r/backpacking (about 5.5M members, directory rank #157) is oriented to wilderness or travel backpacking with trip write-ups. Tent camping without long miles, day hiking and pack-hiking trip reports each have clearer homes.
See also camping vs backpacking on SubMouse.
How to choose
Stay on backpacking for wilderness or travel backpacking trip reports. Use camping for tent/hammock campsite camping, hiking for day hikes, and CampingandHiking for backpackers who hike with camping gear.
Starting point: r/backpacking
r/backpacking
- Members: 5.5M
- Directory rank: #157
- 7-day growth: +0
Curated related communities
r/Camping
- Members: 5.6M
- Directory rank: #153
When to choose it: Tent or hammock camping focused on the campsite, not long-distance hiking.
Why it is here: Paired on camping vs backpacking. Public description: campers concerned more about camping than hiking long distances or light gear; primarily tent/hammock (about 5.6M members, rank #153).
How it differs from r/backpacking: Campsite camping versus backpacking trip reports.
r/Hiking
- Members: 2.7M
- Directory rank: #411
When to choose it: Day hikes and the hikers’ community without overnight packing as the point.
Why it is here: Shared outdoor/hiking neighbourhood with backpacking on SubMouse topics. Public description: the hikers’ subreddit (about 2.7M members, rank #411).
How it differs from r/backpacking: Day hiking versus multi-day backpacking.
Camping and Hiking
- Members: 2.8M
- Directory rank: #397
When to choose it: Backpackers who hike with camping gear — tips, trip reports and gear.
Why it is here: Appears with backpacking on Hiking/Camping topic tops. Public description: for backpackers who hike with camping gear in their backpack (about 2.8M members, rank #397).
How it differs from r/backpacking: Pack-hiking trip/gear focus overlapping backpacking but with its own community norms.
Related comparisons
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Members and public descriptions come from SubMouse's safe-for-work directory (as of 2026-11-09 UTC); 7-day growth measured from 2026-11-02. Directory rank is listing order. Guide updated 2026-11-07.