100 Tips NOBODY tells you before your first Thru Hike

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Thru hiking tips for your first thru hike.
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[@wisenber]

Regarding #6, you might want to let your filter know that you intend to sleep with other filters, otherwise things could get awkward.

[@rufousdederp]

I wasn't expecting this comment. I'm so glad it's here though 🤣👍

[@alexroselle]

Something something Sawyer filters are my main Squeeze

[@joel.ha.]

​@@alexroselle the Sawyer is good, but it's sack is trash. You gotta go get a better sack somewhere else😂

[@collegedad8656]

That may be the first time that "Call Mom" was on a list. Good tip and saves you a lot of grief later on. 🤣👍

[@tedmccarron]

Regarding number 37, wrap each toe in athletic tap everyday and put one wide strip behind each heel and the sides of your foot. I did this and I never got a single blister on the Appalachian Trail but you have to do it everyday.

[@janefreeman995]

I wear injunji toe socks and have never had a blister. :)

[@vaseklepic12]

@@janefreeman995 I've had blisters with injinji socks, but not on toes

[@primesspct2]

good to know!

[@stevebabler7845]

I've consumed ALOT of thru-hiker content over the years, and done multiple long thru-hikes. This was impressive. I agree with probably 98 out of 100, was reminded of things I should refocus on and even learned a few new things. I will say though, my trail runners blew out like 80 miles from Canada on the PCT, and I, no joke, found a pair of 3.5 lb boots that fit perfectly under the table at my campsite. I used them the to finish the hike, and they were 90% as good as trail runners.

[@ImInfluence]

#26 absolutely not. Even if I DIDN'T like the sounds of the night forest, which I do like, there isn't a chance in the world I would cut off such an important survival sense, such as hearing.

[@daven.7685]

101. Don’t hike with earphones on so high that you can’t hear trail noise! Or just put one earphone in! I hate it when I want to pass, and I have to shout at someone to let them know I am behind them, or I have to physically get their attention.

[@joel.ha.]

Plus that's just dangerous. You need to hear bears and moose crashing around in the woods

[@sallys2423]

I'm thru hiking my neighborhood this year! (arthritis, blah blah blah, gotta start somewhere)

[@MudRucker]

So many people do not know or understand why walking facing traffic is important. You as the person walking are so much more vulnerable than a car. Seeing them coming and being aware can mean the difference between getting out of the way of an inattentive driver... or getting dead.

[@fumanpoo4725]

The hike from my car to Taco Bell was savage.

[@miettekealey6822]

The hunger setting in later is so true- I went on a three week backpacking trip with 1 resupply (bad idea lol) and I ate almost nothing in the first week and a half so when I picked up my resupply I tossed a bunch of it in the hiker box because I figured I wouldn’t need it and from then on I had raging hiker hunger. Never making that mistake again 😅

[@jcornell7993]

I agree. I did the JMT last year (12 days) and didn't get hiker hunger. I must have tossed a quarter of my first 8 day carry and half of my food on the second carry. After a long day hiking, all I wanted to do was to curl up in my quilt rather than spend the effort to make dinner. Next time I'm going to be taking more town breaks to re-feed.

[@david_W5QDF]

My wife and I live in Aiken,SC and are planning on doing the AT in 2024. 2023 is live and learn year. I use to hike in the Smokies from 1975-1979. It’s been a few moons but we will get it, thanks for all your advice 🥾🥾🥾

[@ericawashkwich8022]

I’ve heard not to quit on a bad day, but eating before quitting makes so much sense, especially since I get hangry in day to day life without hiker hunger. Looking forward to my NOBO AT attempt this year, just a few more weeks left!

[@broccolirob5085]

Its an amazing journey. Enjoy and safe travels

[@smoothlyamusing1502]

Plus it keeps bear attractive smells away from where you sleep

[@knutelindstrom3716]

Multi vitamins are a great addition too, like with the electrolyte drinks, you might not get enough vitamins from some trail foods!

[@Ottawa9one9]

Outstanding video. It stands out amongst the typical, deeper dive, 5-10 tips videos. The quick pace keeps it interesting and fun. Many of the tips apply to shorter hikes too. Thanks!

[@MrWepx-hy6sn]

"Never quit on a rainy day" this reminded me of my first time on The Camino de Santiago, a hugo north atlantic storm hit Galicia and I decided to hike through it (after all there are towns and stops anywhere if it gets too dicy" fucked up the route and took the longest scenic one (not even regret it) I was pretty much alone on the trail with wind and rain trying to keep my bad dry. I didn't care if I got wet at some point and just used my poncho as a cover for my bag. It was a great day.

