Backpacking vs Hiking
Backpacking and hiking have 90% in common. Here is how they differ on time, cost and feel, so you can pick the one that fits your week.
| What | Backpacking | Hiking |
|---|---|---|
| Time a week | 6 hours a week | 4 hours a week |
| Who with | On your own | On your own |
| You end up with | A skill you got better at | A skill you got better at |
| Feels | Calm | Calm |
| To start | $500 | $80 |
Choose backpacking if
- Costs more to start
- Slower to reward you
- More hands-on
About $500 to start, then about $20 a month.
Choose hiking if
- Cheaper to start
- Quicker first wins
- Less hands-on
About $80 to start. Little or nothing after that.
What you'll need
- Backpacking: Stove System, Sleeping Pad, Gear hire Full cost breakdown
- Hiking: Hiking Headlamp, Hiking Boots Full cost breakdown