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Beginner Backpackers: Start Here

by Andrew Skurka · Skurka Adventures

Skurka's one-stop primer organizes backpacking around objectives, conditions, gear, supplies, skills and fitness, arguing that equipment choices follow from trip planning rather than precede it. Links to downloadable gear-list templates, food-planning spreadsheets and his deeper technical articles. The rare beginner page that teaches a decision framework instead of a product list: conditions and objectives determine gear, not the reverse.

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