[@MikeHacker]

Pop those blisters they heal faster but rinse with clean water or alcohol wipes... Or hand sanitizer but that might burn a little unless you pop it with a needle...

[@3derevo3]

Embrace the suck is a good general rule for living

[@hayorge27]

Hiking my entire life - due to genetically fd up teeth, I’ve had full dentures since I was 35. At first, it was humiliating experience. As time progressed, I found there were many positives to having full teeth replacement. 1. No more pain. Thank you God that should be enough, but, 2. Cleaning is simple, especially when hiking. Not saying remove your teeth for a better experience 😂, just if you’re in my situation, I’ve found it to be an advantage. Don’t let you hold yourself back. Great video as always. Thanks

[@Truth-Seeker75]

Good effort. I appreciate the rapid fire. I can’t imagine how long this would have taken other KZbin personalities who talk more than they’ve ever backpacked (looking at you DB).

[@janefreeman995]

I carry apples, oranges and cucumbers on the first day after resupply that replaces water carry and still will be hydrated. If available I also power down like four bananas just before heading out on the trail. Fresh food is something I crave on trail. Znaturals is a company that has bulk dehydrated foods that have decent prices.... if you like to come up with own recipes. They have a dehydrated cashew milk that is great for coffee and tea and making meals creamy.

[@LABoyko]

Great stuff. Maybe your best video yet. Here's my addition to your list. Aspirin alleviates symptoms of altitude sickness; Mary Jane alleviates symptoms of altitude sickness; Kyle's mom alleviates symptoms of loneliness. 😂

[@edgit69]

Awesome tips.. Can't believe you crammed a 100 tips in one video 😁

[@GingerKC]

I so enjoy all your fabulous information and stories. I unfortunately can't hike anymore, due to bad knees. But I still explore and camp, 4 wheel to get into the back country. Love old stage coach rds, mining rds, mail routes. LEAVE NO TRACE!!! RESPECT THE WOODS. 🙏

[@tedmccarron]

Ginger I'm very sorry about your knees. Could you get knee replacement surgery?

[@albertawheat6832]

@@tedmccarron Are you willing to donate your knees to her...?

[@jessicahedtke]

Great tips! I will be thru-hiking the Superior Hiking Trail this year as my first thru-hike!

[@marianhaas4157]

A very helpful collection of tips and tricks, well done!!! An additional advice: If you use Altras or other shoes with soft sole, be very careful when using a campfire to dry them. On our way down San Jacinto, near Fuller Ridge another hiker placed his Altras to close at the fire and one of the shoes shrinked by 1 Size (American Scale, more than 2 Sizes in European Scale), so he had to hike 20 miles and more than 6000 feet down the mountain from Fuller Ridge to MESA. When we reached the highway bridge near MESA his toe nails in the shrinked shoe were blackend and was in agonizing pain, so be careful while drying your shoes!!! A Tip: If you really wanna dry your shoes for more comfort, take a few sites of newspaper with you and put it in your shoes over night (not 100% effective, but better than destroy your shoes in the wilderness or on a mountain)

[@thehikingrealtor6812]

Awesome video. Fast, great advice and no fluff. Love it. Took many of these tips and have done/used many others. Great job and thank you!

[@berniebroering7438]

Fast and precise for 100. Thanks, Training for the River to River Trail in the late spring. Cheers!

[@abomb207]

This was awesome, super helpful, and a great pace and to the point. Hiking goal for 2023 is to wrap my NEHH during the summer season, which’ll be a single season NH48 & a few other nearby stragglers.

[@bobsoutside538]

We’ll done! Call your mom really resonated with me. Mom and I looked forward to FaceTime when I hit town. Keep up the great videos.

[@katharinemay4040]

Thank you for this!! I'm doing TRT with my friend this summer and hopefully PCT with my dad next year after I graduate.

[@j0g0b0nit0]

pretty cool dude.. was thinking about hiking the AT and every little bit of experience/knowledge helps.. thanks for the info. Keep on Keepin on

[@pemborsky]

101. Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

[@notquiteultralight1701]

This was spot on Kyle! Especially the no tent in the leanto!

[@Alex-bt9uu]

Spot on! Excellent video!! 👍👍

[@OGhikes]

Kyle these are great. I'm headed out for an AT-thru attempt starting 2/23/23. There were some helpful tips here.

[@markwightman8309]

Good luck!!

[@prodbytarantino]

4 days away bro. Good luck!

[@OGhikes]

@@prodbytarantino thanks!

[@jimmac1953]

Excellent vid. Each tip short and concise.

[@memathews]

Excellent list of tips!

[@guillaumelambermont3109]

This is gold, thank you !!

