Having the right gear is essential whenever you are hitting the trail.  I learned this the hard way when I was a beginner on my first backpacking trip!  To be fair, the backpacking and hiking gear world is pretty chaotic. Between the many different gear brands, types of equipment, and blogs telling you different things, it can be challenging to prepare for your first hike or backpacking trip as a beginner.  Use these articles below to help you learn more about the different aspects of hiking and backpacking gear and prepare for your first trip with confidence.  If you are looking for specific gear recommendations, you should head over to our backpacking gear guide or day hike gear guide.