What do you think?
Rate this book
Backpacker Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike
WINNER OF THE 2017 NATIONAL OUTDOOR BOOK AWARDS (INSTRUCTIONAL CATEGORY)Make the Dream of a Long Distance Thru-Hike a RealityHave you been dreaming of the summer when you can hike the Appalachian Trail? Or marvel at the snow-capped peaks along the Pacific Crest Trail? Or simply section hike the Continental Divide Trail? In Backpacker’s Long Trails, Liz “Snorkel” Thomas, former women’s speed record holder for the AT and veteran of twenty long trails, gives you the tools to make this dream a reality. Included is trail-proven advice on selecting gear, stocking resupplies, and planning your budget and schedule, complete with gorgeous photographs of life on the trail. Along the way, enjoy sneak peeks into not only the Triple Crown trails, but also lesser-known long trails throughout North America.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2017
64 people are currently reading
289 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 18, 2021
Two stars. This book touches upon, but never delves into, important Long Trail hiking topics. The book was pleasant enough to read and some of the anecdotes and pictures were very nice - but on the whole I got very little actionable information.
I liked the item-by-item breakdowns of all the gear carried by 5 different experienced hikers, with photographs. The inclusion of a side-by-side comparison table discussing the relative merits of each choice would have been a bonus. It appears that long distance hikers make do with 1 spare set of underwear and socks (at best) so I would have liked some mention about laundry arrangement in the bush.
One section that gave me pause was a description of two long distance hikers’ daily routine on a trail. rise with the sun at 5:30 am, walk and snack all day, and go to sleep at 08:45 pm. Or the same, but one hour later. Imagine doing this for 5-8 months! I love being in nature myself and have done some hiking, but this section really brought home the reality of Long Trail hiking.
A minor irritation was the persistent use of hikers’ “trail names” in captions and text. So it is never just ‘Peter Marks’, but always ‘Peter “Three Shoes” Marks’. And ‘Linda “String-bean” Phillips’ and ‘Jacon “Red togs” Smythe’. I made up these names, but you get the idea how irritating this can get if repeated page after page. Trail names may be cool for the in-crowd, but are best left on the trail.
The book was a pleasant read light read but certainly not a way to “Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike” as stated on the cover.
I liked the item-by-item breakdowns of all the gear carried by 5 different experienced hikers, with photographs. The inclusion of a side-by-side comparison table discussing the relative merits of each choice would have been a bonus. It appears that long distance hikers make do with 1 spare set of underwear and socks (at best) so I would have liked some mention about laundry arrangement in the bush.
One section that gave me pause was a description of two long distance hikers’ daily routine on a trail. rise with the sun at 5:30 am, walk and snack all day, and go to sleep at 08:45 pm. Or the same, but one hour later. Imagine doing this for 5-8 months! I love being in nature myself and have done some hiking, but this section really brought home the reality of Long Trail hiking.
A minor irritation was the persistent use of hikers’ “trail names” in captions and text. So it is never just ‘Peter Marks’, but always ‘Peter “Three Shoes” Marks’. And ‘Linda “String-bean” Phillips’ and ‘Jacon “Red togs” Smythe’. I made up these names, but you get the idea how irritating this can get if repeated page after page. Trail names may be cool for the in-crowd, but are best left on the trail.
The book was a pleasant read light read but certainly not a way to “Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike” as stated on the cover.
September 2, 2024
Annotated the heck out of this! Overall really useful tips and tricks. I did feel that more sections were geared towards complete new to backpacking people which is awesome, however as someone who has backpacked a lot it was a little repetitive. I wish there was a PCT specific section but also totally understand wanting to keep it general. A great book!
September 30, 2018
No I didn't read this cover to cover but enough scanning to get the gist. First it was refreshing to have a very strong female point of view but in general it just seemed like another book on backpacking and not too much specifically thru hiking, especially the particular trail options out there. Yes there was a little bit about resupply but just about everything else was pretty general for all backpacking. Gear, first aide, training. It's possible that a number of general question I have are answered but I found the structure and organization quite lacking, like permits and such. It seemed to be all over the place. The one area I thought the book would address, especially given the main title is info on the long trails themselves. Unfortunately only around 20 pages total give to that and only one page for each hike. Not really useful. I'm still searching for a good book that goes into good detail about all the different trails in the US, especially one that is more current as the thru hiking game certainly has changed a lot with increased popularity in the last 10 years.
