of backpackers has gradually increased over time, and it is now more common to see people in their 30s, 40s, and even older to backpack during an extended career break. Some retirees enjoy backpacking.

Planning and Research
Planning and research can be an important part of backpacking, aided by such guides from companies like Lonely Planet and Rough Guides, books by travel authors such as Rick Steves, and various digital and online resources such as Wikivoyage. Resources provide information about such topics as the language, culture, food, and history. They also provide listings of accommodation and places to eat, together with maps of key locations. Digital format guidebooks are becoming more popular, especially since the advent of smart phones and lightweight netbooks and laptops.

Variants
Terms used to describe backpacking with more money and resources include flashpacking, a combination of flash, as in fancy, with backpacking, and poshpacking, a combination of posh, an informal adjective for upper class, and backpacking.

A trend dubbed “begpacking” (combining begging and backpacking) arose in the mid-2010s, where travelers support their travels by begging on the street and fundraising online. The trend has drawn criticism for taking money away from people in actual need.

Way of travel
To save money on their journey, they choose cheap accommodation such as hostels, free hosting networks, ” bed and breakfast ” (B & B) or low-priced hotels that offer the basics for spending a night, even on some occasions camping. To spend the night outdoors, either in a tent or on a bivouac, in many cases it is a traveler’s choice, since it gives you more freedom and allows you to share your trip with nature. Accommodation, food and transport are important expenses in the daily budget of a backpacker. To get from one to another as commonplace are trains, buses and in many countries hitchhike (or hitchhike).

It is estimated that the total expenses, per day, of the average budget of a backpacker is 25 dollars, which would be equivalent to 16 €, which are shredded into lodging, transportation and food, basically. The backpacker accommodation options are: with tent at the campground, which often is a little out of the inner city, exposing themselves to inclement weather but with the bonus of being able to share nights a moonlight. The hostels are because for little money you can sleep in dormitories, you can share in mixed form or in rooms only for women and men and have a kitchen where you prepare meals comfortably another attractive option. Some hostels They have menus that are included in the rate.

The prices of hostels are divided into three levels depending on where they are located: the most expensive are in European countries and North America, etc; those of intermediate value in countries such as Argentina and South Africa, and the cheapest in countries such as Bolivia and Vietnam, etc. Prices usually vary from 13 to 20 dollars (10 and 15 euros). You can also choose to do couchsurfing (sleeping in family homes) or choose to work for lodging and food with specialized companies.

Backpacking in wilderness

Backpacking is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one’s back, while hiking for more than a day. It is often but not always an extended journey, and may or may not involve camping outdoors. In North America tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain huts widely found in Europe are rare. In New Zealand, tramping is the term applied though overnight huts are frequently used. Hill walking is an equivalent in Britain (but this can also refer to a day walk), though backpackers make use of all kinds of accommodation, in addition to camping. Backpackers use simple huts in South Africa. Similar terms used in other countries are trekking and bushwalking.

Backpacking as a method of travel is a different activity, which mainly utilizes public transport during a journey which can last months.

Definition
Backpacking is an outdoor recreation where gear is carried in a backpack. This can include food, water, bedding, shelter, clothing, stove, and cooking kit. Weight is necessarily key. Backpacking trips range from one night to weeks or months, sometimes aided by planned resupply points or drops.

Accommodations
Backpacking camps are usually more spartan than campsites where gear is transported by car or boat. In areas with heavy backpacker traffic, a hike-in campsite might have a fire ring (where permissible), an outhouse, a wooden bulletin board with a map and information about the trail and area. Many hike-in camps are no more than level patches of ground free of underbrush. In remote wilderness areas hikers must choose their own site. Established camps are rare and the ethos is to “leave no trace” when gone.

In some regions, varying forms of accommodation exist, from simple log lean-to’s to staffed facilities offering escalating degrees of service. Beds, meals, and even drinks may be had at Alpine huts scattered among well-traveled European mountains. Backpackers there can walk from hut-to-hut without leaving the mountains, while in places like the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales in England hill-walkers descend to stay in Youth hostels, farmhouses or guest houses.

In the more remote parts of Great Britain, especially Scotland, bothies exist to provide simple (free) accommodation for backpackers. On the French system of long distance trails, Grande Randonnées, backpackers can stay in gîtes d’etapes, which are simple hostels provided for walkers and cyclists. There are some simple shelters and occasional mountain hut also provided in North America, including on the Appalachian trail. Another example is the High Sierra Camps in the Yosemite National Park. Long distance backpacking trails with huts also exist in South Africa, including the 100 km plus Amatola Trail, in the Eastern Cape Province. Backpacking (trekking) is also popular in the Himalayas, where porters and pack animals are often used.

