What do I don't know I don't know when it comes to solo gear?

As an almost 20 year vet of the BWCA I have the standard stuff, usually two or three of them, like most of us. I've bought a couple of things (like a light one-man tent) I feel will be helpful.

What have people found they've had to add (or upgrade) to make flying solo easier, better, higher, faster?

i found a real shelter to use as a kitchen-bug house- to be a good bit of gear.a one person tent is good for sleeping but trying to cook hanging out the door wont't work and you get food smells in your sleeping area. i use a Baker tent type shelter and on the last trip a MSR tarp-tent to cut weight really down.
tarps call for a new set up every time you use it and the wind,rain and bugs get under the edges.with a shelter you just attach a few lines and you have a dry wind proof home.

the second thing i would suggest is a small Gaz lamp.not so much for lighting but for heat.at its lowest setting mine,a Primus,puts out enough heat to warm my shelter or tent.at the tent it's used out side the door but under the closed vestibule.with the lamp you can get and stay warm without having to beat the brush for firewood in cool wet weather.

pack the amount of food you think you will eat, then remove 1/4 of it and leave that at home. too much food is something almost every solo'r experiences, even after many trips. the other excess is clothing.

I agree with wetcanoedog. I too take a shelter when solo backpacking, it is a small tarp that I can get under when it's raining. My one man tent does have a vestibule to it but is really not designed well for doing cooking in rainy weather. I think you will find when soloing that you can cut back on a lot of items or the size of things you take. Like first aid supplies, size of cooking pots, food, amount of fuel you need, etc.

Three things I value are a good lightweight 2-person (or even 3-person) tent, tarp and chair. I really appreciate having a little extra room when I solo and find a campsite I want to stay at for more than 1 night. The tarp is nice on any day, and especially bad weather days, so I can sit and relax instead of hiding in the tent or under a tree...

I took my first solo trip in September. Here is what I learned about equipment:
1. Kanoes is right about food. My wife will tell you about my day spent in the kitchen carefully measuring out food for my trip. I still took far too much food. Kanoes estimate of removing 1/4 would have been about right for me.
2. I use a hammock with a tarp. I took a second tarp and never used it. I found that I hand plenty of sitting/cook space with my 1 tarp. I used a 10x12 tarp.
3. I took a light weight chair.
4. I cut way down on fishing tackle
5. I didn't need my hatchet
6. I found I didn't need any new/specialized equipment. I just had to learn to cut down on stuff I would normally take on a multi person trip.
7. I did buy 1 new piece of equipment, a nalgene canteen, 96oz. It was very handy.
8. If you don't already have a sea to summit kitchen sink, I would get one. Don't get the smallest size, get the next size up. 10 liter I think.

It's obvious, but a solo canoe it a pretty important addition. I know folks do solo with tandem canoes, but i is not very pleasant in my experience. Other than that a lot depends on what you want out of the trip. I like to travel every day that weather allows, and so find taking less adds to my enjoyment. Less weight in the boat and on the portage make me smile. A luxury that I do not always take, but always appreciate if I get wind bound, is a book. I'm not much for puttering around camp by myself, so get bored if I have to spend the entire day in camp.A book really helps.

Enjoy your solo. I enjoy tripping with others ... but really, really like solo paddling and hiking.

If you want to go ultra light look at some of the Ultra light backpacking websites for info and ideas. Like: Backpacking light

I did my first canoe solo last May. I took too much food and too much tackle.

A few things I debated about taking, but ended up being glad I had were a second tarp, my monarch chair and my kindle. All told I had nearly twice the load I'd carry while backpacking.

Get a good dog! I'm a firm believer that everyone gets one dog of a lifetime. You may have several good dogs in your life, but you only get THAT dog once.

Taking a solo trip in the BWCA with THAT dog is one of life's great moments.

As for the other stuff, like someone already said, lighten up where you can with the essentials, meaning the tent, sleeping gear, and canoe, and then just start leaving a lot of the rest of the things you usually take with you at home.

Most readers on this board are likely trip planners, which means we end up taking a lot of extra things to cover for the group. You likely don't need most of that stuff.

Thanks for all the thoughts everyone, keep them coming.