January 12, 2018
I had higher expectations for this book than it delivered. Perhaps it is because I have already done some long-distance hikes that I didn't gain as much from this book as I had hoped. The 3-star rating is based on this.
If you are new to long-distance hiking, this book contains some valuable pieces of information and can help one shorten the learning curve associated with this type of hiking. I particularly liked that experiences, gear lists, etc. from other hikers are included in the book. Long-distance hiking is a very personal experience and what might work well for one person may not work well for another...
If you are new to long-distance hiking, this book contains some valuable pieces of information and can help one shorten the learning curve associated with this type of hiking. I particularly liked that experiences, gear lists, etc. from other hikers are included in the book. Long-distance hiking is a very personal experience and what might work well for one person may not work well for another...
February 17, 2020
As someone who already knows how to backpack, but is planning on backpacking the AT this year, I found this book to be full of helpful information. This is not a book that you want to learn how to backpack with - nor is it the be all end all of gear lists, although there is some of that here - but it does provide plenty of information that is important for long trails, including detailed information on how to train for them, how to eat, and how to resupply. Liz Thomas is a very trustworthy and down to earth source on this topic.
March 29, 2022
This book is an excellent for anyone thinking about doing a thru hike but actually it has great tips and ideas for anyone that backpacks or for that matter even day hikes. It is so very thorough and covers everything and anything you could think of. Can't say enough good things about it.
I am 73 and hike and do a little backpacking. My son and his gal hiked the Idaho Centennial Trail last summer (900+ miles) and I took care of the resupplies and things at home. The chapters about food and resupply and being flexible (they had to reroute many times due to fires) was spot on.
I am 73 and hike and do a little backpacking. My son and his gal hiked the Idaho Centennial Trail last summer (900+ miles) and I took care of the resupplies and things at home. The chapters about food and resupply and being flexible (they had to reroute many times due to fires) was spot on.
May 20, 2020
stoke levels are sooo high after reading this book. I loved all the info about different people's gear lists and routines. I feel like this book would be a great place to start for beginner backpackers. Liz does a great job of answering a lot of the little questions that come up when you're backpacking and provides a refreshing female perspective but this is by no means a perfect guide. the book is super well layed out and it's very easy to find what you need. also, gorgeous pictures!
June 29, 2025
This is an excellent book for those planning their first through-hike or distance hiking trek. It covers all the bases from gear (including special topics like women's needs and differences for aging hikers) to maintaining mental focus. Her experience adds credibility to the text. As an experienced trekker, though one with minimal experience compared to the author, I wholeheartedly agree with everything she says.
December 19, 2017
Overall a great book, but thin in spots where it could be meatier. A good overall guide for anyone contemplating any type of extended hike. The most endearing quality is a section titled "Whats in my pack?" with discussion, breakdown and photos of gear carried by 10 different veteran hikers.
January 15, 2018
Fantastic book!
I wish this book had been available in 2004 when Joyce and I started our backpacking career. It would have saved me significant time, difficulties, anxiety and mistakes!
Al Beedie
I wish this book had been available in 2004 when Joyce and I started our backpacking career. It would have saved me significant time, difficulties, anxiety and mistakes!
Al Beedie
February 16, 2018
A general guide to long-distance hiking, Liz Thomas leans on her experience hiking over 15,000 miles around the US to give lessons on everything from planning to gear to how to make friends (and ditch them) on the trail. A great general guide from someone who has been through it all.
April 14, 2018
great to have an outdoor-related book written by a woman, featuring lots of spotlights on women, but still isn't a book specifically-geared towards women. love everything about this book! i hope to be going on my own long journey in the coming years...
April 19, 2019
Incredibly informative and easy to follow. Love the organization of the book and topics which made enjoyable to read. I think anyone thinking about a thru hike should read this to get an idea of how to plan and prep.
December 12, 2017
Absolutely essential to planning a thru-hike of a long distance trail! Has helped immensely in my prep for my 2018 PCT thru. Thanks Liz!
March 17, 2019
A very well written and informative guide. Can't wait to get out on the trails!
September 17, 2019
A good resource that offers more than just practical advice.
December 15, 2021
One of the best informational books about long hikes I've read. Lots of good advice on things to watch for and how to deal with.
