I wanted to think that I had never been solo backpacking because there was never a time or occasion for it. In reality, I hadn’t gone because there were a lot of fears sitting in the dark corners of my brain that kept me from trying it. As soon as I realized what had really kept me from trying solo backpacking, I knew it was time to change that. Come along with me as I try solo backpacking alone, and share some wisdom I gathered from my time on trail… alone.

My experience

In short, this was an incredible experience. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize just how important it is to have time alone. Being that I already love to be outside, solo backpacking felt like a natural way for me to start spending time alone with myself, my thoughts, and the great outdoors. Then to realize that fear was the only thing holding me back, I felt motivated to try to shrug those feelings and get out there. That is easier said, than done.

To help put my mind at ease I found and researched an easy trail where I knew I could easily bail if I wasn’t feeling it. Then, once I got to the trail, my muscle memory took over and before I knew it I was setting up my camp for the night. I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable I was out there, because you never know how you are going to feel until you get out there. I found it to be incredibly relaxing to take things at my own pace, stop if I wanted to stop, and do something for myself. I have my extensive backpacking experience to thank for feeling so at home out there. I look forward to getting more solo experience, and maybe next time I will do a multi-day.

Keep reading for my tips for solo backpacking as well as a basic recommended gear list!

Though this blog post was made in partnership with REI, the opinions are entirely our own.

Please note: The links provided in this blog post are affiliate links. If you end up purchasing some of these pieces of gear we get a very small portion of the sales. Thank you as always for supporting us and our life on the road, it gives us the opportunity to share so extensively with you all!

Here are the tips that I share in the video, plus a little more explanation, for a first time solo backpacker! These apply to everyone, but are geared towards the lady identifying people out there. These are some simple things that I felt were helpful and important when I planned this first time backpacking trip for myself! If you have any of your own, please include them in the comments below, because sharing is caring ;)

Tip #1: Start small

The biggest hurdle of backpacking solo, is being comfortable with heading out into the unknown… alone. This part often takes some practice before actually heading out on your first backpacking trip. If you need to get some experience being in the outdoors alone, I recommend trying camping in your backyard or car camping some place you feel comfortable (be it an established campground or otherwise). Then from there, you can slowly start stepping out of your comfort zone and venture further from home!

Tip #2: Stay calm

Feeling overwhelmed when trying something new or out of your comfort zone is completely normal. If at any point you start to feel overwhelmed stop for a while, take some deep breaths, and regain your composure. You’ve absolutely got this! Be patient with yourself in this phase, as it will help you in the long run. A lot of backpacking alone is learning to trust yourself and that is something that just takes time. If you find that you are having a hard time getting out of your head, perhaps bringing some music to listen to or even a book to read at camp can help redirect the anxiousness you may feel.

Tip #3: Know your limits

When venturing out for your first solo backpacking trip, its important to shift the focus away from something that is hard and onto just going out to have a good experience. Once you gain a sense of comfort in your new skill, that is when you would start to fold an element of challenge back in, if you so desire.

Tip #4: Know your gear ahead of time

Before hitting the trail, I recommend getting to know your gear ahead of time. This ensures that you feel comfortable using and setting up everything you brought with you, so you can keep your focus on enjoying the experience! Gear can be tricky, so if you are needing some assistance figuring out what is right for you and your needs, I recommend heading into your local REI to chat to a gear expert. They can point you in the direction of the perfect gear for you, your skill level, and needs in the outdoors. Then when you’re ready, we have a few resources of our own on How to Pack for Backpacking as well as a quick Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking to help you get started!

Tip #5: Share your itinerary!

In my opinion, this is the most important tip. It’s essential that you leave a detailed itinerary with someone before you leave. This is for obvious reasons. When backpacking alone safety is the number one priority. I recommend you leave information like where you’re going, where your car will be parked, where you plan to camp, and what time you expect to return. If you have a satellite communication device, I recommend bringing it. If this is something that would make you feel better out on trail, I recommend the Garmin InReach Mini 2. It is perfect for sending messages to your friends and family when you are out of service.

Tip #6: Enjoy yourself

The whole point of this adventure is to go out and enjoy yourself! So, be sure to keep your focus on having a good time out there. That being said, if you go out for your first trip, and you don’t feel ready, or you need to bail for any reason… no shame. This kind of thing that may take a few tries depending on your comfort level when you start venturing into solo backpacking.

Here is a quick overview of the basic camping gear that I carry with me when I backpack. As mentioned above, if you’re needing help figuring out what the right gear is for you and your needs, I recommend heading into your local REI to chat to a gear expert.

Backpack - Hyperlite 3400

Tent - Nemo Hornet 2 Person Tent if you are needing a one person tent, I recommend this one: REI Flash Tent

Sleeping Bag - Therm-a-Rest Vasper Quilt 20 Degree

Sleeping Pad - Nemo Switch Pad Sleeping Pad

Clothes - Trailmade Women’s Shirt, Trailmade Women’s Shorts, Trailmade Women’s Soft Shell, Arc'teryx Atom Insulated Hoodie, Kuhl Pants

Water - Sawyer Squeeze Filtration System and Reservoirs

Food - Heather’s Choice (our personal fav), Good-To-Go, Mountain House

Stove - Jetboil MiniMo, Fuel

Pillows - Sea-To-Summit Ultralite Pillow

Waterproof Bags (for storing clothes) - Sea-To-Summit eVac

Bear Proof Bags - Ursack Bear Proof BagD

Mug/Measuring Cup - GSI Backpacker Mug

Backpacking Spoon - Toaks Long Spoon

Satellite Communication - Garmin InReach 2 As mentioned in the video, this is something I recommend purchasing if you plan to spend a lot of time hiking .

Hiking Watch - Garmin Instinct Solar 2

Trekking Poles - Black Diamond Z Poles

Camera Clip - Peak Design Camera Clip

Tripod - Peak Design Travel Tripod

Thank you so much for joining on this unique and fun adventure! I hope that I have more solo adventures to report back on soon! I hope that my experience will give you a little encouragement to get out there and try solo backpacking for yourself!

Thank you to our friends over at REI for supporting this and so many of our adventures!

Until next time!

MAK