7 BEGINNER Tips You Need BEFORE You Go Backpacking! And The 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway Winner!

[@john_kelley]

All the winner needs to do is send me an email to [e-mail]. I'll correspond with you on all the details I'll need to get you all your new swag!

[@Slow_poke_hiker]

Email is headed your way. Thank you for this very generous give away.

[@fatguyhisbackpack5755]

how do we know if we won :)

[@john_kelley]

@@fatguyhisbackpack5755 Watch the video

[@chipkk7868]

Make the first trip around the block ending up camping in the back yard. Loved your tip of a short trip in the woods, but do a gear run through at home first. Pack up everything like you were off to the woods, put on your pack and hike around the block. Set up camo in the back yard, make your dinner while sitting in your chair (YES get a backpacking chair), enjoy the sunset, and go to sleep out there. In the morning clean up and stow your gear in the pack. Hike backwards around the block, unpack your gear, clean and store it, then sit down and reflect on how it went. What did you use, what did you not touch, what did you want to make you try on the next trip, how did the gear work, how was it to clean and put it away? All of that will make the second trip better.

[@john_kelley]

That's phenomenal advice!

[@wimahlers]

​@@john_kelley [] ... Make the first trip around the block ending up camping in the back yard. or ... Make multiple trips around the block in different weather conditions (rain, storm, heat wave, freezing) ending up camping in the back yard, testing all your equipment. That is what I did and do. Except I don't have a backyard. I have an apartment.

[@markthiel2953]

Have a plan to stay hydrated. Carry at least a liter of water and know where the water sources along the trail are located. Have capacity for at least a couple of liters for camp. I learned this the hard way. Congratulations, John on the giveaway.

[@john_kelley]

Great tip!

[@TheNoobHiker]

Brother, that advice about making your first trip a mile or two is golden advice. It takes so much longer to set up/break down camp and any gear issues, rain, warmth/cold issues can really lead to potentially harmful situations. Excellent video!

[@nicksam5518]

my testing of gear is often at my local camp ground. I can walk back to car if somthing does not wrk. I often sleep 1st, then practice taking all my gear on a hike from the campground on a known trail I enjoy. I have an idea of how it normally takes, and I can gauge something as improved or slowing me down.

[@john_kelley]

Really good idea!

[@erikl.1860]

100% agree with the chair. I always take it with me on my bicycle tours (so far from 1000 to 8500 km each trip). It’s so good to sit in the chair while cooking, eating, reading. It makes your trips much more enjoyable, as important as a good tent or good sleeping system.

[@atgirl]

I am not a beginner backpacker by any means I certainly did not need this video BUT it's John Kelly I have to watch John Kelly lol I love your videos And I look forward to every one of them! thanks for doing all of these You have helped me a ton along the way it's because of you that I'm not a beginner backpacker anymore. Thank you thank you thank you! I hope your 2023 is awesome!

[@shawnr6117]

Tip #8: make a check list The one exception to the backpack last rule would be when buying a large pack (65-80l+) as most of them should have the carrying capacity for beginner gear

[@ronb2008]

YAAAAASSSSSS!!! I love #7!! There’s nothing better than hiking all day and being able to sit down in a (relatively) comfortable chair at the end of the day. I’ll happily carry the extra pound of my REI co-op if it means I get to relax at the end of a hike.

[@john_kelley]

Exactly!

[@jdsmith8135]

100% on the chair. Game changer for my enjoyment of hiking and camping in the woods.

[@Oldsparkey]

Good advice , John. Now if they just listen and do like you said it can save a lot of grief. I take what I'm wearing ( extra pair of socks ) and one complete change of clothing for town breaks. If it's all wilderness then a clean outfit in the vehicle so when I get back to it. Off to a shower/bath/swim and clean clothes before entering civilization. I figure being smelly in the woods keeps the Sasquatch away and even other critters. Skunks might be the exception by being attracted. Thinking about it , that might be why I like to go solo. LOL. You say to start with a framed pack , Golly all I could get back in the late 50's were External Framed Packs. I still like the old external pack even after advancing to other styles and eventually a frame less UL Pack which I use these days.

[@Love2Wander]

Congratulations to the winner John

[@bernielamont825]

Great advice, nothing worse than having the "hershey squirts" from giardia. When starting out backpacking its best to stay away from the from the ultralight videos. Yes you want to keep your wieght down, just don't go all out ulralight at first until you have a few trips under your belt.

