Stay Safe in the City or On a Backcountry Hike – Backpacking Safety Tips Every Backpacker Should Know

The world has a lot to offer. It’s immense and full of wondrous things. Although it’s pretty much impossible to experience it all, backpacking is and always has been, one of the greatest ways to get the biggest bang for your buck.

Jumping from city to city, country to country, or landscape to landscape with all you need strapped to your back is one of the most efficient and exciting ways to explore Mother Earth. It doesn’t matter if you’re wandering through bustling city streets, trekking across the rugged backcountry, or embarking on international adventures, there’s truly nothing like a great backpacking trip.

While exploring this way is unparalleled, safety should always be your top priority, especially if you’re backpacking alone. You should never unnecessarily risk that which is irreplaceable, you!

Even if you’re a seasoned traveler, there might be things you’re overlooking. It’s easy to skip certain precautions or become complacent. I know I’ve “winged” it when I should have “wonged” it and it got me into a few hairy situations I’m not proud of.

But this article isn’t just for the familiar, it’s for everybody, particularly brand-new backpackers. In it, I’ll cover essential backpacking and outdoor safety tips and general safety advice that everybody should follow, no matter the level of expertise. Some of the info might seem obvious, but there could be a thing or two you’ve never thought of. I assure you, it’ll be worth reading!

Before You Leave

Before you head out on your backpacking journey, there are a few things I recommend everybody do before they hit the trail or even set foot out the door. Mainly researching and gathering supplies and information.

When I was looking up the best times to visit South America, I knew I wanted to be in Bolivia during its wet season so I wouldn’t miss the Uyuni Salt Flats. If I hadn’t looked up their precipitation charts, I would have missed one of the best, and by far most beautiful, places I’ve ever been to. It was life-changing.

I didn’t however look up the best local tour companies and almost paid a terrible price. A group of us hired a man whose car was falling apart halfway through the journey, in the middle of a Bolivian desert. This was not good. We had to turn back and find another company after arguing with the man for an hour, who only spoke Spanish mind you. A great learning lesson for me, and now for you!

The point is, do a ton of research before you leave. There’s no such thing as too much knowledge, especially when it comes to traveling.

1. Create a Plan and Set a Schedule

Now you don’t have to break down every day, minute by minute or hour by hour, but you should form a general trip plan or schedule of where you want to be and what you want to do before you head out the door.

Ask yourself how much time you have for your trip, how far you want to go, and what’s your pace going to be. Once you narrow down some of these parameters, you’ll have a better sense of what to do next.

Some typical follow-up questions you’ll need to answer –

1. What is your transportation situation?
2. What are the associated costs with your entire trip?
3. Do you plan to stay in hotels/hostels, sleep in a tent, or a hybrid of both?
4. Are there any scheduled bookings you absolutely cannot miss?
5. Do you need any permits? If so, can you get them ahead of time?
6. How busy will it be?
7. What is the currency/exchange rate?

If you have a lot of time on your hands, map out the main attractions/areas you want to see or go to, but allow enough time and money to be flexible. The longer the trip, the more likely distractions will pop up and pull you towards them. A good rule of thumb – allow two days of freedom for each week you’ll be away.

After you’ve penciled in a rough itinerary and have considered all factors for getting from point A to B, familiarize yourself with the layout of the land. Visiting a big city? Learn about where the safe neighborhoods, transportation hubs, and must-see attractions are. Going into a remote wilderness? Check on water sources, dangerous plants, and/or wildlife, and cell phone reception.

Basically, learn as much as you can.

After you feel comfortable with what you’ve come up with, share your agenda with an emergency contact, trusted friend, or family member. Try and schedule check-ins at pre-determined intervals while you’re away. That might seem like overdoing it, but better safe than sorry right?

2. Gear and Equipment

Next is, of course, bringing the proper stuff with you. If you don’t have the right tools for the job, how can you expect to complete it? Not only do you want to bring the right gear and equipment, but you also want to avoid carrying the wrong items as well.

Say you’ll be wandering through a colder climate. Layers, layers, layers! Maybe you’ll be in a tropical locale that’s extremely humid. Grabbing a reusable water filter or water purification system should be high on your list (I didn’t heed this advice and nearly died from dehydration in Hawaii). Traveling Internationally? Better invest in a money belt or backpack with anti-theft features.

No matter where you’re going, it’s crucial to think about all of the potentially dangerous situations that could and, sometimes do, come up. After you do, weigh these likely/unlikely scenarios against the things you’ll need to combat them.

Some useful suggestions below for both urban and rural backpacking. This is just a small selection of options and is by no means a complete list –