Backpacking is easily one of the most enjoyable and rewarding ways to see the world. But there is no doubt that it can also be incredibly dangerous, and anyone who is thinking of going out there and backpacking needs to ensure they know how to actually keep as safe as possible. There are a lot of things that you might want to bear in mind on that front. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the main things to think about to ensure that you always keep safe when you are backpacking around the world.
Consider Not Going Solo
It is very tempting to want to go solo when you are backpacking, especially if you are trying to do it as a self-building exercise. If you really do want to go it alone, then by all means do so – but take care. However, if you are not completely sold on that, then you might want to consider not going solo and instead travelling with someone else in tow. That could be your partner, a good friend, or really anyone that you know well and can easily trust. Everything is just so much safer when you have someone else to travel with.
If you are going to go solo, just make sure that you follow the remaining tips as closely as you possibly can. That way, you can maximize the chances of staying out of trouble as best as possible.
Carry The Essentials
What you carry is a very big and important part of whether or not you are going to feel safe when you are backpacking, especially if you go it alone and there is no-one else (with their own backpack) to rely on. Whether you have a small tactical backpack for backpacking or you are going all-out on a larger pack, you need to pay careful and close attention to what you are storing inside it as you go.
Some of the essentials that you should make sure you have on you at all times are as follows. Firstly, a torch, flashlight or headlamp. This can make you feel a lot safer, especially when you find the sun has gone down and you are suddenly in the dark. You should also always take extra food, more than you think is necessary, and a stove to cook it on. Not having the necessary means for fueling your body can mean you are more likely to make a mistake that you might avoid if you were well-fed.
Beyond that, you should also pack a fire-starting kit. That might be a flint and matches, or something more modern, but just make sure you have it and know how to use it. Practice before you set off on your trip. You should also carry a water filter, so that you are able to drink water from any source (more or less) in an emergency.
Some of the more obvious safety items that you should carry include: a first aid kit, navigation tools such as compasses and maps, sun protection, and a knife. You might also want to consider carrying a personal alarm. In the event that you are attacked, this should deter and ward them off, while also attracting help from nearby – hopefully.
Do Your Research
As with most things, you can avoid the majority of the safety issues if you simply make a point of doing your research before you head out. What kind of things should you research? Most importantly, the destinations you are going to be visiting, and what rules you need to follow while you are there, as well as any particularly dangerous spots that you should ideally avoid at all costs. You should also try to learn about common scams and dangers that an area has – these can generally be discovered online or through rough guides to those destinations. The more research you do, the more prepared you will feel, and the safer you will be.
Know How To Navigate
One of the biggest potential problems with backpacking is getting lost. This can happen equally in the wilderness as in the city, so you need to make sure that you know how to properly navigate, no matter where you are planning to go in the world. This is a simple case of learning how to read a map and use a compass, how to read the land and of course how to use GPS. You may as well use GPS wherever possible, but you also need to know those other skills for those times when GPS might not be available, due to poor signal or a dead battery on your device. Don’t just rely on GPS and hope that it will always be there – there is no promise of that.
Keep In Contact
As far as possible, and without ruining the experience of going it alone if you are indeed travelling solo, it is wise to try and keep in touch with people back home while you are backpacking. As long as there are people in the world who know the essentials of your plans, such as where you are going and who with, then you have people who can check up on you from time to time, and who can alert the authorities if you don’t turn up somewhere you had planned to be, for instance. Inform your people of your plans, and stay in touch with them if things change.
Be Noisy
Being noisy is a very good idea if you want to remain safe on the trail. If you are in the wilderness, it will stop animals from accidentally coming across you. If you are being accosted by a person, it increases the chances of someone else coming to help you out in the process. Make noise wherever you feel it might be necessary, and you should be able to keep yourself out of danger much more easily.
With these tips by your side, staying safe while backpacking should be a lot easier indeed.
