Mistakes I Won’t Repeat on My Next Thru Hike

After hundreds of miles on trails like the John Muir Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, Zion Traverse, and Uinta Highline Trail, I’ve made some mistakes I won’t repeat on my next thru-hike. In this video, I break down 5 common backpacking mistakes related to gear, food, foot care, and planning — and what I learned from real miles on trail. If you're planning a thru-hike or long backpacking trip, these lessons can help you avoid painful and costly mistakes. ---------------------------------------------------------- P.S. Some of the links in this description are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them. It helps support the channel at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! ---------------------------------------------------------- Ways to Support the Channel: Venmo: @colbyonthetrail ---------------------------------------------------------- Discount Codes: Tell Your Trail 12% off: ColbyontheTrail12 https://tellyourtrail.com/?ref=ColbyontheTrail12 Hilltop Packs 10% off: COLBYONTHETRAIL https://hilltoppacks.com/colbyonthetrail Backcountry Foodie 20% off: COLBYONTHETRAIL https://backcountryfoodie.com/aff/73/ ---------------------------------------------------------- My Favorite Gear: Sleeping Pad: https://amzn.to/4kLxv71 Titanium 750ml Pot: https://amzn.to/4kWEk5t Ultralight Stove: https://amzn.to/4kUKbbr Water Filter: https://amzn.to/4o45itc Ultralight Trowel: https://amzn.to/4iaU7Mr Summit Suds Powdered Soap: https://amzn.to/3FyXOgx Unpaste Toothpaste Tablets: https://amzn.to/3DUGIJh Outdoor Research Echo Sun Hoodie: https://amzn.to/4iay6gG Nike Men's Challenger Dri-fit 5" Lined Running Shorts: https://amzn.to/4kq1S2B Garmin inReach Mini 2: https://amzn.to/4kAYVML inCharge XL 6-in-1 Multi Charging Cable: https://amzn.to/41QdkMh Camera Gear: DJI Pocket Osmo 3: https://amzn.to/3QVjNRi DJI Osmo Action 6 : https://amzn.to/4axDqtE Insta360 X5: https://amzn.to/4qm7qOw Sony A6700: https://amzn.to/4qkKwa5 Sony G Master 15mm f1.4 Lens: https://amzn.to/4b7pyX9 ---------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps: 0:00 - Mistakes I Won’t Repeat on My Next Thru-Hike 0:49 - Mistake #1 - 20" Ultralight Sleeping Pad 1:51 - Mistake #2 - Optimizing Food for Calories 3:31 - Mistake #3 - Not Testing Shoes Enough 4:46 - Mistake #4 - Ignoring Hot Spots / Foot Care 5:51 - Mistake #5 - Being Too Rigid With My Plan 7:11 - What I Learned From These Mistakes ---------------------------------------------------------- #hiking #thruhiking #backpacking