So, you’re thinking about going solo backpacking…all by yourself, in the wilderness, where there are bears and bugs and you have to carry everything you need on your back, right? “No worries, I’ve got you covered!”

If you’re a beginner backpacker, looking to get into solo backpacking, but are feeling a little overwhelmed by all the gear and planning and have no idea where to start, this post is for YOU!

Why Solo Backpacking?

Why go backpacking alone? Think of solo backpacking like dating yourself. There’s no drama. No compromises and YOU get to pick the snacks.

There are so many reasons why I love backpacking alone.

It’s the freedom to get out on trail without having to wait for someone else to go with me. If I want to go backpacking, I can just go by myself, wherever I want, whenever I want for however long I want. I don’t have to waste my time waiting for someone else to go with me.

I love backpacking alone because I’m in charge of my trip. I never have to worry about being the slowest person in the group. I get to set my own pace. I can take breaks whenever I want for however long I want. I can decide where I camp each night. I get to enjoy my backpacking trip the way I want to without having to take into consideration anyone else other than myself.

Solo backpacking gives me a chance to truly connect with nature and myself, without any distractions like cell/WiFi service or a super chatty hiking partner.

Solo backpacking also means having to be 100% self-reliant…and there’s a lot of power in that.

Knowing I can handle various challenges that may come up throughout my trip while sometimes getting the opportunity to overcome my fears when I’m hiking solo reminds me that I really can do anything I put my mind to, not only when I’m out on trail, but also once I come back home. It’s pretty empowering.

Being out on trail by myself is also a major confidence booster. If solo backpacking were easy, everybody would be doing it and you probably wouldn’t be watching this video right now because you’d be too busy enjoying your “me” time out on trail by yourself.

If you’ve told any of your friends and family that you’ve been thinking about going on a solo backpacking trip, you might’ve heard things like:

  • Is backpacking alone safe?
  • Are you crazy?
  • What about animals?
  • What about people?
  • What if you get lost?
  • Are you going to carry a gun?

Totally normal responses. In my own personal experience, if you want to know what someone is afraid of, just tell them you want to go hiking by yourself in the woods for a few days and you’ll quickly learn everything that they’re afraid of.

Is solo backpacking dangerous? Yes, of course it is, but so is crossing the street and driving a car, but we still choose to do these things every single day.

Solo backpacking can be dangerous if you don’t plan, don’t pack the right gear and have the wrong mindset.

As long as you’ve done the proper trip planning, are prepared with the right gear, practice good judgement and have confidence in your own skills, solo backpacking can be a safe and incredibly rewarding and life changing experience.

Solo Backpacking: The Gear You’ll Need

Backpack

Let’s talk about the backpacking gear you need in order to have a fun and safe solo trip out in the backcountry. Starting with a backpack.

Really take the time to find the right backpack that’s going to fit your body comfortably, will carry all the gear you’ll need and is designed for the type of trip you want to go on. Having an uncomfortable pack can be the difference between a successful and a miserable trip.

Some things to consider when choosing a backpack would be the capacity, volume and size of the pack, how the pack fits your body, pack features, the types of trips you’ll be going on whether it’s for the weekend, a multiday trip or long-distance hike like a section or thru-hike, the season you’ll be hiking in, the amount of time you plan on being out on trail and the distance you plan on traveling.

Most importantly, look for a backpack that fits your body type and can handle carrying all of the gear you plan on bringing comfortably.

When it comes to choosing a backpack, you’ll want to remember that:

  • Pack size corresponds to torso length, not height. So, make sure you measure your torso correctly in order to choose the right size pack for your body. Outdoor retailers like REI have staff on hand in their stores who can help you measure your torso and guide you with finding the right pack for you.
  • Pack capacity is usually measured in liters, which is often included in the name of the pack.
  • You never want to carry more than 1/3 of your body weight in your pack. For example, say you weigh 150 pounds. This means you don’t want to carry more than 50 lbs in your pack.

Tent/Shelter System

As a beginner, solo backpacker, another important piece of gear you’ll need while you’re out on trail alone is some sort of shelter system like a tent.

Most beginner backpackers will want to have the safety and comfort of some sort of enclosed shelter system like a tent as opposed to cowboy camping, which means camping outside, under the stars without any protection from weather or creepy crawlers.

Even though I’ve been solo backpacking for the last 6 years, I still use a tent for every backpacking trip I go on. I’ve cowboy camped twice and can honestly say I still prefer the safety and comfort of sleeping inside a tent, especially when I’m out there by myself.

Some things to consider when choosing a tent would be:

  • How tall are you? Will it only be you sleeping in your tent or will you be sharing the tent with another person? A child? A dog?
  • The peak height of a tent, which is the highest point of the tent. Can you sit upright inside the tent comfortably?
  • Weight; How heavy of a tent do you want to carry? Remember, the bigger the tent, the heavier it will be and the more room inside the tent you have to warm up on those really cold nights.
  • What time of year will you be using your tent?
  • Should you get a three-season or four-season tent?
  • Single wall vs double wall tent?
  • Budget; How much do you want to spend?

If you’re new on your backpacking journey, I recommend starting with a lightweight, double wall, three-season tent. Here’s why.

Double wall tents are versatile, user-friendly and a great option for beginner backpackers. With a double wall tent, you have a whole lot more options. You have the option to set up the tent with or without the rainfly. You have the option to be able to set the tent up practically anywhere and on any kind of surface. Double wall tents are also fairly easy to setup.

If you’re worried about condensation, double wall tents will be the better option because they’re more breathable. In a double wall tent, air flows between the two walls, the tent body and the rainfly, which helps reduce condensation considerably when compared to a single wall tent.

Sleep System

Another important piece of gear every beginner backpacker needs is a really good sleep system. A sleep system is everything you’d need to sleep on the cold ground with, which includes an insulated sleeping pad and a sleeping bag or quilt.

It’s important to note that a sleep system does not generate heat. The goal of a quality sleep system is to trap the warmth your body produces, which will help you stay warm while sleeping on the cold ground.

Just as every one of us is a different kind of backpacker, every one of us is a different type of sleeper. Do you sleep cold? Sleep hot? Are you a side sleeper? Do you toss and turn in the middle of the night?

The big challenge most backpackers have with finding a sleep system is finding exactly what’s going to work for them in order to be able to sleep warm and comfortably outside.

Often times, finding the right sleep system takes some time and requires a fair amount of trial and error, which means having to endure a few really cold nights.

It honestly took me 2-3 years to find the right sleep system for me and even then, I still made a pretty big change to my sleep system last year that helps me sleep even more warm and comfortably out on trail now.

Sorry, I don’t have a magic pill or a quick fix formula that’s going to help you magically find the perfect sleep system for you, BUT here are some things to consider as you start the journey of finding your perfect sleep system:

  • Find out what kind of sleeper you are. Are you a cold or warm sleeper?
  • The time of year and climate you’ll be backpacking in
  • Sleeping bag vs quilt
  • How much insulation or fill do you want your sleeping bag or quilt to have?
  • What kind of insulation do you want? Down vs synthetic insulation
  • Temperature rating. You’ll want to make sure you use a sleeping bag or quilt rated for the season and climate you plan on hiking in
  • Weight and packability

For sleeping pads, the goal of a sleeping pad is to act as insulation between you and the cold ground. A sleeping pad will help prevent you from losing heat to the cold ground while helping to keep you warm throughout the night. A sleeping pad also act as a mattress and provides cushion, helping to protect your bones and joints from the hard ground.

When it comes to choosing a sleeping pad, you’ll want to take into consideration:

  • The different types of sleeping pads like inflated vs non-inflated
  • Where you’ll be sleeping
  • How cold will the overnight temperatures be
  • How much weight you’re willing to carry
  • How much insulation do you want your sleeping pad to have? This is the R-Value rating of a sleeping pad.
  • The size of the sleeping pad. Tall vs regular and regular vs wide width.

Check out my FULL Backpacking Gear List if you’re curious and want to see the sleep system I use out on trail that helps me sleep warm and comfortably on all of my trips throughout the year. This gear list also includes links to where you can find each of these items online.

Cooking System & Backpacking Food

Something else you don’t want to leave home without, especially as a beginner backpacker is cooking gear and backpacking food.

Sure, there’s the option to go stove less and cold soak your food, but this isn’t something I’d recommend if you’re a new backpacker who’s just getting started on your solo backpacking journey.

As The Hungry Hiker on YouTube, I’m a food motivated hiker. I can hike in any terrain, in any kind of weather for as many miles as I need to, knowing that I have yummy snacks I look forward to eating on my breaks and a tasty, warm meal I look forward to eating at camp at the end of a hard day.

I eat from the heart, and I eat whatever food my body and mind crave. That’s just how I roll.

For each of my trips, I always pack a lightweight stove like the JetBoil Stash. Instead of cooking my meals directly in my pot, I use my stove to boil the water that then cook my meal in a separate bag. This way I don’t have to deal with any dirty dishes out on trail.

I also use either a DIY Backpacking Food Cozy or the insulated food pouch from Big Sky International. Either one of these will help your meals rehydrate faster while you’re out on trail. My eating utensil of choice is a long-handled spoon from Sea to Summit.

Depending on where I’m backpacking, I’ll use either an Ursack or a hard-sided bear canister to store my food in while I’m on trail and at camp.

As for the hiking snacks and backpacking meals themselves, I’ll bring everything from my favorite hiking snacks I find in the grocery store to freeze-dried meals I buy from outdoor retailers. This past summer, I got super burnout on all of the store-bought freezer dried meals, which is pretty much all I ate.

This winter, I’m making it a priority to freeze dry and dehydrate my own backpacking food so that I can save a bit of money and expand my on-trail menu by being able to bring some of my favorite meals I like eating at home with me out on trail.

I’m also prone to food fatigue so being able to expand my on-trail menu with a wide variety of homecooked meals that only need boiling water to cook is going to be a game changer for me this upcoming warm weather backpacking season.

Water Filtration System

Water is life! No matter where you’re at on your backpacking journey, don’t drink from random water sources unless you enjoy mystery illnesses.

Never leave home without some sort of Water Filtration System. This includes any type of water filter or purification tablets, water bottles to store your treated water in and something to store dirty water in if you’re not filtering your water directly at the source.

Poop Kit

Whenever you’re spending multiple days out in the backcountry, you’ll need to make sure you’re also prepared to poop and pee far away from any toilet while you’re out on trail.

If you’re looking for ideas on what to pack in your Poop Kit, let me show you what I pack in mine.

First and foremost, an ultralight trowel, which I use to dig a cathole 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches wide, 200 feet (or 75 adult steps from any water source, campsite or trail.

For peeing, I pack a Kula Cloth, which is a reusable, antimicrobial pee cloth designed for people who squat when they pee.

For pooping, I pack PortaWipes, which are compressed, coin-sized tissues that I use instead of toilet paper along with a roll of doggie bags which I use to pack out any used PortaWipes.

For menstruating, I pack a Diva cup.

To help keep my hands clean any time I have to poop, pee or deal with my menstruation cup, I have both powdered soap and hand sanitizer to use that’s always packed in my Poop Kit.

Clothing Layering System

Clothing layers are your best friend, especially because weather in the mountains can be so moody and change quickly. I always live by the motto, “Be Bold, Start Cold” which means starting the day off NOT wearing all of your clothing layers, even if you’re cold. I promise, by the time you start hiking, you’ll warm up in no time.

A Clothing Layering System starts with base layers, which is the clothing closet to your skin that can help wick away moisture from your body.

Mid Layers act as insulation and can be in the form of a lightweight fleece or puffy jacket. I like to put on a Mid Layer whenever it’s cold out and I’m stopped for a break.

Outer Layers are used to help give you and your hiking clothes protection from the weather, keeping you warm and dry. Outer Layers can be a lightweight rain jacket and pair of pants, a pair of GoreTex gaiters and a pair of gloves.

Clothing is one of those things that is super easy to overpack. When packing clothing for your backpacking trip, try to only take what you need, which is usually going to be one outfit to hike in during the day, one outfit to sleep in at night, some type of mid layer, a rain jacket because if you don’t pack a rain jacket, it will rain, guaranteed along with extra pairs of socks and underwear.

For my multiday trips, I ALWAYS pack a couple extra pairs of socks and underwear.

An Emergency Device

As someone who spends a fair amount of time hiking and backpacking out on trail by myself, I recommend carrying some sort of emergency device.

I always bring with me a Garmin inReach Mini 2, which is a lightweight, satellite messenger that allows me to have two-way messaging with the off-trail world like friends and family at home and even with local authorities in the event of an emergency, whenever I’m out of cell and WiFi service range.

Besides having two-way messaging capabilities with the outside world, you can also use a Garmin inReach to set up an online map for friends and family to follow along while you’re out on trail alone. You’ll also have the ability to check the local weather forecast for the area you’re hiking in, which really comes in handy whenever the weather starts to change quickly up in the mountains.

Trekking Poles

While trekking poles might not be an essential piece of gear you’d NEED to go solo backpacking with, they’re still a piece of gear I personally never hike without.

I used to think I was too young to use trekking poles. Then after using them for the first time on the first day of my PCT thru-hike over 6 years ago, I haven’t stopped using them since.

My trekking poles now pretty much stay in my hands the entire time whenever I’m hiking on trail with a loaded backpack.

Trekking poles help me stay upright while hiking on rocky and uneven terrain, giving me more stability and balance. There’s something about having an additional point of contact with the ground while wearing a loaded backpack that makes me feel so much more stable and comfortable.

I also consider my trekking poles an essential piece of safety gear when I’m having to maneuver through water crossings and snowfields.

My trekking poles have even acted as a line of defense between my face and a tree on a pretty gnarly fall, which ended with a snapped trekking pole, but at least it wasn’t my face.

Plus, they overall make my body feel better when I’m out hiking. Trekking poles are known to help absorb the shock on the knees and ankles while going downhill, which can potentially help prevent injuries. Gotta love that.

So, as you’re preparing for your solo backpacking adventure and packing your gear, consider bringing and using a pair of trekking poles. Your knees (and face) will thank me later.

The 10 Essentials

When it comes to the gear you need as a beginner solo backpacker, at the very least, make sure you ALWAYS pack the 10 Essentials.

When you’re backpacking alone, you can’t afford to forget anything important. Always make it a priority to pack the 10 Essentials with you on every trip you go on.

The 10 Essentials include: Navigation, Illumination, Shelter, Extra Clothing, Extra Water, Extra Food, Sun Protection, Fire, Knife and Gear Repair, and a First Aid Kit.

For more detailed information about what each of the 10 Essentials are, check out this blog post where I explain exactly why having the 10 Essentials with you for every trip you go on is important, what each of the 10 Essentials are and give you examples of what each of the 10 Essentials can be in your pack.

Solo Backpacking: How to Plan Your First Trip

Now, moving on to how to plan your first solo backpacking trip. Start by choosing your trail.

Step 1: Choose Your Trail

When trying to decide where to go for your first solo backpacking trip, choose a trail that’s familiar to you. This could be a trail that’s close to home with low mileage. Maybe even a trail that you’ve gone day hiking on before.

By visiting a familiar trail, you’ll help eliminate the fear of the unknown, making the whole idea of doing your first solo backpacking trip way less scary. I recommend choosing a popular, well-travelled trail. This way, you’re more likely to run into other hikers and backpackers while you’re out there by yourself.

Something else I highly recommend as a solo backpacker is to always hike at least 3 to 5 miles away from any trailhead, parking lot or road before setting up your camp for the night. This way, you’ll get far enough out there to enjoy yourself, get away from city life and feel accomplished while keeping the overall level of risk pretty low.

Some of my favorite resources to use when looking for hiking trails near me are AllTrails, Gaia GPS and onX Backcountry.

Step 2: Do Your Research

Depending on where you decide to go for your first solo backpacking trip, you’ll most likely need to figure out a few trip planning logistics like how to get to and from the trailhead, if you need to apply for a permit, learn the rules and regulations for the area you plan on visiting and check the current conditions for the area.

Some questions you’ll want to ask yourself as you start the research portion of planning your trip might be:

  • Do you need a permit to camp?
  • Are there designated tentsites or is dispersed camping allowed?
  • Do you need to make a reservation for a tentsite or are the sites first come, first served?
  • What are the requirements for food storage in the area?
  • What are the requirements for waste management? Can you bury your poop? Will you need to use a wag bag and pack out your poop?
  • Will you need a parking pass for your car at the trailhead?
  • Is there a park fee required to get into the area?

It also might not be a bad idea to become familiar with the 7 Leave No Trace or “LNT” principles, which include:

  • Planning ahead and preparing, which is what we’re talking about right now
  • Traveling and camping on durable surfaces
  • Disposing of waste properly, which ultimately means whatever you pack in, you must pack out
  • Leaving what you find
  • Minimizing campfire impacts
  • Respecting wildlife, like keeping your distance and being bear aware
  • Being considerate of others

You can find more detailed information about the 7 LNT principles through the Leave No Trace website.

Then before leaving for your trip, make sure you check the conditions, which include:

  • Current trail conditions
  • Road conditions, not only the highway you plan on traveling on, but also the forest service road leading to the trailhead
  • And the current weather forecast for the area you’ll be hiking in

It also might be worthwhile to do some research to see what kind of wildlife you can expect to see in the area while you’re out on trail.

Some of my favorite resources to use when researching details for any of my upcoming backpacking trips include checking with the local ranger’s station, National Park websites, local trail organizations and guidebooks and Facebook Groups designed for the specific area I plan on hiking in.

Step 3: Plan Your Trip

After you’ve chosen your trail and done your research, then it’s time to start planning your trip. This means putting together an itinerary for your trip and creating routes for each day you’ll be out on trail. You can use either a paper map or a GPS navigation system app like Gaia GPS or onX Backcountry to build a route, both for your entire trip and for each individual day you’ll be out on trail.

A GPS navigation app tailored for hiking and backpacking trails can be a valuable trip planning tool. Not only can you use a GPS navigation app to access both online and offline maps, but you can also create a route for your trip itinerary and use these apps to find potential water sources and tentsites before ever stepping foot on trail.

When creating a route for your trip and putting together your Trip Itinerary, you’ll want to include important information like:

  • Your planned route and the name of the trailhead you’ll be starting from
  • The tentsites you plan on staying at during your trip
  • Your start date and time for your trip.
  • Your expected end date and time.
  • The make, model, color and license plate number of your car and the location of where you plan on parking your car
  • The name of the county you’ll be hiking in
  • And information on how to contact local authorities in the area you plan on hiking in including local county search and rescue, the local sheriff’s office and the local ranger station

Depending on your subscription level for the GPS navigation app you decide to use and while you’re still in cell and WiFi service, you can download maps of any given area to use while your phone is offline, see what the elevation profile is for any given trail and check the weather forecast for a specific area.

Once offline, you can use the app’s GPS functionality to show your exact location on your offline map to help you stay found while you’re out on trail.

Step 4: Pack Your Gear

As you start to prepare for your first solo backpacking trip, remember that part of your preparation is having everything you need in order to be 100% self-reliant.

Planning your first solo backpacking trip isn’t an “Oh, I’ll just throw some stuff in my pack and see what happens” kind of situation.