[@john_kelley]

Definitely!

[@a.ramosakadrumgrl6677]

I'm a beginner and I have only been out testing my gear as I accumulate it while car camping at my local state parks. I have had some up and downs using different gear. I am glad to be testing it this way, especially when it rains.

[@chipkk7868]

BEST EVER getting started video and congrats to John. Many thanks for being a part of the 12 days event. It reminds us of the meaning of Christmas and Gods gift to us all. Looking forward to your adventures in 2023.

[@john_kelley]

Thanks so much, Chip! Happy New Year!

[@DaveOffGrid]

Totally agree with all except extra clothes gang ftw!!!! Unless I'm going UL I pack at least one set of extra clothes and a way to wash them if I'm going out longer than a weekend trip. There is a way to combat the stink, and I'm def and advocate for it on trail.

[@MtnWanderer-TieDye-]

Leukotape for hot spots/blisters, toe socks, hand wipes with some alcohol content helps kill the stinky bacteria that causes body smells, but don't overdo it. Research, research, research all products before purchasing and test them at home before hitting the trail. Would hate to hit the trail with a bunch of food that needs boiling water only to find your stove doesn't work or your lighter is a dud. Great video and congratulations to the winner!

[@john_kelley]

Great tips! Everyone of them.

[@MeMe-cd1wy]

Happy New Year John. I listen to you all the time on the podcast with Jeremiah. My first backpacking trip was in 1972 when I was 18. I am a woman and it was hard to find friends who backpacked. Also, hard to find backpacking equipment. I took a killer Camp 7 -25 f sleeping bag, but no pad. My Malamut dog was not happy when I slept part way on her. Fortunately I am 5’ and at the time weighed 110mand she weighed close to 100lbs. I now have excellent equipment. Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and sometimes use Enlighten quilt. Exped pad, Xmid tent and so on. Times really have changed, but your advice to new backpacker is and has always been the gold standard advice for beginning.😊

[@20Hikecdt23]

ULA are light packs but some are made for heavier weights than you mentioned.

[@john_kelley]

Most of their packs are framed. The CDT is their biggest frameless pack at 50L, but it's max weight is 25lbs.

[@JamesPark0168]

Hi, not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but I highly recommend trekking poles. They're not just for us old geezers either, they can really help out 🙂

[@sirsir108]

Another good reason to get your backpack last is so you can know what all your gear weighs I recommend getting a backpack that can carry more than your gear plus food and water weighs by at least 5 lbs when a company says max carrying weight is 30lbs it usually isn't comfortable to carry 30lbs if you put 30lbs in on rated for 35lbs or 40lbs its most likely going to feel way better than pushing the limits on a bag plus it gives you room for long water carrys. also testing out hiking with all your gear AND food is a good idea i did all my gear and water but no food and i was suprised how much different it was going up the mountain with a few days of food added to the load. if you can do some small trips to start do that. i decedided to get back into backpacking after not doing it in like 12 years and went on my 1st solo hike and jumped right into 2 weeks on the pct and while it worked i wanted to switch things out on like day 3 and was 150 miles from home. after that trip i did a few smaller 2-4 day trips and got my kit dialed in much better and faster with a few small trips im very confident the next time i go for a 2 week trip its going to be a lot smoother after multiple small trips and tinkering with my set up/getting more experiance with how much and water i really need and knowing how many miles i can hike etc etc

[@john_kelley]

Excellent stuff.

[@brodiereed2574]

Congrats to John and great tips for beginners.

[@john_kelley]

Thanks for watching!

[@tangenttrails]

Great video for the beginner! A chair is a game changer for sure.

[@ckgonzales6743]

Happy New Years! I got my husband the NU25 for Christmas.

[@john_kelley]

Happy new year!! That's awesome!

[@markheming3507]

Best bang for the buck! I have 30-40 different ones & always go back to my NU25

[@wanderingthewilderness]

Congratulations. Great giveaway. Awesome tips. Thx for sharing.

[@john_kelley]

Thanks for watching!

[@AllTerrainCoffeeCamping]

Congrats to the winner! Another great video John, thanks for sharing and being awesome!

[@john_kelley]

I appreciate you!

