r/backpacking

Community Overview

About r/backpacking

A subreddit for traveling backpacking and wilderness backpacking, not restricted to one or the other. All posts must be flaired "Travel" or "Wilderness"

The community at a glance

r/backpacking is a Subreddit for Travelers, Outdoors, and Hikers with roughly 5.5M members. It uses a forum format for communication. It is the 2nd largest community in the Travel topic page, the 3rd largest community in the Hiking topic page, and the 3rd largest community in the Outdoors topic page.

Roughly 120K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Backpacking, Travel, and Trip. Common discussion themes are Solution Requests and Advice Requests. Product recommendations often mention backpack, sleeping bag, and hiking boots.

On Reddit
5.5M Members

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +120K members
Growth: +2.2% / year

Member growth over time

All time (yearly)

  • 2013: 16K members
  • 2014: 20K members
  • 2015: 18K members
  • 2016: 18K members
  • 2017: 198K members
  • 2018: 512K members
  • 2019: 791K members
  • 2020: 645K members
  • 2023: 1.8M members
  • 2024: 1.2M members
  • 2025: 238K members
  • 2026: 102K members

Past year (monthly)

  • Nov: 9K members
  • Dec: 9K members
  • Jan: 9K members
  • Feb: 9K members
  • Mar: 10K members
  • Apr: 9K members
  • May: 10K members
  • Jun: 14K members
  • Jul: 13K members
  • Aug: 10K members
  • Sep: 14K members
  • Oct: 7K members

Themes

  • Solution Requests
    12 posts in the past month
    1. Best Backpacking trails in Colorado
    2. Looking for a lightweight sleeping bag under $250 AUD for winter backpacking in the Blue Mountains
    3. Need Sleeping Bag Rec ASAP
    #1
    Solution Requests
    Best Backpacking trails in Colorado · Looking for a lightweight sleeping bag under $250 AUD for winter backpacking in the Blue Mountains · Need Sleeping Bag Rec ASAP
    12
  • Advice Requests
    6 posts in the past month
    1. Lost connection, am I crazy for this? How would you react if you were in their shoes?
    2. My first ever setup - Please criticize me!!
    3. seeking advice on first solo backing trip where to go? South America or South East Asia
    #2
    Advice Requests
    Lost connection, am I crazy for this? How would you react if you were in their shoes? · My first ever setup - Please criticize me!! · seeking advice on first solo backing trip where to go? South America or South East Asia
    6
  • Opportunities
    1 post in the past month
    1. High School Capstone Project — Help Us Improve Outdoor Power! 🏕️⚡
    #3
    Opportunities
    High School Capstone Project — Help Us Improve Outdoor Power! 🏕️⚡
    1

Topics

  • Backpacking
    20 posts in the past month
    #1
    Backpacking
    20
  • Travel
    12 posts in the past month
    #2
    Travel
    12
  • Trip
    6 posts in the past month
    #3
    Trip
    6
  • Gear
    6 posts in the past month
    #4
    Gear
    6
  • Solo
    5 posts in the past month
    #5
    Solo
    5

Flair

  • Travel
    57 posts in the past month
    1. A piece of Piazzale Michelangelo in Firenze, Italy. 😍
    2. North Macedonia trip report: Skopje, Matka, Tetovo and 3 (very lazy) days in Ohrid
    3. Prague❤️
    #1
    Travel
    A piece of Piazzale Michelangelo in Firenze, Italy. 😍 · North Macedonia trip report: Skopje, Matka, Tetovo and 3 (very lazy) days in Ohrid · Prague❤️
    57
  • Wilderness
    37 posts in the past month
    1. Winter morning in Yosemite Valley, pure blue hour magic.
    2. Amazing two nights in Moab/Needles
    3. Machu Picchu at the end of the Salkantay Trek, Peru
    #2
    Wilderness
    Winter morning in Yosemite Valley, pure blue hour magic. · Amazing two nights in Moab/Needles · Machu Picchu at the end of the Salkantay Trek, Peru
    37

Product recommendations

  • backpack
    4 posts in the past month
    1. What size backpack (in liters) is best for 3 weeks backpacking Europe? (hostels, trains, etc.)
    2. Recommend first backpack for hiking ?
    3. Anyone recommend this backpack? - Mountain Warehouse Voyager 50L Wheelie
    #1
    backpack
    What size backpack (in liters) is best for 3 weeks backpacking Europe? (hostels, trains, etc.) · Recommend first backpack for hiking ? · Anyone recommend this backpack? - Mountain Warehouse Voyager 50L Wheelie
    4
  • sleeping bag
    2 posts in the past month
    1. Which would be the best sleeping bag choice?
    2. Sleeping Bag Recs
    #2
    sleeping bag
    Which would be the best sleeping bag choice? · Sleeping Bag Recs
    2
  • hiking boots
    2 posts in the past month
    1. Can anyone recommend some hiking boots for a guy with wide feet?
    2. Hiking boot recs
    #3
    hiking boots
    Can anyone recommend some hiking boots for a guy with wide feet? · Hiking boot recs
    2

Frequently asked questions

Who is r/backpacking for?
Best for Travelers and Outdoors and Hikers enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion.
Is r/backpacking free to join?
This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
How many members does r/backpacking have?
Roughly 5.5M members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
What platform is r/backpacking on?
r/backpacking runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
What topics does r/backpacking cover?
On the Hive Index, r/backpacking is organized under Travelers, Outdoors, Hikers.
How do I join r/backpacking?
You can join r/backpacking by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
What are the Travel communities like?
Communities for travelers planning trips, sharing itineraries, and swapping tips on everything from budget backpacking to luxury travel. You will find subreddits for specific regions and travel styles, Discord servers for nomads and expats, and Facebook groups for niches like solo female travel and budget flights. Active communities for both trip planning and general inspiration.