Hiking, trekking or backpacking

All these activities — hiking, trekking, alpine trekking, and backpacking — have only one thing in common: they are outdoor activities. On the contrary, they differ significantly in the method, duration, difficulty, and type of terrain. Naturally, each activity also has its own specifics and requirements regarding equipment, clothing, and, last but not least, physical fitness and experience. Let's take a closer look at each of these activities. 

Hiking and trekking are often used as synonyms. From our perspective, we see the following differences between these activities. 

Hiking comes from the English word "to hike," meaning to walk. Essentially, it is walking on marked trails and hiking paths in relatively easy terrain, such as meadows, forests, forest paths, or trails along rivers and lakes. These are usually day trips where you return to the starting point. However, multi-day hikes in easy terrain with overnight stays in hostels, campsites, or emergency shelters can also be included. So, if you're "hiking," you're taking a trip in nature, traveling light, and in easy terrain. 

Trekking is similar to hiking, but with the difference that it involves multi-day trips in more challenging (mountain) terrain, often with overnight stays in mountain huts, hostels, or tents, continuing the journey the next day. Trekking is definitely more physically demanding than hiking, requiring not only physical fitness but also higher-quality equipment and clothing. In the terrain, especially in unfavorable weather conditions, you must rely on yourself.

At the same time, trekking is a very popular and financially accessible activity that allows you to discover beautiful and almost untouched places. As a bonus, it also offers the opportunity to test your mental resilience, as the wilderness can present many challenges, starting with weather and terrain. It is a great opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, leading to personal growth and a good feeling about yourself. 

It should be mentioned that you don't have to trek only in the mountains; you can also trek in the jungle or desert. However, given our geological and climatic conditions, we mainly refer to mountain trekking. 

Enthusiasts of backpacking are colloquially referred to as "backpackers", or you might hear the expression “traveling heavy". It involves multi-day travel or hikes with a backpack, where you carry all the necessary equipment for living and survival. This equipment includes a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent or shelter, cooking gear, food, water, clothing, a small first aid kit, etc. Since you carry everything on your back, the volume and contents of the backpack must be as small, light, and efficient as possible. It's crucial to choose your gear and clothing carefully and consider every item and extra gram. Backpacking can also include various types of terrain and environments, depending on the chosen route, and you can be on the road for several days, weeks, or even months. 

Alpine trekking is essentially trekking or/and hiking in an alpine environment, involving treks/hikes in challenging terrain at high altitude. Compared to previous activities, this requires higher physical fitness. Alpine trekking can also be synonymous with mountain hiking. The terrain is often very challenging and rocky and may include glaciers, snowfields, or short sections of climbing with a rope. This form of trekking requires not only excellent physical condition but also a certain level of expertise and experience in navigating such terrain, along with knowledge of the necessary equipment (such as harnesses, crampons, ice axes, etc.). If you lack the necessary experience but are eager to try something like this, you can embark on a route with a mountain guide or go with friends who have the required experience. 

In terms of length, alpine trekking often involves multi-day hikes with overnight stays in tents or mountain huts. However, you can also undertake a single-day alpine trek, returning to the starting point, most commonly a mountain hut. 

The basic differences lie in the length of the trip, the difficulty of the terrain, and the equipment. Hiking is a general term for walking trips, trekking focuses on multi-day trips in the mountains, alpine trekking on challenging high mountain terrains, and backpacking on traveling with a backpack, which can be either short-term or long-term. 

For each activity, the choice of clothing and equipment also changes depending on the weather. For hiking in ideal weather, you can comfortably wear cotton pants and a T-shirt, whereas trekking is better done in high-quality breathable pants or shorts, a functional T-shirt, and a backup waterproof membrane jacket. For alpine trekking, besides safety equipment, you might consider packing an insulating down jacket or lighter gloves. For backpacking, a high-quality backpack with a larger volume is crucial, followed by the choice of lightweight and functional clothing and gear. 

The main differences between these activities lie in the terrain, difficulty, and equipment. Whether you are going backpacking or venturing into high mountain terrain to cross a glacier, it is important to consider your physical fitness and experience and choose the right equipment. There is something to each one of these activities, and besides all of them being outdoor activities, they all have one more thing in common: the feeling of freedom and plenty of unique experiences.