When you get a sudden urge to adventure, you’ll need more than just a trusty backpack. You’ll need to know how to travel safely and how to get around without spending a fortune. Backpacking influencers are expert travelers who have plenty of tips and advice to help you make your journey a success.
Even if you don’t have any travel plans laid out, these influencers might just inspire you to take flight. Here are 15 popular backpacking influencers to seek out online.
Top 15 backpacking influencers
Derek Earl Baron
Derek’s audience knows him as Wandering Earl — Earl being his middle name. Back in late 1999, Baron headed overseas for a three-month backpacking trip through Southeast Asia. Once he was out on his adventure, he decided to extend his time abroad. Months turned into years, and now Baron has journeyed through more than 100 countries. He’s been to places like Iraq and Portugal, and shares about them on his blog. You can find him on X and Instagram.
Matt Lyons
Matt is a TikTok hiking influencer with over 170K followers where he shares videos about hiking with a comedic twist. He’s also a college student and shares about that as well.
@mattslyon This dude always comes prepared #hiking #outdoors #hippeas #flavoryourmind
♬ Forest / Nature / Birds / Environmental Sound(1329509) - TrickSTAR MUSIC
Karl Watson
Karl grew up in a family that loved to travel. He had his first backpacking experience in 2006 and in 2013, he decided to document a journey through four continents. Karl shares his adventure on the YouTube channel Karl Watson: Travel Documentaries which has over 277K subscribers. He also has an Instagram account, which has more than 25K followers.
Operation Adventure
TikTok couple and profile, Operation Adventure, shares adventure and van life via video. Their gorgeous videos will have your wanderlust on high alert. The two are backpacking, hiking and traveling all around the world.
@operation.adventure It’s FINALLY starting to cool off in the desert which means the time to hike the Grand Canyon’s Rim to Rim is quickly approaching! Hiking Rim to Rim usually requires a lot of advanced planning in order to snag camping permits and/or lodge permits… PLUS if you’re doing it in a day you’ll likely have to pay that hefty trans-canyon shuttle fee ($120/per person ONE WAY). BUT- the way we did it was totally permit free, shuttle free, and still an incredible experience! The trick? The hike BEGINS & ENDS on the South Rim using 2 different iconic trails! STATS 👇🏼 📍 Grand Canyon National Park 👊🏽 Rim to River in a day 👣 Starting Trailhead: South Kaibab 🏁 Ending Trailhead: Bright Angel 🥾 18 mi point to point 📈 Elevation Gain: 4,700 ft 📉 Elevation loss: 4,900 ft READ BEFORE ATTEMPING! 👇🏼 This adventure requires a significant amount of physical fitness! The trail involves tremendous elevation changes, extreme temperature fluctuations, and demanding trail conditions. Do not attempt without understanding what the trail involves as well as your personal limits. DO talk to a ranger if you have any apprehension about attempting this hike! TIPS! 👇🏼 - Be sure to START at South Kaibab and END at Bright Angel. South Kaibab is much steeper and better to use for the downhill. - Bright Angel has 3 water sources along the trail. Utilize ALL of them as you ascend and fill your water. The desert sun is unforgiving. - The inner rim is much hotter than the upper rim and there is little to no shade the entire route. Pack appropriately (sun protection, electrolytes, etc.) - REMEMBER what goes down, must come up… you descend first which might seem super easy, but you WILL have to make your way out of the canyon eventually.. and rescues are difficult to achieve and usually take hours to complete. Know your limits! Is hiking Rim to Rim on your bucket-list?! #rimtorim #grandcanyon #adventuretravel #grandcanyonnationalpark #grandcanyonhike
♬ Shooting Stars - Bag Raiders
Christianne Risman
Christianne is a travel vlogger who shares her adventures on a YouTube account called Backpacking Bananas where she has just shy of 200K subscribers. She’s also the founder of Solo, an online shop that sells traveling apparel and accessories. She designs products that you can don on a daily basis or use during lengthy trips, such as a lightweight travel towel and bum bag. Her Instagram is also filled with traveling content and has 51K followers.
