9 Million Americans Are Backpacking, and the Next Wave Is Already in the Outdoors
More than 9.3 million Americans went backpacking at least once in 2025, and about 2.5 million of them spent eight or more nights on the trail. But participation has been slipping since its 2017 peak of nearly 11 million, falling by about 650,000 in the past year alone, while core participation dropped 5%. Backpacking also missed the pandemic-era surge that lifted less gear-intensive activities, and that is where the bigger opportunity lies: hiking has grown to 63.6 million participants and tent camping to 42 million since 2020. Already, 7.8% of hikers and 12.1% of tent campers also backpack, and many more own some of the gear and have the skills to go a little deeper into the backcountry. The next generation of backpackers is out there. The challenge is giving them a reason to stay overnight.
The 2026 Backpacking Report is now available. The report covers participation by sex, age, region, race and ethnicity, and household income, examines the influence of thru-hikers and what essential gear costs at specialty retail, and highlights where the biggest opportunities lie, including the hikers and campers ready to go further, women’s backpacking communities, and the older adults passing the tradition down to their grandchildren. Check out the report for the key findings and what they mean for the industry.
Download the Executive Summary>
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