Some Outdoor Activity Definitions

Reading through a bunch of hiking and backpacking message boards brought up an interesting subject recently; namely, what is “backpacking”? After some pondering, I think I have arrived at a satisfactory answer, to me at least.

Hiking is walking (and only walking) in natural environments, often but not always, on trails specifically for foot traffic. It is the natural environment bit that separates it from walking.

Camping is living outdoors temporarily(?) , often in the wilderness and generally in non-urban areas and may involve the use of a tent, primitive or natural shelter, or no shelter at all.

Backpacking is the convergence of hiking and camping. To be backpacking is to hike while carrying all of the gear one needs to camp (shelter/cooking facilities/etc…).In my definition, it is also necessary to actually use those camping items to camp (or intend to). Synonyms to my definition of backpacking would be trekking, tramping (in NZ) and bushwalking.

So, one can hike for one or more days without camping, using motels/hostels/inns and thus not be backpacking. One can camp for one or more nights without hiking by driving to a campsite (commonly called car-camping) and thus not be backpacking. One cannot, however, backpack for one or more days without both hiking and camping.

My definition is certainly American, as opposed to European or Australian, in that it makes a differentiation between backpacking and touring in urban areas with a backpack full of clothing and accessories, but no tent or other shelter or means of preparing food.

Of course, these definitions are somewhat personal, though I believe them to have universal applicability as defined. Likewise, they are not meant to create some artifical ranking or ordering of various outdoor pursuits, as I enjoy all three equally. They serve mostly to order my thoughts on the subject, and perhaps serve as a clear guide to what I mean when I use the terms hiking, camping and backpacking.