Wild & Active

Backpacking overnight trips

CostHigh

Includes: A beginner backpacking kit: tent, sleeping bag, stove, pack Example: Complete beginner kit €300–600

What it is

A loaded backpacking pack carries everything a person needs to live for a night outdoors, and it usually weighs between 8 and 15kg. That single fact captures the whole appeal. Backpacking overnight trips mean walking to a wild or remote spot, carrying shelter, sleep system, food and water, and staying out for one or two nights before walking back. It is the smallest possible dose of self-sufficient wilderness living.

The overnight format is the perfect testing ground. A multi-day trek is a commitment, but a single night out asks for one free weekend and teaches almost everything: how to pitch a tent in fading light, how much water you really drink, what you packed and never touched, how cold the ground gets at 3am. You make every beginner mistake on a trip short enough that none of them matter.

The reward is waking up somewhere you had to earn. A lake at dawn with no one else there, a ridge campsite watching the stars come out, the particular quiet of being a long walk from the nearest road. Coffee tastes absurdly good at altitude with a view, and that small ritual is half the reason people keep going back.

Rules vary by country. Wild camping is legal across most of Scotland and Scandinavia under "right to roam" laws, restricted or banned in much of England and the Alps, so the first real skill is knowing where you are allowed to sleep.

How it works

One night out, close to home, teaches almost everything the longer trips demand. Pick a spot you can reach in under two hours of walking, carry the minimum, and treat the whole trip as a rehearsal where every mistake is cheap. You will learn how much water you actually drink, how cold the ground gets at 3am, and which half of your pack you never opened.

Gear builds outward from the sleep system, because a bad night ruins everything. The sleeping mat matters as much as the bag, since the ground steals body heat through conduction far faster than cold air does. A summer bag rated to 5°C leaves most people cold by dawn in spring or autumn, so check the comfort rating, not the optimistic extreme rating printed in big numbers on the stuff sack.

Shelter, sleep, water, and food are the four pillars, and everything else is optional. A lightweight tent or tarp, a way to purify or carry water, and simple food you can prepare with minimal fuss cover the essentials. The classic error is overpacking, hauling a kitchen and a wardrobe for a single night, then feeling every gram on the walk in.

Know the law before you choose a spot, because it varies wildly. Wild camping is legal across most of Scotland and Scandinavia under right-to-roam rules, restricted or banned across much of England and the Alps. Pitch late, leave early, take everything out, and leave no trace that you were ever there.

Benefits

Complete Wilderness Self-Sufficiency Deep Problem-Solving and Resilience Access to Remote Beautiful Places Exceptional Multi-Day Fitness Life-Clarifying Experience Profound Nature Connection

What you need

Here's what to gather before you start. The essentials are marked.

Lightweight 3 season tent

Sleeping bag rated to temperature

Sleeping mat

Backpacking stove and fuel

50-65L rucksack

Navigation (map, compass, GPS)

Water filter or purification tablets

FAQs

What's the minimum kit I need for a first overnight trip?

Shelter, sleep system, and a way to cook, on top of normal day-hike gear. That means a tent or tarp, a sleeping bag rated for the conditions, an insulating sleeping mat, and a small stove. I started with a borrowed tent and a budget mat, and the only thing I regretted skimping on was the mat. A cold sleeping mat steals heat from underneath all night, and an R-value of around 3 or higher matters more than people expect.

How much should the whole setup cost to begin?

You can put together a workable kit for €250-400 if you choose carefully and avoid the ultralight premium. A budget tent runs €80-150, a three-season sleeping bag €60-120, a mat €40-80, and a stove like the MSR PocketRocket around €45. Borrow or buy second-hand for the first trip if you can, because you learn what you actually care about only after a night out.

Where do I go to the toilet?

You dig a hole. Carry a small trowel, go at least 50 metres from any water source, dig down 15-20cm into the living soil layer, and bury everything afterwards. Pack out your toilet paper in a sealable bag rather than burying it, because it lasts far longer in the ground than people think. This is basic leave-no-trace and it keeps wild places usable for everyone.

How do I stop being cold at night?

Insulate from the ground first, then the air. Most people who shiver at night blame their sleeping bag when the real culprit is a thin mat letting the cold ground draw heat away. Eat something before bed so your body has fuel to burn, wear a dry base layer and a hat, and never get into the bag in damp clothes. A hot water bottle made from your insulated flask is an old trick that works.

What's the most common beginner mistake?

Carrying too much. The first-trip pack is always stuffed with "just in case" items that never get used and crush your shoulders for two days. After my first trip I laid everything out and was honest about what I actually touched. The rule that stuck with me is that every gram you carry, you carry every single step.

Can I do this alone as a beginner, or should I go with someone?

You can go alone, and many people love the solitude, but for your first trip going with someone experienced shortcuts the learning hugely. They will catch the small mistakes before they become cold, wet problems. If you do go solo, pick a popular, well-marked spot for the first one and tell someone exactly where you will be.

⚠️ Safety warning: Always leave your route and expected return time with someone. Carry a means of emergency communication, check the weather forecast, and know that hypothermia is a real risk overnight even in summer if you get wet and cold.