10 Practical Tips That Helped Me Feel More Confident Solo Camping and Backpacking!

Embarking on a solo camping or backpacking adventure is an exciting journey filled with personal growth and discovery. Whether you’re new to the outdoors or you've previously tackled challenging hikes with friends, this guide offers practical tips to enhance your experience and increase your safety and confidence going solo. Let’s dive right into the essentials!

1. Research Your Destination

Before packing your bags, it’s crucial to research your destination. Use online resources to find trails with good reviews. Websites and forums can offer valuable information on trail conditions and local wildlife. For example, the American Hiking Society states that nearly 15 million people go hiking each year in the U.S. Knowing your trail can help avoid crowded paths and identify lesser-known but beautiful spots.

Some of my favorite places to learn more about trails and campsites are:

• Google maps! So many people leave helpful reviews and photos that can be sorted by newness.

• AllTrails. Although not perfect, this app has a big community of avid hikers that leave detailed information.

• Forest Service website. For federally owned land, this official site will have the most up-to-date info on hours, closures, fees, and amenities.

Make a checklist that includes features you prefer, such as water sources, scenic views, or nearby trails. If a specific trail catches your eye, ensure you find up-to-date maps to familiarize yourself with the terrain.

2. Start with Day Trips

For those new to solo camping or backpacking, begin with day trips. This strategy allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature without the pressure of an overnight stay. Aim for beginner-friendly trails that suit your skill level. See my post on How To Choose Your First Trail for more tips.

For instance, the Appalachian Trail offers sections that are great for day hikes, such as the 2.2-mile loop at Shenandoah National Park. These day hikes can help you build confidence and assess your gear before committing to a longer trip.

3. Gear Up Wisely

Selecting the right gear is crucial for your comfort and safety on solo trips. My advice is to invest in gear that is as high-quality and lightweight as possible within your budget. If you (understandably) can't afford to purchase a brand new set of fancy equipment, try looking secondhand or renting gear!

The following essentials are referred to as "The Big Three:"

• ⛺️ Tent: Look for a free-standing tent that is easy to assemble. For example, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 is a popular choice due to its lightweight design and spacious interior.

  
  

• 🛌 Sleep System: Ensure you have a sleeping pad and sleeping bag suitable for the season; a 20-degree Fahrenheit bag is ideal for three-season camping. See my next tip for choosing a sleeping pad.

  
  

• 🎒 Backpack: A well-fitted and comfortable backpack makes a tremendous difference. Opt for one with at least 50 liters of capacity for multi-day trips, like these Osprey options for men and women, which are renowned for their comfort and support.

  
  

Streamline your packing by taking only necessary items, which helps keep your load light. You can check out my posts on what to pack for your first backpacking trip and 24 ways to lighten your load!

4. Understand R-Values & Picking the Right Sleeping Pad

One of the biggest mistakes I see beginners make is underestimating the importance of a good sleeping pad. Your sleeping pad is an integral part of keeping you warm and comfortable overnight.

As a general rule, the higher the R-value, the more insulating the sleeping pad and the warmer you will be. This doesn't necessarily mean choosing the highest possible R-value. Make sure to choose one that has an R-value appropriate for the weather you'll be encountering.

I use my Therm-a-Rest XLite NXT Sleeping Pad with an R-value of 4.5 on almost all my trips because I get cold easily, and I notice how hot it gets when I use it in the warmer months!

See my full article on R-values here with a reference table for different temperature ranges.

Pro tip: For far too long, I made the mistake of over-inflating my sleeping pads, causing them to be super firm and making me wonder why they were so uncomfortable. Now, I will fully inflate my sleeping pad when I arrive at camp, usually during the day. The cooler temperatures at night will lower the air pressure in the sleeping pad, making them feel less firm. This usually brings them down to my preferred firmness level, otherwise I'll let some air out until around 70-80% filled.

4. Prioritize Safety

Safety is paramount, especially when camping solo. Here are key strategies to keep your trip enjoyable:

• Inform Someone: Always tell a friend or family member your itinerary. Include details on your planned route and expected return time, which puts you at less risk of being unaccounted for.