[@jasoncbrooks74]

Nice video! Tips were good and nice to see your friends in the b-roll.

[@gregmortonoutdoors]

Don't change your trail runners for a pair you've never tried before. I saw people seriously jack up their feet and legs because they bought a different brand/model from what they had been using.

[@KyleHatesHiking]

agreed, although for some people they don't really have a choice

[@kylesueltenfuss7922]

Yeah I made that mistake on the CDT, but was having bad luck with shoes in general lol.

[@erichobbs4042]

This killed my PCT SOBO attempt in 2019. My shoes were pretty worn out when I started and Washington pretty much destroyed them. I saw that everyone else was wearing Altra's, and I couldn't find a replacement pair for my La Sportiva's so I switched to the Altra's. By the time I got to Mt. Hood I'd developed plantar fasciitis and had to take the next 3 months to recover.

[@rolfdenver]

These are such awesome tips. But how do you find the fastest charger and cables?

[@calebknowlton9411]

@@rolfdenver anker brand cables and adapters are pricy, but absolutely worth it IMO. Bomb proof and FAST.

[@steveringler6622]

Thanks Kyle. Your advice is always welcome 🙏🏽 ❤

[@sunkenisle]

This may be the actual best list of advice for hikers I have ever seen. Congrats and thanks. Well done. Also, you said you used a camp chair aka bear canister. Nice.

[@AuburnAlum1977]

Excellent list, Kyle! I'm forwarding the link to a few people right now. 🤗

[@1990Co]

Dude this is a killer video nice job

[@razzbazle1582]

One of your best videos!!

[@chrishill146]

Great advice. We're hiking the MA section of the AT this year. Then doing a thru hike of the AT in 2024.

[@janefreeman995]

Wearing wool keeps the whiff factor down. Also, a portable bidet like the culoclean keeps the fuzzy and scuzzy from getting ripe. Also can carry less tp. A tip with this in low water availability is to clean up with leaves and such and then do a bidet clean away from next water source.... otherwise there will be monkey butt. I still carry some tp. Anyway, ways to be less smelly.

[@jhonyermo]

Bidet not worth a shit.

[@gabicerrahikes]

Great list

[@colleenpodraza6050]

AWESOME LIST, Kyle…thank you!

[@rhobeans]

“Drown out the random spooky sounds with headphones.” Okay. *puts in headphones. Plays my random spooky forest sounds playlist.*

[@lela8658]

Wow! 100 great tips, Kyle! You make the best hiking content on KZbin!!

[@TheMountanGoat]

Pretty good list. Another Addicted thru hiker.

[@Archer21344]

Great video. Thanks

[@learntechwithruth2147]

Great advice

[@ironpig701]

Great tips. Ill add #101 when hitchhiking take your wallet and phone out of pack and put in pockets. If you gotta bail as person is sketch at least you have funds and way to contact outside world.

[@caby1980]

Planning on hiking the Benton MacKaye trail in two sections this year! Gonna start in early April if anyone wants to join. Great list btw

[@KyleHatesHiking]

good luck Caleb!

[@somedavechannel]

nice list! also add that you should make sure your cred cards and debit card aren't going to expire when you are on trail, it's a PIA when it happens & you derp'd! Just did it in '22 and this is a ton of legit tips.

[@mark777143]

Loved it. 2017er here. I wish I knew about the electrolytes when I started. would have made a lot of crampy nights better.

[@KrizAkoni]

This was really good!

[@kathycasey9153]

Great advice!

[@KyleHatesHiking]

Thanks Kathy!

[@E_Don]

Hey Kyle! Another great video! I definitely fancy a cocktail around the campfire. How often did you run into people drinking? Was it pretty rare?

[@OseaD]

Great Info

[@_crane_7475]

You came across Taylor on the trail! (Seen at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="487">8:07</a> in video) i just watched her AT Thru-Hike video! So cool. Small world. Love the vids dude.

[@doyoulikejazz9516]

absolutely agree with #1 this may sound like the most german sentence in existence, but there is no better moral booster than a crisp schnitzel (and maybe a beer depending on the route) in some small village after hiking for a while.

[@randyward4896]

Excellent video young man

[@williamgates2404]

The only grain of salt I needed was your advice on killing those spooky night noises. Of course, I took my first week long solo in 1966..... I thought everything else was spot on!

[@stevenlangevin1159]

thanks for this

[@twokois7032]

I see you making upwards of 500k Subs + I'd start saying that as your goal. Love this video!!!

[@jeffreylevyhe-him1959]

Absofreakinglutley fantabulous advice!

[@SilverEye121]

Can 100% relate to no. 73. Toe socks changed my life.