February 28, 2023
A thorough review of the basics of long-distance hiking. I would have been very grateful for this when I started hiking
July 16, 2025
4.5. I really enjoyed this book about thru-hiking. I probably will never do a super long hike, but this was good information for the multi-day backpacking trip I am doing in a few months.
October 7, 2023
Bom para iniciantes, mas mesmo eu sendo iniciante achei muito amplo. Mas talvez fosse essa a ideia.
August 28, 2017
Thru-hiker extraordinaire Liz Thomas shares her wealth of hard-earned experience in Backpacker Magazine's Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike. She covers the subject thoroughly, from why thru-hiking is appealing to an overview of several long trails to mental and physical readiness to logistics to nutrition to equipment.
One of the strengths of this book is how much Thomas emphasizes the "hike your own hike" philosophy. Each thru-hiker has his or her own reasons for hiking, as well as an individual approach to the trail. What is right for one hiker is not the right choice for another. This book highlights alternatives that will benefit different types of hikers instead of a "one-size-fits-all" method.
The sections on budgeting and scheduling are practical, presenting useful strategies for breaking down the daunting job of planning a thru-hike into manageable tasks. I benefited most from her tips on preparing for the physical and mental challenges along the trail--lots of useful pointers here, such as practicing packing and unpacking as part of the daily exercise regimen and how to communicate clearly with a resupply contact back home.
Rather than being intended for the beginning backpacker, Long Trails assumes some familiarity with backpacking and seeks to bridge the gap from shorter trail experience to thru-hiker. The information is focused on long trails rather than a weeklong trip.
The lush photography makes for both a beautiful and well-presented book. The pictures illustrate concepts nicely and show some of the wonderful scenery along the trail. I also appreciated Thomas' cheerful, friendly tone; she comes across as very down-to-earth.
Several "asides" of paragraph-to-page length recount other hikers' experiences. These frequently amplify Thomas' points, and sometimes present alternative opinions and methods. A lengthy section examines different hiker's gear lists piece-by-piece, showing multiple individual approaches to equipment.
Long Trails is vital reading for anyone interested in a longer trail--say, any trail where a resupply is necessary. Whether you're headed for a more modest challenge or setting out on the Continental Divide Trail, this book will help you get there.
One of the strengths of this book is how much Thomas emphasizes the "hike your own hike" philosophy. Each thru-hiker has his or her own reasons for hiking, as well as an individual approach to the trail. What is right for one hiker is not the right choice for another. This book highlights alternatives that will benefit different types of hikers instead of a "one-size-fits-all" method.
The sections on budgeting and scheduling are practical, presenting useful strategies for breaking down the daunting job of planning a thru-hike into manageable tasks. I benefited most from her tips on preparing for the physical and mental challenges along the trail--lots of useful pointers here, such as practicing packing and unpacking as part of the daily exercise regimen and how to communicate clearly with a resupply contact back home.
Rather than being intended for the beginning backpacker, Long Trails assumes some familiarity with backpacking and seeks to bridge the gap from shorter trail experience to thru-hiker. The information is focused on long trails rather than a weeklong trip.
The lush photography makes for both a beautiful and well-presented book. The pictures illustrate concepts nicely and show some of the wonderful scenery along the trail. I also appreciated Thomas' cheerful, friendly tone; she comes across as very down-to-earth.
Several "asides" of paragraph-to-page length recount other hikers' experiences. These frequently amplify Thomas' points, and sometimes present alternative opinions and methods. A lengthy section examines different hiker's gear lists piece-by-piece, showing multiple individual approaches to equipment.
Long Trails is vital reading for anyone interested in a longer trail--say, any trail where a resupply is necessary. Whether you're headed for a more modest challenge or setting out on the Continental Divide Trail, this book will help you get there.
September 17, 2021
I knew this book was what I needed when I first glanced through it. Preparing for a long hike whether it be a section hike or a complete through hike involves a lot of planning. Thomas has checked all the boxes for preparing and executing your goals. She has gone into great detail covering everything from what gear to take, how to resupply, what it will cost as well as getting physically and mentally prepared for your journey. I have found this book to be a great resource and I referred back to it on numerous occasions. This book will give you all the confidence you need to succeed. Allan Lynde, Coquitlam, B.C.
December 17, 2019
bucket list, dream, once in my life, gonna do it
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews