the war in Iran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz have had knock-on effects around the world. Although it pales in comparison to the cost in human lives and broader economic disruption, hikers already planning trips for 2026 are probably wondering: could the conflict affect this year’s backpacking plans?
About 20% of the world’s oil supply is typically shipped through the now-closed Strait, driving up prices for a variety of products and hampering commercial air travel in some regions. This adds to potential shipping delays as more cargo ships will need to take longer routes to avoid the Strait.
Those issues are also likely to have an indirect impact on hikers. Expect higher prices for everything from transportation to resupply and equipment and, depending on where you plan to hike, potential trip disruptions.
Getting to and from the trail
Simply getting to the trailhead is usually a big item in a hiker’s budget, depending on how far the trail is from their home base. This is truer now than ever, when fuel prices have skyrocketed in response to the oil crisis. Those who must fly to reach the trail will be hardest hit, as 20 to 25% of the world’s jet fuel typically passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Flight routes involving the Middle East are obviously the most affected by the ongoing conflict, less because of fuel supplies than because of security concerns and airspace restrictions.
The United States produces a significant portion of its jet fuel domestically, so the impacts will be less painful and less immediate there than in Europe and Asia, which are already facing significant fuel shortages that have caused thousands of flight cancellations. And even within the United States, airfares are likely to rise in response to the global shortage.
Bottom line: Flying to the trail is likely to be much more expensive this summer, and if you’re based in Europe or Asia or flying to those regions to hike, there’s a chance of travel disruptions as some flights are being curtailed. If you’re buying a plane ticket, especially if it’s not in the US, you should probably think about insuring it.
It should be noted that you will face the most direct impacts of all if you plan to hike something like the Jordan Trail or the Israel National Trail. In the current security situation, you should probably reconsider those plans.
With gas prices While still over $4 per gallon on average in the US, driving or taking a bus will also be more expensive. That also means that transportation for hikers along your hike will likely cost more as well.
A group of Colorado Trail hikers pile into the back of a ferry in 2024. Photo: Lisa Slutsken
Getting resupply
Between the petrochemicals used to produce and package food and the fuel needed to transport it to market, grocery prices are inherently tied to the cost of gasoline. Since gas prices are rising (and since a significant portion of the world’s fertilizer also passes through the Strait of Hormuz), the purchase bill can be expected to increase in kind.
This price increase will not be uniform across all types of food and will not happen overnight. Perishable foods such as meat and produce are the most sensitive to rising fuel and fertilizer costs.
Send yourself a resupply box in the mail? Mail drops can be a smart way for hikers to get hard-to-find items at more favorable prices before the hike.
However, the cost of shipping those items to yourself can often eat into those savings, and that’s likely to be truer than ever this year. This is because major US carriers are implementing shipping surcharges to also account for rising fuel costs. The USPS, for example, will begin charging a temporary 8% package surcharge starting April 26.
Gear
The cost of backpacking gear could also be affected by the oil crisis if it lasts long enough for manufacturers to start passing the extra costs on to consumers. Many backpacking gear products are made with synthetic petrochemicals that will be affected by oil shortages, and the rising cost of fuel is already increasing shipping costs for both raw materials and finished products.
Henry Shires, of popular tent brand TarpTent, has said his company is feeling the pressure. According to Shires, the price of Dyneema fabrics, prized by ultralight backpackers, will increase by $1.50 per meter this year. “We will no doubt also see price increases (exact amount to be determined) on our next scheduled import of finished goods in June,” Shires told The Trek via email. Avient, the company that makes Dyneema, did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
Meanwhile, Jolly, of backpacking clothing brand Jolly Gear, has said the 8% fuel surcharge introduced by USPS will increase the company’s operating expenses. «Since Jolly Gear offers free shipping, my shipping cost will increase for customers,» he told The Trek.
Reading about the conflict and its knock-on effects will probably only make you want to retreat even more to the solitude of the mountains, despite the higher prices. In times of uncertainty, many of us turn to nature for solace, and 2026 definitely looks set to be one of the most anxiety-inducing years in recent memory (at least in the geopolitical sense).
The situation in the Middle East remains unstable, fuel prices are volatile and the path to peace and the reopening of the Strait is still unclear.
At this point, the waterway has been closed long enough that even if it were to reopen very soon, it’s not a question of whether the oil crisis will affect prices for hikers and others, but to what extent. While rising transportation costs and looming jet fuel shortages are an immediate reality, price increases in food and equipment may take longer to manifest.
Hikers with upcoming trips should not panic, but should budget a little more to account for rising costs, come up with transportation plans sooner rather than later, and continue to monitor the situation.
Cover image: Graphic design by Mackenzie Fisher.
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