[@PierreFarrugia]

Very good video , love from Malta 🇲🇹🇪🇺

[@midwestmikeonahike]

This was great!

[@mointhewild]

Yeah this is good content, DUDE!!!!

[@vagabondwildernesswanderings]

Good job!!!!

[@donot314]

Thanks for adding "Call your Mom" to this list. She is worried about you. It is not to annoy you. It is a "Mom" default setting.

[@SupermanJimbo]

Awesome, Kyle. PCT for me this year, and although most of this was known to me it’s always good to hear and I know others haven’t. 👊

[@dhoy42]

doood!!! such a great video🤙 in 2020 i went from never camping more than a night 2 completing old faithful 2 marias pass(glacier entrance) and discovered all these tips from mostly personal experience which inconvienet yet wouldnt change it HYOH✌️-swingshift (just assumed back then when some1 gave u a trail name 1st one was it and since i sleep in and hike late, Lotus Flower came up with a good 1)

[@daveinacave]

One more- have fun!!!

[@CastawayHikes]

Tip #1: Don't quit until you finish 😉 Seriously, go back and finish the PCT

[@KyleHatesHiking]

It's not even spring yet give me some time here

[@janefreeman995]

@Kyle Hates Hiking The NFs were closed in CA sobo in 2021 (on a filp flop) I was so happy for what I did see, tho. Hopefully will finish one day.

[@tinybigbus1873]

Thank you for the video. Some excellent suggestions. I may be moving to Shasta County and getting a place about 5 miles from the PCT. I would like to set up some type of resupply place. Is that to far from the trail to get hikers?

[@modestadventurers]

Tip 101. Always take Kyles Mom to while away those quiet evenings.

[@michaelrousseau8851]

I agreed with 100 of these tips. 10/10 Kyle

[@MrDocSeus]

If you say Appa-lay-cha I’ll throw an Apple-atcha.

[@dchapero6929]

Hell with that - pot is significantly lighter than booze.

[@bigzachdoesstuff3925]

#7 is good, but sometimes even when you check before you step those suckers jump out at you silently from under cover. Or maybe that was just me that they had it out for.

[@stewartbergman1812]

Biggest mistake I have made is going to fast on a high elevation hike like Mt. Whitney. Learned the hard way.

[@CanCanHikes]

Great content, as usual! This year, I’m hoping to thru hike the NET and the LT (again). I’ve also got a 24-hour thing to see how many miles I can do in continuous 3-mile loops around a NH lake, from 7 a.m. to 7 a.m.

[@KyleHatesHiking]

that's awesome! good luck out there Shannon!

[@miss.scales7159]

Electrolytes are easily the most important thing you can ingest on a long day or backpacking trip. I've passed out due to too much water drowning out my electrolytes

[@AllensAdventures]

Mom jokes never get old

[@knutelindstrom3716]

You’re going to hit 100k subs before April at this rate! 3k alone since last night! You’re on your way to your goal!

[@RobLineberger]

This is the most accurate thru-hiking video I've ever seen.

[@bmfsnc8466]

Kyle, order these Vermont things for me from your fav to least fav.... phish, Ben and Jerry's, real Mapple syrup.🤣

[@nomorenames5568]

Hiking Boots have been standard long journey footwear for hundreds if not thousands of years for a reason. Trail runners are certainly useable but your feet will thank you if you splurge on sturdy footwear. I can't imagine going hundreds of miles over sharp jagged rocks in the same trail runners, you'd have to get a new pair like every month or the soles would become useless for stopping the rocks from hurting your feet.

[@natureisallpowerful]

Spotify offline is great for hiking. Sleep warm ,baby wipes for washing, my msr pocket rocket, foraging along the way,enjoy the journey instead of yomping to the next destination, leave early arrive late,take a day off,dry dead standing wood respect nature, leave no trace. And all the other tips what works for me.

[@TheWalkingWithBonesShow]

31. Different league with this one for me. Some Backpackers live full time with no permanent job or "cards" and do just fine. Cash is easy to come by if you know what your doing though.

[@kristasmith7270]

KYYYYYLLLLLEEEEEE!!!!!! hi. Can you share a Spotify playlist. I'm rewatching your Pct vids (yay track list) and forgot to ask you then. Pls? Luv u! ❤🤘🏻🎸❤

[@JimD77]

Somehow, I don't think my dead Mom will answer the call. Should I pack a Ouija Board?

[@rallydrew]

Don't forget to call Kyles mom while hiking, got it.

[@glittergrl71]

What is the best Month to start

[@janefreeman995]

An inreach or like emergency spot is somehow reassuring when hitchhiking.