[@justjonoutdoors]

I’ve been backpacking for more than 45 years, and I seriously doubt I’ll ever go to a frameless backpack… Even my lightest (< 2 lbs) pack has a frame (Outdoor Vitals Shadowlight 60), and I’ve carried more than 50 pounds in it. When I’m going heavy long distance, I still use my Osprey most of the time.

[@john_kelley]

I tried frameless, and I'm good going framed from here on out.

[@justjonoutdoors]

@@john_kelley With framed packs coming in under 2 pounds, I don’t see any reason to go frameless! I’ve heard folks say the “comfort rating” of the OV Shadowlight is ~35 pounds, but I can personally attest that it will carry 50 without being uncomfortable!

[@DanielCrist]

I would just add to bring a couple of sachets of P&G Water Purification powder. It's really helpful to make a big batch of clean water at camp without boiling. 1 packet can take 10 liters of brown water and turn it into crystal clear safe drinking water, with all of the solids and dissolved nastiness all clumped together and easily filtered through basic cotton. Just make sure you have a couple of large plastic bags to mix the water in, and something to use as a frame for the bag, like an upside down chair. By the way, I 💯% completely agree with the chair suggestion. So many people see it as a non-essential, but it will drastically improve the time you spend at camp, and even make your dinner taste better. It's also helpful just to have a place to keep something off the ground (when you need to empty some things out of your pack to locate something, or just to hang your jacket while you collect firewood, etc ), and as mentioned before, you can use it as a frame for a plastic bag to make a pot for mixing powdered drinks, or some kind of meal prep like mixing some powdered broth that everyone can then heat up seperately with their mess kit.

[@john_kelley]

Great stuff! I'll have to check out that water purification powder!

[@DanielCrist]

@@john_kelley you've never heard of it or used it before? It's amazing, it even filters out heavy metals and a lot of chemical pollutants, and it doesn't leave that iodine taste. It's used in disaster relief and other emergencies by government agencies and militaries, but a few years ago they started selling it to the public. It's not feasible to use on the trail but it's great for the campsite. There's a few other different types of purification tablets and powders that work in different ways and I'm sure you're familiar with most (like iodine), but this is the only one that completely clarifies the water, grabbing onto all the molecules and coagulating everything into an easily filtered solid. I've only seen someone else use it and tried the water myself once a couple of years ago, and I keep forgetting to order some whenever I'm back home.

[@john_kelley]

@@DanielCrist Never heard of it. I definitely need to look it up.

[@DanielCrist]

@@john_kelley definitely look into it. I think you can buy as few as 4 packets on Amazon, and they're cheap. Anywhere from like 50 cents to $2 I believe, depending on quantity ordered. There is a slight chlorine taste, but if you drink municipal tap water you're probably accustomed to the mild chlorine taste on certain days and it's definitely a lot more neutral tasting than iodine. Plus, the longer it sits, the more will evaporate, and if you use it for cooking, the heat will pull the chlorine out real fast.

[@Qb7deepsea]

Congrats, John!

[@jeffpeters5347]

Great video John! This is exactly the kinda advice that’s really needed. New video topics: #1- Advice to new backpackers AFTER their first trip; #2- Hard questions that new backpackers need to ask themselves after their first trip. Happy New Year!

[@john_kelley]

Great ideas Jeff! Happy New Year!

[@mkultrahikes]

All very good tips! Happy New Year! I hope we get to hike together sometime this year!

[@svravenflintlock7526]

Congrats John

[@Fyfferealestateteam]

Great video. Take care of your feet. Make sure your shoes fit well BEFORE that first overnight trip

[@john_kelley]

As someone with plantar fasciitis, I can relate.

[@donwaldroopoutdoors3665]

Great advice , Merry Christmas & happy new year

[@BrokenDrum9]

Great tips John. Thank you.

[@john_kelley]

You are very welcome

[@mistysmeanderings6428]

Congratulations, John!

[@mackjenkins7721]

Hello John how are you doing? That was great tips for new beginning. I am going to share this with my coworker because he is going to start hiking he said. I know this will help him out. Happy new year to you and your family. I hope you enjoyed your holiday with your family and friends. Good video buddy thanks you for sharing it.

[@john_kelley]

Hey Mack! Thanks for the kind words! I hope you and your family have a phenomenal 2023!

[@ronaldrose7593]

Great informative video John, thank you for sharing it. All the best to you. Stay safe out there. 🏕 Stay safe out there. 🤗 👋

[@john_kelley]

Thanks! You do the same!

