Going backpacking is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and have a lot of fun. It allows you to go places and see things that few people get to experience. You can go places with no roads or easy access. All of the benefits of backpacking does come with a cost. Backpacking definitely requires a lot more planning and preparation Before You Go. When you camp out of a car or RV, as most people do, you can to some degree just toss stuff into your car as you pack and toss it back in your car when you are ready to leave. When backpacking, you need to be much more careful and intentional about everything you bring with you.
Every ounce counts: If you are going on a backpacking trip that will require several miles of hiking then everything you bring will need to be very carefully though out. Everything you'll have with you for the trip needs to fit in your backpack, and every ounce you add is an weight you'll be carrying.
Pack it in, pack it out: When backpacking, there are usually not trash cans available at your destination, so anything you pack in and any trash you create needs to be packed back out. Keep that in mind when you think about what packaging your food will be in. You also want to bring the right amount of food, since at the end of a trip you don't want to be packing out a bunch of food, but you also don't want to be stuck running out of food when you are so far away from any way to replenish your supplies.
Water: Water is heavy and it is very, very difficult to carry all that you'll need. Ideally you can camp near a stream or spring and refill your water supplies as you go, but you should never drink that water without purifying it first. We recommend getting a good filter or purifier. In our experience, a SteriPEN is good because it is light weight and it allows the water to keep its natural, pure taste. Many filters change the taste of the water for the worse. If you do use a SteriPEN bring a lot of extra batteries because they do go through batteries fast.
Another way to decrease your weight is to bring a hammock instead of a tent. Make sure you've tested it out first so you know if you can sleep well in a hammock, but if you can then a hammock can replace a tent at a fraction of the weight and space in your pack.
In exchange for the extra preparation and work that goes into a backpacking trip, you will usually be greatly rewarded with pristine wilderness and privacy, which is more than worth the work.