Going camping with only a few random essentials doesn’t help you enjoy your trip fully. You need a complete a solo camping checklist of essentials if you’re heading alone.
The proper trip plan or blueprint and a well-prepared camping checklist make you confident to deal with adventures and challenges in backpacking.
So, I’m sharing you with checklist that covers all essential gear, safety tips, and personal items needed for solo camping.
1. Essential Gear for Solo Camping
Shelter and Sleeping System
If you’re staying somewhere for a day or longer, you need at least a basic shelter that protects you from extreme weather and animals.
A tent can be a temporary habitat that makes you feel comfortable while resting and sleeping during a camping trip.
It’s lightweight and weather-appropriate.
You also need a season-appropriate sleeping bag. You might experience warmth or overheating, so check the weather or climate before heading on the trip.
I often unzip my sleeping bag if the weather is already hot, and do the opposite for backcountry camping.
Remember, a clear sky means the night will be cooler or colder, and a cloudy sky suggests a warm night or not so cold.
After laying out the ground cloth or tarp, you need a sleeping pad or camping mattress that makes you feel toasty over the ground.
If the pad doesn’t feature an automatic inflating system, you need to bring an air pump also.
So, you won’t suffer from piercing pebbles or feel discomfort on the hard rock base.
These sleeping pads are inflatable, which means you pump air before using and deflate to pack up when leaving the campsite.
I cannot sleep without a pillow around my neck. You can get a compact pillow or an inflatable pillow for camping, depending on your backpacking.
The two pillows help you prop yourself up to read books and watch Netflix.
Besides, you may need mallets and extra tent pegs when pitching the tent.
Backpack and Storage
I recommend getting a properly sized backpack that can hold the camping essentials based on the trip length.
I have a durable Kajka 55L backpack from Fjallraven, which can carry camping gadgets and meals for one person. Backpacks come with several features, including being lightweight and waterproof.
They have several customization options, such as removable pockets and an adjustable torso length.
You can choose based on the size that fits your back.
Besides, you may also want to carry dry bags or waterproof bags to preserve your gear and food. These bags can save your mobile, camera, clothes, and ready-made meals from being damaged by water.
When boating and fishing, many people worry about their electronics and prepared meals, especially in the rainy season.
If you’re worried about packing your tent, camping pad, and pillow, compression sacks can help you out. They are designed to make inflated objects into smaller or condensed forms.
So, they help fold and squeeze the toasty essentials with straps and make space for other gear in a backpack.
2. Clothing and Footwear
2.1. Weather-Appropriate Clothing
I love roaming around in a tank top and long-sleeve base layer in the summer. They are lightweight and fast drying.
It’s totally up to you what you wear.
But the idea is that you need to put in moisture-wicking base layers. You can wear a T-shirt with hiking pants or tights.
In the hot days, you can also have a pair of shorts (I suggest you try aesthetic ones). They’re a little baggier, but dry quickly and have a really cool waistband.
If it’s cold outside, you can wear insulating mid-layers, for example, fleece or a down jacket.
Flannel and sweatshirts are also alternative warm clothes.
Finally, a waterproof and windproof outer layer can cheat the wind and protect you from getting wet. For this, it’s worth investing in a waterproof rain jacket.
Also, don’t forget to take extra socks and underwear.
Hiking for a long time can make your a pair of socks dirty and you might need multiple undergarments for water fun activities and shower.
2.2. Footwear
Normal walking shoes or footwear cannot bear slippery, hard rock, stone, pebbles, or sandy surfaces.
You will need heavy-duty hiking boots or trail shoes that are durable, protective, broken-in, and comfortable in unconstructed ways in remote places.
I personally recommend you wear trail shoes, which are great for shorter hikes and day trips.
If it’s waterproofing, you won’t mind walking in damp lands.
It’s uncomfortable to wear heavy boots or shoes all the time, especially when you’re not walking away. In this case, you can opt for camp shoes or sandals for relaxation. They are also called water shoes.
3. Cooking and Food Essentials
3.1. Cooking Gear
Not only foodies but also each adventurer needs cooking essentials to survive and stay active for adventures during the trip.
You will need cooking pot, pan, grills and other utensils and food prep supplies that are compact, lightweight easy to handle and carry.
I often prefer packing out collapsible cooking utensils, bowls, cups and water bottles, which can save lots of space in the backpack.
Whether you’re camping at a city campsite or going on backcountry trips, these tools help you prepare meals over a campfire or a stove.
With that said, you need a reliable camp stove if you don’t have an access to campfire as many locations have restrictions.