As you pack your gear, focus on being overprepared without overpacking. Keep it light. The lighter your pack, the easier your hike will be. If you don’t need something, don’t pack it and leave it at home.

I recommend packing your gear the day before leaving for your trip instead of the morning of, just to make sure you don’t leave anything you might need behind.

If you need help deciding what gear you need to pack for your trip, download my FREE Backpacking Gear Packing List.

Step 5: Practice Using Your Gear

It’s not enough to have the right backpacking gear for a trip. You’ll also want to know how to use all of your gear before getting out on trail.

I recommend setting aside some time to practice using and becoming more familiar with your gear before your first solo backpacking trip.

Try setting up your tent in your yard. Practice packing your pack with all of your gear. Set up your sleep system, filter water using your water filter and wear the shoes you plan on hiking in. Set up your stove and boil a pot of water.

If you’re using an emergency device like a Garmin inReach, make sure you’ve taken the time to set up the device and activate the subscription.

Step 6: Safety Prep

Remember that trip itinerary you were putting together back in Step 3?

Before leaving for your trip, make sure to share your trip itinerary with someone at home whom you trust, who can also act as your emergency contact while you’re out on trail by yourself. Let your emergency contact at home know once you’ve started your trip and also once you’ve reached the trailhead, completing your trip.

If you’re using a GPS navigation app, don’t forget to download an offline map of the area you plan on traveling in. If you’re using paper maps, double check that you have a printed map of the area and print out any trail guides you might need for your trip.

Also, make sure any of the electronics you plan on bringing with you are fully charged before leaving for your trip.

Step 7: Embrace the Adventure

While you’re out on trail alone for your first solo backpacking trip, there might be times where you wonder, “Why am I out here alone?”

Don’t worry. As long as you’ve followed each of the steps I’ve outlined in this blog post, you’ll be plenty prepared for your solo adventure.

Some key things to remember while you’re out there and potentially questioning yourself for going out there alone:

First, always have a positive mindset. You’ll make it through, even when you start to doubt yourself. Then when you finish, you’ll feel like a total badass. I promise.

Stay flexible and go with the flow. Sometimes the best laid out plans don’t go as planned, and that’s okay. Adjust your plans as needed as you go and be sure to keep your emergency contact up to date on any changes made to your original trip itinerary.

Most importantly, embrace the adventure and have fun. What’s the point of planning a backpacking trip if you’re not going to have any fun?

This is why I always bring a camera with me for all of my trips. I love documenting my solo backpacking adventures and then sharing them on my YouTube Channel.

You could also pack a couple distractions to entertain yourself while at camp like a book to read, music to listen to, a game to play or a journal to write or draw in.

The more fun you have out there, the more likely you’ll want to go again and start planning your next trip.

Look, it’s totally normal to feel like a newbie, especially if this you’re your first time backpacking alone. But don’t let that stop you from taking the first step to start planning your solo backpacking trip.

Are you still looking for more advice and want an extra boost of confidence to help get you started with planning your trip this year?

Are you looking for a step-by-step guide that will walk you through everything you need to know in order to plan, prepare and go on your first solo backpacking trip safely and comfortably?

Would you like to tap into a supportive and inspiring group of women hikers and backpackers located all across the country who are looking to plan their own solo backpacking trips this year?

If you said “Yes” to any of the questions above, consider becoming part of my online backpacking program for women, The Confident Solo Female Backpacker System.

Remember, as long as you’ve done the proper trip planning, are prepared with the right gear, practice good judgement and have confidence in your own skills, solo backpacking can be a safe and incredibly rewarding and life changing experience.

Hopefully this beginner’s guide to solo backpacking has given you a few good ideas on how to start planning your first solo backpacking trip.

And don’t forget, YOU GOT THIS!

DISCLAIMER: This post and video contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my blog, The Hungry Hiker and allows me to continue to create content for you free of charge. Thank you for your support!