Equipment
Backpacking gear begins with a suitable backpack, proper both in size and fit. Next is clothing and footwear appropriate for expected conditions. Third is an adequate amount and type of food. Fourth is some form of sleep system (typically a sleeping bag and perhaps a foam pad). Fifth is some amount of survival gear, once again appropriate to the planned trip and skill-level of the backpacker. After that, everything is optional.

A shelter appropriate to expected conditions is typically next. Practical items not already mentioned – cook kit, stove, container for water, a means of purifying it – are characteristically but not always taken in some form. Depending on the trip ready-to-eat foods may suffice and suitable water be found along the way. More minimalist backpackers find ways to do with less.

Weight is always critical. A rule of thumb suggests a fully loaded backpack should weigh no more than 25% of a person’s weight. Every single item is scrutinized, many removed the first time a pack is hefted. Lightweight gear is widely available, which may or may not sacrifice utility and durability but will almost always cost more. A wide variety utilizing carbon fiber, lightweight alloys, specialty plastics, and impregnated fabrics is available.

Water
Proper hydration is critical to successful backpacking. Depending on conditions – which include weather, terrain, load, and the hiker’s age and fitness – a backpacker needs anywhere from 1/2 to 2 gallons (2 to 8 liters), or more, per day. At 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) per 1 litre (1.1 US qt) water is exceptionally heavy. It is impossible to carry more than a few days’ supply. Thus provisions for adequate water on a backpacking trip must be made in advance, whether that is knowing of potable sources such as lakes, streams, and springs en route or a means of filtering or purifying tainted water supplies as encountered.

Even in most seemingly pristine areas water needs treatment before consumption to protect against waterborne diseases carried by bacteria and protozoa. The chief treatment methods include:

Boiling over fire, stove, or other heat source
Treatment with chemicals such as chlorine or iodine
Filtering (often used in conjunction with chemical treatments)
Treatment with ultraviolet light
Water may be stored in appropriate bottles or collapsible plastic bladders. Hydration packs are increasingly popular.

Food
Backpacking is energy intensive. It is essential enough food is taken to maintain both energy and health. As with gear, weight is critical. Consequently, items with high food energy, long shelf life, and low mass and volume deliver the most utility. Satisfaction is another consideration, of greater or lesser importance to all hikers. Only they can decide whether it’s worth the effort (and trade-off against other gear) to carry fresh, heavy, or luxury food items. The shorter the trip and easier the conditions the more feasible such treats become.

In all cases, both kit and fuel necessary to prepare and serve foodstuffs selected is part of the equation. Small liquid and gas fueled campstoves and ultralight cooking pots are the norm. Increasingly campfires are prohibited.

While most backpackers consume at least some specially prepared foods, many mainly rely on ordinary low moisture household items, such as cold cereal, oatmeal, powdered milk, cheese, crackers, sausage, salami, dried fruit, peanut butter, pasta, rice, and commercially packaged dinner entrees. Popular snacks include trail mix, easily prepared at home; nuts, energy bars, chocolate, and other forms of candy for quick energy and satisfaction. Jerky and pemmican are high-energy and lightweight. Coffee, tea, and cocoa are common beverages.

Domestic items are typically repackaged in zippered plastic bags. Canned or jarred food, except for meats or small delicacies, is avoided: their containers and moist contents are usually heavy, and the metal or glass must be packed out. Food dehydrators are popular for drying fruit, jerky, and pre-cooked meals.

Many hikers use freeze-dried precooked entrees for hot meals, quickly reconstituted by adding boiling water. An alternative is Ultra High Temperature (UHT) processed food, which has its moisture retained and merely needs heating with a special, water-activated chemical reaction.

These have roots in the U.S. military’s MRE, and eliminate the need for a stove, fuel, and water. Against this, they are heavy, the water is already in the food, and they require their own fuel. Still, they have some attractions. They:

Do not need to be rehydrated or heated, useful where flames are prohibited and water is scarce.
Are very durably packaged
Contain a full meal complete with snack and dessert in every package
Offer a great deal of variety in each meal, including condiments
Individually package their components, allowing some to be stored accessibly and eaten on the move
MREs can be difficult to find in retail stores, though a good selection is often available in a (U.S.) military surplus store.