[@kylepec]

New subscriber, have you done a thru- hike, which trail?

[@john_kelley]

Yep. Did the Sheltowee Trace.

[@lightwalker4558]

Happy New Year John from CT. 🎉

[@john_kelley]

Happy new year!

[@stevewright2241]

Get a mentor. Someone who you can pick their brain and don’t be surprised that you out grow that mentor and have to find another as you develop along the way. Go with someone else on your 1st trip and see if they will loan you some gear. Most backpackers who have been doing it for awhile can probably gear 3-4 people with their old gear. This will give you a chance to try out some gear before you go buy your own. The person loaning you the gear will also help you in not bringing too much stuff.

[@john_kelley]

I do that with my friends that are interested. Great stuff!

[@livingsimplytosimplylive6817]

Happy New Year

[@john_kelley]

Back at ya!

[@Slow_poke_hiker]

Thank you. Can I add haw that I was almost as shocked about you pronouncing my name right as I was about winning.

[@john_kelley]

Dang!!! I didn't know if I was right about your name. Glad I got it right! 😂 Congrats!

[@KrizAkoni]

Awesome tips! Happy New Year!

[@john_kelley]

Happy new year to you!

[@lisajones8730]

I can't believe no one ever mentions the granite gear perimeter 50 backpack. Not only did it win a best gear award in 21, it's so freaking adjustable you can make it fit perfectly for almost any body style. I started with Osprey and Gregory but once I found this one, I'm never going back. It's lightweight, framed and has load lifters. There's only 2 or 3 videos on it too. I just don't get it 🤷‍♀️

[@john_kelley]

I've never used one. I'm sure it's a great pack.

[@19stoney64]

Good info John, thx. Stoney

[@wrestlingcoach9486]

After boiling the water and transfering it to the canteen of your choice, put said water carrying vessel in the creek or water source to cool down while you pack up...... PRESTO COOL AQUA

[@SheGoneAgain]

Hey John. Enjoyed your video.

[@john_kelley]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@nightmareerror3555]

I've been checking Creek were melted were all water from the land and their got sick from that with no filter

[@MarkGoesHiking]

Tip #8 - don’t wizz on the electric fence 😮

[@john_kelley]

Now that's some REAL advice!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@roamingrick8736]

Body glide and good wipes, nothing worse than butt or leg rash, trust me it will happen unless precautions are taken!

[@nrgltwrkr2225]

Crocs for camp shoes....your feet just say...Aaahhhh. Worth their weight in ....well, weight. 😆

[@aliekins3467]

I have a set up ..that is in progress. It will be on Hip camp an it is geared toward all new hiking enthusiasts. Get your first night in the woods but be able to get to a room if you cant swing it.. Its being built with a out look that you can sit high on..Its located in Louisiana..send me a message if this is intriguing to your adventure of starting out in the wild!

[@john_kelley]

That sounds great!

[@aliekins3467]

I think it will be

[@fatguyhisbackpack5755]

I use the pills and never had an issue with water. I think aqua pills work the best but convince me why I should change to a filter JOHN LOL

[@john_kelley]

You do you, bro!

[@lightwalker4558]

My best advice is to consult w/ a Backpacker to see if you have the right gear, water and food for your adventure. Best if you plan to re-supply every 3-4 days. Otherwise, you will be carrying of food. Enjoy!

[@john_kelley]

Great advice!

[@davidshirley6850]

Your hat is awesome

[@john_kelley]

May the force be with you!

[@davidshirley6850]

@John Kelley have not met to many star wars fans on trail, maybe need to find new trails, happy new year to you and your family

[@john_kelley]

@@davidshirley6850 We’re definitely out there.

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

Axe deodorant is magical. Pits, crotch and toes, no stink for days.I have two chair options which are great. Helinox Chair Zero and BTR stool. Sitting around the evening campfire, I'm chill while my friend is raw dog on a log. Not even a sit pad. Sad.

[@john_kelley]

Nothing beats a good chair!

[@fatguyhisbackpack5755]

what about deodorant

[@john_kelley]

Then I smell like camper funk and deodorant. LOL

[@freeman47]

No chair needed if you hammock camp imo.

[@Zoltoks]

Yea don't drink "clean" water could be a dead animal just 100 feet away up stream

[@john_kelley]

This..💯