268 Common Hiking Mistakes: Tips to Avoid Looking Like a Rookie

Hiking is all fun and games, until you realize you forgot your tent stakes, the only food you have left is granola dust, and now your nasty socks have developed their own aquatic ecosystem.

268 Mistakes Hikers Make (And How to Avoid Them) is the brutally honest, fun to read guide to everything that can go epically wrong on trail, and how to prevent your next hike from becoming a story that ends with “and then we had to call Search and Rescue.”

Written by Ben McMillen, founder of ultralight gear brand Hilltop Packs, this book draws from real-life trail experiences (his and others’) to bring you 268 bite-sized lessons, tips, and cautionary tales. Whether you’re brand new to backpacking or a seasoned hiker who still makes rookie mistakes (we all do), this book is your go-to hiking buddy, the one who’s not afraid to say, “Hey… maybe don’t do that.”

Inside, you’ll find:

268 real-world mistakes hikers make (yep, he counted)

Packing tips, clothing advice, and gear no-nos

Trail etiquette, safety tips, and navigation blunders

Backcountry bathroom mishaps and food fails

Quick, memorable advice with a side of sarcasm

If you’ve ever suffered through wet shoes, bad decisions, or questionable dehydrated meals on trail, this book is for you.

Great for: beginner hikers, backpackers, thru-hikers, overpackers, underpreparers, trail guides, and anyone who loves putting one foot in front of the other.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FKBW3HJF
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jack S. Media
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 28, 2025
Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 13.5 MB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 299 pages
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #631,909 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #163 in Camping (Kindle Store) #306 in Outdoor Instructional Guides #515 in Camping (Books)
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