As a newcomer to any sport, you might be enthusiastic to get out there and enjoy your first backpacking trip. It’s easy for a new hiker to get overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, and end up making typical mistakes in preparing and doing your first few multi-day journeys. Here are 10 mistakes that new backpackers make, and how to avoid them: 1. Overpacking One of the most common first-timer mistakes when it comes to backpacking is overpacking their bag.