A lightweight camping stove or portable burner with a gas tank can work for solo campers or a couple.
If you take a multiple-day camping trip, you need extra fuel canisters.
After cooking, you may need to clean the utensils. At that time, use biodegradable soap and a sponge.
3.2. Food and Water
What do you like to eat most on an outdoor trip?
You can stock up dry snacks, canned foods, instant meals, foiled meals or already prepared meals. My go to non-perishable foods are freeze-dried meals, nuts, energy bars for the trip.
These help you bring to the campsite and cook meals on the trail without difficulty.
Don’t forget to carry water bottles or hydration bladders. Hiking and summertime funs can dehydrate you soon so you need to store enough water during the trip.
Besides, you can use water purification systems, including filters, tablets, and UV or solar purifiers, based on available drinking water sources.
4. Navigation and Safety Essentials
4.1. Navigation Tools
You need a reliable map and compass to stay on track and explore isolated or remote camping destinations. I suggest you keep these even if you’re using GPS.
You can print the target map at home or buy it from local shops.
Familiarize yourself with a GPS device or offline maps on a phone. For added safety, try using other navigation techniques while camping alone.
Are you a nighttime adventurer? If yes, then, a bright headlamp or flashlight, which helps you navigate your way in dark and lighten up your campsite.
Control the brightness in the settings for long battery life, or bring extra batteries with you.
4.2. Emergency and Safety Items
You should not forget about caring for your safety, as misfortunes happen in adventures, oftentimes. So, you need to be prepared for unexpected things earlier.
Whether it’s a minor injury or a medical emergency, you need a well-stocked first aid kit.
This includes bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, tweezers, and emergency medications.
In unexpected situations, a lightweight emergency shelter, including a space blanket or bivy sack, also boosts your safety.
Like e-bivy, you can also use a survival bag if you have one.
Use a multitool or a versatile tool that has a knife, scissors, and a screwdriver in a single pack. I have a Swiss Army knife!
No doubt, you carry a charged cell phone with you. But in a remote area where there is no network coverage, you will only have a two-way radio option for emergencies.
If not, keep the whistle and signal mirror.
Besides, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or an emergency GPS device is another way to share your emergency location.
5. Fire and Lighting
Campers often feel trapped in a wet environment during rainy or winter camping. It’s hard to light a fire against rain, cold wind, and moist wood.
This can shatter your campfire activities.
So, you will need to bring waterproof matches, a lighter, and a firestarter to ignite a campfire successfully and safely.
Before that, you have to read the fire regulations and local restrictions.
It’s not difficult to illuminate the camp with camp lights. They come from compact lanterns to solar-charged light boxes.
You can also lighten your camp with multiple headlamps. Always keep extra batteries on the trip.
6. Hygiene and Personal Care
Many people think that going camping is only for getting sweaty and dirty. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring hygiene products to keep yourself clean, groomed, and tidy.
While many campsites provide bathrooms and shower facilities, others don’t.
So, campers need to prepare for a portable toilet and a portable shower.
Also, try to keep nature around without pollution and disturbance. For this, you can use biodegradable soap and a towel.
You can make the camping experience much more enjoyable with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.
To remain unaffected by germs, you need wet wipes and hand sanitizer too.
Besides, pack out sunscreen in the hot days and lip balm in the winter on the trip.
You have to deal with many bugs, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and flies, very often in the summertime. So, you need natural bug spray, citronella candles, and other bug or insect repellents.
7. Entertainment and Comfort
Since you’re alone on a camping trip, you should remain calm and energetic. Also, you need to entertain yourself without feeling lonely.
For this, you can bring a journal and a pen to document the trip, a lightweight book or a Kindle, and play music.
Though I like to play the guitar, you can take a ukulele, a flute, or anything handy. At least a harmonica. My grandpa played it for us.
I’m sure you will bring smartphones to play music or snap beautiful memories of outdoor adventures. You can also pack out your camera if your backpack allows.
I suggest you take a waterproof camera or a GoPro.
You should also relax on the trip to feel the nature around you. A folding chair is my favorite in this case, to sit on the bank of the river or when fishing in a lake.
What about a lightweight hammock? You can take a nap between a laborious day and fun activities.
Final Thoughts
Before setting up a campsite, familiarize yourself with best practices such as careful site selection, efficient organization, and a focus on safety and comfort.
Also, you need to consider customizing your solo camping checklist based on the location and season.
Always follow Leave No Trace principles and pack out trash and minimize environmental impact while camping.
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