New Long Distance Hikers
So, it’s your first time.
You’ve done those weekend backpacking trips and a few weeklong overnights. But now you are committed. You are going to become a THRU-r.
We are here to help.
#THRUTRUTH: Best Tips for a First Time THRU-Hiker
Before heading out on a thru-hike, many questions pop up on how best to prepare. Where do I store my food? How do I filter water? How do I get from point A to point B? What is the best gear to buy? Here at THRU-r, we’ve had these questions ourselves and have heard many others with the same questions. Click the link below for our best tips for the first time THRU-hiker to get things started.
Leave No Trace
A must to preserve the trails we know, use, and love. Pack everything out! Visit the Leave No Trace Center for more.
Navigation
Far Out (formerly known as “Guthook”) is the way to go if you’re heading out on many of the long trails in the USA. Almost every long distance hiker uses this app, because it is so easy to use.
Gear
Make sure to get out and test your gear ahead of time – by way of shakedown hikes – to make sure everything works for you.
THRU-r RESOURCES FOR BEGINNERS
Our site and community focuses specifically on the long-distance hikers however – if you are new to backpacking we have a few resources to get you started with more on the way!
If you are a hiker interested in backpacking shorter distances, we invite you to check out our blog, podcast and YouTube channel. You can also sign up for our Beginner Backpacker course – with tried and true advice from experienced long distance hikers (launching in 2024/2025!). If you’re interested in upleveling to longer hikes, take advantage of our free offerings including hiker meetups, our podcast recordings, and our YouTube videos.