Our list of some of the best Backpacking books & series in recent years. Get inspired by one or more of the following books.
1. Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival (2014)
The ultimate resource for experiencing the backcountry! Written by survivalist expert Dave Canterbury, Bushcraft 101 gets you ready for your next backcountry trip with advice on making the most of your time outdoors. Based on the 5Cs of Survivability–cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages–this valuable guide offers only the most important survival skills to help you craft resources from your surroundings and truly experience the beauty and thrill of the wilderness. Inside, you’ll also discover detailed information on: Choosing the…
2. The Backpacker’s Field Manual, Revised and Updated: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills (2005)
When it was first published in 1998, The Backpacker’s Field Manual set the standard for comprehensive backpacking books. Now exhaustively updated to offer a more complete view of backpacking today, it covers the latest developments in gear—such as Global Positioning Systems and ultralight hiking equipment—first aid, and Leave No Trace comping, and includes a chapter devoted to outdoor leadership resources and basics. Beginners and experienced hikers alike will find this book indispensable for trip planning strategies and also as a quick reference on the trail for:BACKCOUNTRY SKILLS—how to…
3. Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips: 153 Amazing & Inexpensive Tips For Extremely Lightweight Camping (2011)
Short, to the point, and humorously illustrated by famed outdoor illustrator Mike Clelland, this book presents everything hikers and backpackers need to be safe, comfortable, and well-fed while carrying a very small and lightweight pack….
4. How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild: Backpacking for Beginners (2019)
There and back―what every new backpacker needs to know.A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single book. How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild bundles up everything you need to prep for your first-ever backpacking adventure―so you can explore the backcountry with confidence.Start strong with an essential equipment guide geared toward beginners. Discover how to choose a campsite and follow along with camp setup and breakdown directions. Water treatment info, outdoor cooking basics, snacking suggestions, and a sample three-day backpacking food plan supply you with vital knowledge to survive in the…
5. Backpacking Washington: Overnight and Multi-Day Routes (2011)
The most comprehensive backpacking guide to Washington State! Veteran guidebook author Craig Romano hits the trail again – this time to uncover amazing backpacking opportunities all over Washington’s wilderness. BACKPACKING WASHINGTON details 70 routes, from the wild Olympic Coast to the sun baked Blue Mountains. With an emphasis on weekend trips, routes range from overnight to weeklong treks and often include options for extending trips and choosing campsites….
6. Backpacking California: Mountain, Foothill, Coastal and Desert Adventures in the Golden State (2008)
Backpacking California is a collection of more than 70 of the most intriguing backpacking adventures in Wilderness Press’s home territory of California. With contributions from more than a dozen Wilderness Press authors, the book describes routes ranging from one night to one week. Backpacking novices as well as “old hand” California hikers will find expert-crafted trips in the Coast Ranges, the Sierra, the Cascades, and the Warner Mountains. Expanded coverage includes trips in Big Sur, Anza-Borrego, Death Valley, and the White Mountains. Several…
7. Recipes for Adventure: Healthy, Hearty and Homemade Backpacking Recipes (2013)
Over 75 trail-proven backpacking recipes will have you cooking like an accomplished chef with step-by-step instructions and Discover a scrumptious variety of light-weight options for meals, snacks and desserts. Whether you hit the trail with a backpack, kayak, bicycle, sailboat, RV or motorcycle, Chef Glenn’s backpacking cookbook is guaranteed to make meal time as deeply satisfying as your adventures. Cook healthy and hearty trail meals as easily as freeze-dried meals – without the artificial ingredients. While absolutely delicious, the pre-assembled meals are easy to cook in camp with nothing more than a small pot, stove…
8. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Backpacking and Hiking (2010)
Chapter 1: Get Started with Day-Hiking Getting started with shorter hikes that allow you to sleep in your own bed at night. Chapter 2: Hiking for All Ages and Types Finding a satisfying trail whether you hike by yourself, with a partner, or in a group. Chapter 3: Camping Overnight The complete guide to a comfortable night’s sleep at parks, campgrounds, and backcountry tent-sites. Chapter 4: Backpacking Basics Getting deeper into the woods, mountains, or wherever you want to explore by carrying everything you need on your back. Chapter 5: Training Your Body for the Trail Everyday fitness…
9. Allen & Mike’s Really Cool Backpackin’ Book: Traveling & camping skills for a wilderness environment (Allen & Mike’s Series) (2001)
Hilarious and practical information about the art of backpacking from two NOLS instructors….
10. AMC’s Mountain Skills Manual: The Essential Hiking and Backpacking Guide (Amc Skills) (2017)
This comprehensive guide, from the nation’s oldest outdoors club, covers the essential skills every hiker and backpacker needs to know. Novice and experienced outdoorspeople will appreciate this authoritative resource on trip planning, gear, food, navigation, and mountain safety, as well as ways to be an active steward of our trails and natural resources. AMC’s Mountain Skills Manual is rooted in the best practices taught in the Appalachian Mountain Club’s outdoor leadership training programs. Between them, authors Christian Bisson and Jamie Hannon have nearly 50 years’ experience leading and instructing groups in…
Best Backpacking Books That You Need
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Genesis and download some backpacking books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Ultralight Winter Travel: The Ultimate Guide to Lightweight Winter Camping, Hiking, and Backpacking
Author(s): Justin Lichter, Shawn Forry
Publisher: Falcon Guides, Year: 2017, Size: 26 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2229493
Wilderness Survival Tools: Bushcraft Strategies and Tools You Will Need to Know to Be Safe When Backpacking or Camping
Author(s): Michael Hansen
Publisher: , Year: 2015, Size: 204 Kb, Download: mobi
ID: 1509280
Trail Chef 35 delicious backpacking breakfast recipes
Author(s): Krezevska, Tanya
Publisher: , Year: 2015, Size: 1 Mb, Download: azw3
ID: 2073523
Backpacking with the Saints: Wilderness Hiking as Spiritual Practice
Author(s): Belden C. Lane
Publisher: Oxford University Press, Year: 2014, Size: 2 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 1282221
Lighten Up!: a Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking
Author(s): Clelland, Mike; Ladigin, Don
Publisher: Falcon Guides, Year: 2014, Size: 3 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2415905
Hiking and Backpacking Big Sur: A Complete Guide to the Trails of Big Sur, Ventana Wilderness, and Silver Peak Wilderness, 2nd Edition
Author(s): Heid, Analise Elliot
Publisher: Wilderness Press, Year: 2013, Size: 44 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2082544
Backpacker magazine's Backpacking Basics: Planning, Preparing, And Packing
Author(s): Clyde Soles
Publisher: Falcon Guides, Year: 2011, Size: 343 Mb, Download: pdf
ID: 1337030
Knack Hiking & Backpacking: A Complete Illustrated Guide
Author(s): Buck Tilton, Stephen Gorman (photo)
Publisher: Knack, Year: 2009, Size: 52 Mb, Download: epub
ID: 2330097
Please note that this booklist is not definite. Some books are truly record-breakers according to Chicago Tribune, others are drafted by unknown writers. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant links you could recommend? Leave a comment if you have any feedback on the list.