Although cutting down on the tackle? Man, that's one I'm not sure I can do! I don't even own a tarp, since I don't mind wandering around in the rain, but I can see how it can come in handy solo.

Depends on your tripping style. If you are a duffer and lolligag, you will want some extras like a kindle, a hammock, a chair, etc. to further enjoy the time alone.

If your goal is to trip, lighten it all up. Leave the extras home. Campsite selection isn't as high of a priority since you need just one tent pad. So you can trip later in the day and grab up a lesser site if distance is your goal.

First aid and self rescue in an emergency become very important. Beef that up some.

Find the lightest paddle possible. Padding solo, you are gonna do all the work...those ounces add up fast over a day of paddling. And you might go farther since it seems like there is more time on hand.

A book is a necessity if you are wind bound or have bad weather.

I enjoy a campfire nightly. A small folding saw works wonders. To each their own on this.

+1 on the extra food. My first time I came home with several pounds of the stuff.

An extra map stashed somewhere. If you lose the one you have...man....

quote PaddleAway: "What do I don't know I don't know when it comes to solo gear?

As an almost 20 year vet of the BWCA I have the standard stuff, usually two or three of them, like most of us. I've bought a couple of things (like a light one-man tent) I feel will be helpful.

What have people found they've had to add (or upgrade) to make flying solo easier, better, higher, faster? "

Well, solo trips are very individual experiences geared to one's own needs, desires, and preferences. Consequently, solo tripping and gear advice is very much personal opinion. Here's mine:

I am not a base camper; I like to travel.

On a solo I carry everything and do everything. It's hard to cut the solo weight to half of a tandem weight. I rent a solo canoe at 30 lbs. vs. a tandem canoe at 40 lbs., so I save 1/4 of the weight, but still carry 3/4 of the tandem weight. But, it is less work to paddle than trying to solo a tandem.

You can save weight by buying smaller, lighter gear like the tent or any of many other things. I also save time and weight by simplifying things like food prep. I also save weight by simply not taking things like a chair, hatchet, saw, lantern, shower, kitchen sink, fishing gear, etc.

You will have to develop your own style, but you can get a head start by reading some old threads and thinking about how the various opinions relate to your needs and desires.

You'll probably come out of the first one with a lot more food than you think. It seems to happen to just about everybody - something about it not being a social activity and group focal point like we're used to and just being fuel, I think.

You might want to just pack everything up and see if it and food and canoe weight is a load or two that you'll be comfortable handling alone without increasing your chance of injury.

Understanding your trip stile is part of the key. I’m a mover! I also take too much food but one thing I would recommend for movers is some fast food. Because of health issues I can not eat much sugar but after a long day I may get into camp exhausted. Too exhausted to fix food. For those occasions in an easy to get to place is a spoon and a jar of peanut butter. One large spoon full of peanut butter and then set up the tarp and hammock. By that time I will feel more like fixing something more substantial. A 1 LB jar will last me for a 10 day trip.

quote Exo: "Depends on your tripping style. If you are a duffer and lolligag, you will want some extras like a kindle, a hammock, a chair, etc. to further enjoy the time alone.
"

I would respectfully disagree with this. You can cover a lot of ground with all 3 in your pack. Personally, I sleep in my hammock. My chair weighs a pound and is much easier on my back at the end of the day while eating supper and watching the fire. The kindle is lighter or as light as a thick book and has more than I could read in a month of wind days on it. But I read for a half hour or so every evening after I climb into the hammock also, so maybe that argument doesn't hold up for everyone. All 3 come with me when I'm hiking too.

Indeed some great ideas. Think smaller and less. Break the issue down into basics; transportation, shelter, food, packs and preferences. A solo boat is definitely better. Shelter can now include a hammock as an option or a solo tent, both make finding a suitable campsite is easier. Food has been mentioned, but also cut back on cookware and utensils. I eat out of the pan I cook in and plan one pan meals. You get the idea.
Going solo changes many elements of tripping. Filling the time alone is critical but remember it will take longer to do camp chores alone. And remember to stay well within your limits, safety issues are exponential when alone. Being alone I can pay more attention to what the wilderness offers and I am learning to slow down which translates into reducing the overall distance I plan to cover.

Mostly what I'm taking out of this is that on a cold winter day I'm going to dump every piece of gear I have out on the basement floor & figure out what I need, what stays, & what needs to be lighter.