Kelly Thom
Backpacking TikToker Kelly shares her love for the outdoors constantly. She loves hiking, backpacking and camping, which you can see sprinkled throughout her travel content. She teaches new backpackers and campers what to never forget and other important travel tips, especially as a woman traveler.
@kellythom.outdoors Here’s what I packed for a 2 night backpacking trip! For clothes I only bring a pair of hiking clothes and a pair of sleeping clothes with extra socks and undies. I also tucked my rain jacket in my pack but forgot to mention it! My bf packed the food so it’s not shown here. I try to be minimalistic on short trips but also bring some luxury items (hence the whiskey and speaker!) We’re heading off for an awesome backpacking trip in the Beartooths this weekend at one of our favorite spots 😊🏕️🥾🏔️ happy hiking and stay safe out there!!! #backpackinggear #backpacking #hiking #backpacker #montana #mountains #outdoorsygals #fyp
♬ Mountain Sound - Of Monsters and Men
Miranda Goes Outside
YouTuber and Instagram influencer Miranda is a top backpacking creator sharing all about the great outdoors. She has over 57K followers on Instagram where she shares tons of backpacking content. She also has 103K subscribers on YouTube following along on her backpacking adventures.
@wildjules It’s the damnest thing #grandcanyon #roadtrip #grandcanyonnationalpark #arizona #solohiking
♬ Grand Canyon - The Wind and The Wave
Dan Becker
Dan is a YouTuber who focuses on backpacking in his content. He has 362K subscribers who are all along for the ride. You can find tips on backpacking gear you should or shouldn’t get as well as other hiking and backpacking videos.
Hailey
Hailey is a TikToker who is also a backpacker, runner and girly girl in the outdoors. She has gained just under 13K followers on the app so far. You can find some beautiful hike ideas and other outdoor traveling tips on her page.
@hihihailey the essentials for a 6 mile day hike! dont forget extra layers, sun protection, and lots of water wherever youre headed on your hike 🏔️ #hiketok #getoutside #hikingoregon #granolagirl #hikingessentials #daypack #hikingbackpack #pnwhikes
♬ Cola (Sped Up Version) - sped up nightcore
Cody and Victoria Blue
Cody and Victoria are backpacking influencers on YouTube and also a husband and wife duo. On their YouTube channel you’ll find adventures and outdoor films. Their videos have attracted 192K subscribers to their channel to watch their epic adventures.
Madison Clysdale
Madison is a TikToker with over 115K followers. She loves hiking, backpacking and being with her dog outdoors. She shares solo and group content that’ll inspire you to start traveling outdoors as well.
@madisonclysdalee Exposure therapy is the name of the game 🐻. I’m not saying you should solo hike/camp in the dark but if you do these might be helpful: - screenshot the sunset and sunrise times before you get out of service - bring a power bank for your headlamp and phone just in case - tell someone where you’re going - don’t bring eggs crossing the border into the U.S. because they’ll search your car and delay your road trip 😅
♬ original sound - Madison Clysdale 🏔️🐕
Foresty Forest
The YouTube channel Foresty Forest is run by a man who has been living in a van since 2018. He has 375K followers on this channel, but also has a smaller second channel where he shares his hikes. While his content is mostly focused on van life, that life tends to take him into the world of hiking and backpacking throughout Canada.
Backpacking TV
Last but not least is Backpacking TV, a YouTube channel with 126K followers focused on backpacking, of course. Backpacking TV focuses on backpacking instruction, gear reviews, action segments, plus anything else to do with being outdoors.
Working with backpacking influencers
If your business specializes in travel services, a backpacking influencer like the ones mentioned above might be able to help you reach a larger audience. Influencers often have the credibility and communication skills to draw a crowd. But, as you search for the right influencer for your brand, keep your company’s values and voice in mind. You’ll want to partner with an individual who complements your brand’s mission and ideals rather than clashes.
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