  
  

• Carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB): A PLB can be essential in emergencies, especially in remote areas. Brands like Garmin offer reliable options that can alert search and rescue teams. Their inReach Mini has become the gold standard in the PLB world and is one I've used on several occasions!

  
  

• Learn Basic Survival Skills: Brush up on first-aid techniques and navigation skills. Online courses can offer basic survival skills that can be invaluable.

  
  

Consider joining workshops on self-defense tailored for outdoor scenarios if safety concerns linger in your mind. I just took an in-person Wilderness First Aid course through Thomas Coyne Survival School, which made me more confident in the backcountry!

5. Learn How to Pick a Good Campsite

As you start spending more time camping, you'll quickly realize there are better and worse sites at each campground. What defines "better" will be dependent on your prefences, but there are a handful of rules and guidelines you'll want to consider:

• At least 200 feet from water sources to avoid wildlife encounters and flooding risks.

• Avoid camping on or next to game trails where animals are likely to pass through.

• Avoid setting up camp under dead trees or trees with large, dead branches.

• Choose a spot that is already cleared, not one where you'll be on top of rocks, grass, bushes, or other foliage.

• Choose an area that is as level as possible. If unable to be completely level, set up your tent so your head will be slightly elevated compared to your feet. This way you won't be rolling downhill in your sleep and you won't have blood rushing to your head at night.

• If it makes sense with your camp setup, try to arrange your tent so one of the doors faces the best view. There's nothing like unzipping your tent in the morning to gorgeous mountains or a lake!

You can see my Ultimate Guide to Havasupai Campground for a real world example of some of these principles in action.

6. Keep a Whistle on Your Pack

This is one of those items that takes up nearly no space and weight, yet can be life-saving in an emergency. Many backpacks even come with a whistle built directly into their straps now.

I keep my emergency whistle in my favorite fanny pack that always comes with me on backpacking trips and stays on me when I'm day hiking away from camp without my backpack.

Remember that three short blasts is the universal distress signal. Having a whistle makes it much easier to alert someone that you need help compared to shouting.

7. Make Your Tent Easy to Find

If your tent isn't already a color that's easy to spot in the wild, tie a bright ribbon or stick a piece of reflective tape onto it to help you locate it easily at night. I've had tents in neon orange and in muted greens, so I use different tricks to make sure I can still see it.

When I'm leaving my campsite at night, I'll leave a lantern or string lights on to make it easy to find my way back. This also serves as a sign to any other campers that might be making their way into the campground late: "this spot is already occupied!"

8. Carry Bear Spray

And read the instructions carefully before heading into the wilderness. This is another one of those items you'll hopefully never have to use, but will be glad to have on hand if the situation ever arises. If anything, having bear spray relieves some of the possible anxiety around wildlife encounters.

While we're talking about bears, you should also brush up on what to do if/when you encounter different animals in the wild! Do a little research on the area you'll be visiting and know what to do if you see bears (including identifying each species), cougars, bobcats, rattlesnakes, wolves, coyotes, etc.

But don't be too alarmed! Wildlife encounters aren't daily occurrences and most animals want to leave to be left alone as much as you do. Make noise to let animals know you are passing through and setting up camp. As a general rule of thumb, stay far enough away that any animal you do come across can be completely hidden behind an outstretched thumb.

9. Turn Around Often on Trail

Stop and take a look behind you often while hiking. Not only will you get to enjoy the view in the other direction, but having mental images of the return path makes it much easier to retrace your steps. I like to snap a couple photos of the trail and any landmarks to use as breadcrumbs in case I do wind up lost or off the trail.

10. Take a Picture at Your Campsite

One of my favorite tips is to take pictures facing different directions at your campsite to help you recognize landmarks later if you get turned around.

If you have an iPhone, a super handy feature is using the location the photo was taken. While viewing the picture in your photos app, swipe up to view where it was taken on the map. This can help you navigate back to the same location later! This also applies to those trail photos you were taking facing the other direction on your hike :)

Final Thoughts

Solo camping and backpacking can transform how you view independence and self-discovery. By implementing these practical tips, you’ll build confidence while creating unforgettable memories in the great outdoors.

Remember, every journey begins with a single step, so lace up those hiking boots, pack your bag, and venture out into the wild! You've got this!

Happy adventuring,

A