Specialized cookbooks are available on trailside food and the challenges inherent in making it. Some focus on planning meals and preparing ingredients for short trips. Others on the challenges of organizing and preparing meals revolving around the bulk rationing prevalent in extended trail hikes, particularly those with pre-planned food drops.

Winter backpacking
Winter backpacking requires a higher level of skill and generally more specialized gear than in other seasons. Skis or snowshoes may be required to traverse deep snow, or crampons and an ice axe where needed. Winter sleeping bags and tents are essential, as are waterproof, water-repellent, and moisture dissipating materials. Cotton clothing retains moisture and chills the body, both particularly dangerous in cold weather. Winter backpackers stick to wool or synthetic fabric like nylon or polypropylene, which hold less moisture and often have specialized wicking properties to dissipate sweat generated during aerobic activities. Layering is essential, as wet clothes quickly sap body heat and can lead to frostbite or hypothermia.

A winter bivouac can also be made in a snow cave. It has thermal properties similar to an igloo and is effective both at providing protection from wind and low temperatures. A properly made snow cave can be 0 °C (32 °F) or warmer inside, even when outside temperatures are −40 °C (−40 °F). It is constructed by excavating snow so that its entrance tunnel is below the main space in order to retain warm air. Construction is simplified by building on a steep slope and digging slightly upwards and horizontally into the snow. The roof is domed to prevent dripping on the occupants. Adequate snow depth, free of rocks and ice, is needed — generally 4 to 5 ft (1.2 to 1.5 m) is sufficient. A quinzhee is similar, but constructed by tunneling into mounded snow rather than by digging into a natural snow formation.

Skills and safety
Survival skills can provide peace of mind and may make the difference between life and death when the weather, terrain, or environment turns unexpectedly for the worse.
Navigation and orienteering are useful to find the trailhead, then find and follow a route to a desired sequence of destinations, and then an exit. In case of disorientation, orienteering skills are important to determine the current location and formulate a route to somewhere more desirable. At their most basic, navigation skills allow one to choose the correct sequence of trails to follow. In situations where a trail or clear line-of-sight to the desired destination is not present, navigation and orienteering allow the backpacker to understand the terrain and wilderness around them and, using their tools and practices, select the appropriate direction to hike. Weather (rain, fog, snow), terrain (hilly, rock faces, dense forest), and hiker experience can all impact and increase the challenges to navigation in the wilderness.
First aid: effectively dealing with minor injuries (splinters, punctures, sprains) is considered by many a fundamental backcountry skill. More subtle, but maybe even more important, is recognizing and promptly treating hypothermia, heat stroke, dehydration and hypoxia, as these are rarely encountered in daily life.
Leave No Trace is the backpacker’s version of the golden rule: To have beautiful and pristine places to enjoy, help make them. At a minimum, don’t make them worse.
Distress signaling is a skill of last resort.

Related activities
Hiking, which may involve day-tripping or overnight treks with a backpack
Canoe and kayak camping
Ski touring and snowshoeing
Bicycle touring or bikepacking
Trail riding, where gear is carried in saddlebags
Backpacking (travel), where public transport is used to visit cultural attractions, rather than natural ones, though it may also include wilderness side trips.
Adventure travel, tourism in a highly unpredictable or hazardous region or environment.
Thru-hiking, traversing a long-distance trail in a single, continuous journey.
Ultralight backpacking, which minimizes both weight and amount of gear carried, typically employed in highly aerobic back-country pursuits.
Wilderness survival

Danger
However, traveling in this way also involves some kind of danger, such as the case of kidnapping.

Destinations
The preferred destinations for backpackers are mostly concentrated in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Around the backpackers has generated a real industry that includes country guides, backpacks, accessories and specialized clothing, youth hostel network, discount cards and local tour services. There is a backpacker philosophy that consists of the desire to travel as well as the desire to know other cultures mixing with the people of the place.

Backpackers are the ones who have opened the way to unknown destinations, which then become popular and are offered over time by travel agencies.

Social networks of backpackers
There are social networks of backpackers and independent tourists, such as Hospitality Club, CouchSurfing and others, whose members provide each other with help and accommodation during travel.

Criticism
Backpacking has been criticised, with some criticism dating back to travellers’ behaviour along the Hippie Trail. For example, the host countries and other travelers may disagree with the actions of backpackers. However, the perception of backpackers seems to have improved as backpacking has become more mainstream. Another criticism is that even though one of the primary aims of backpacking is to seek the “authentic,” the majority of backpackers spend most of their time interacting with other backpackers, and interactions with locals are of “secondary importance.”

Source from Wikipedia