My evolving goal is to have everything, including a tightly sealed food bag, in one pack. I can already think of a few things I'm going to need more compact/lighter versions of (chair, tarp, couple other things).

For those that bring tablets, do you bring solar chargers? Mine isn't that old, but I'm not sure it would last a three day trip, especially if I had a rain day.

3 days...id be so tempted to use my backpacking backpack, go light, and single portage.

Maybe even forsake fishing gear to be even lighter...nah!

Was clothing mentioned? That's where things can get expensive quick also. And light!

One May solo I had shorts and a lightweight t-shirt as well as neoprene socks, gloves, and long underwear. One day was 80's, another was a low in the 40's.

quote PaddleAway: "Mostly what I'm taking out of this is that on a cold winter day I'm going to dump every piece of gear I have out on the basement floor & figure out what I need, what stays, & what needs to be lighter.


My evolving goal is to have everything, including a tightly sealed food bag, in one pack. I can already think of a few things I'm going to need more compact/lighter versions of (chair, tarp, couple other things).


For those that bring tablets, do you bring solar chargers? Mine isn't that old, but I'm not sure it would last a three day trip, especially if I had a rain day. "

That's a good plan. You should try to read as many solo trip reports, especially first ones, and relevant threads in the solo forum as possible before you do. You'll also probably want to think about options for adjusting canoe trim. If you get a chance to do an overnight, even just car camping, before your solo it may be useful.

I bring my Kindle. Its a must. I also bring a small Mophie Juice pack for a charger. It will charge my Kindle about one and a half times. This year I cut out a lot of weight by getting a smaller camera. I left my big DSLR at home and purchased a Leica Brideameara camera. It does everything the big DLSR does only in a small package.
As much as I like go to as light as possible, I also like my little luxuries like my Kindle and a chair.
Food wise I stick to simple things like power bars, oatmeal, and jerky. I am tempted to leave the Jet Boil home but I like hot tea and when I get cold its great to have a hot drink. I bring less than what I normally eat daily and I bring a few extra power bars so if need the calories I have them.

Kindle paper white will last weeks of heavy use without a charge (make sure to put into airplane mode (shuts off the wi-fi) before you depart) and weighs less than a paper back.

Kindle lasts me ten days easy even reading 90 minutes a night. Thats nice for long long and warm Florida nights this winter. And I can take ebooks out from the library. I download the max books I can then throw Kindle into airplane mode. That way the books do not disappear two weeks after they are "taken out" I can read at my leisure.
I use a battery pack for my phone. For some strange reason I brought it on a six day Apostle Island run and because I found out I had service was on it way more than I needed to be. I could have really lived without Facebook.

And the battery pack had power left over.

I would agree with the general opinion about reducing weight to reduce the workload. Going solo seems like four times the work of a tandem trip for some reason. The lighter packs also make loading and unloading the canoe easier since you have no one to help hold the canoe.

My biggest weight savings came in a backpacking tent, Lighter air mattress, inflatable pillow, lighter water filter, alcohol stove and reduced cook kit. Also totally agree on bringing less food, I tested at home to fine tune and still was over. For some reason I eat less when solo, the extra work, going to bed earlier?

Best of luck on your solo planning.

As others have said you can cut back on the food for sure. I find that I have to almost force myself to eat after about day 3 or 4. I usually have a steak the first night out and then its pretty basic meals. I'm just not that hungry. The only thing that I bring extra of is cigars & coffee.

The gear that is truly different is my cook kit. My cook kit is very simple with a 700 Snowpeak mug with a reflectex cozy and a Sea-to-Summit X-Mug. I also have an 8" frybake pan that I can fry fish, bake, or use as a plate. Sometimes I take a MSR Pocket Rocket for a stove, other times it's a Trangia alcohol stove. I'm not melting snow or making fancy meals so the Dragonfly stays at home. I normally have oatmeal & VIA coffee for breakfast, Gorp and Jerky for snacks/lunch, and a dehydrated meal of some kind for supper. I make all of my own as I don't like the pre made meals. I use a Sawyer Squeeze for water.

I take a smaller first aid kit, very small fishing tackle box, but other that that, its almost all the other gear minus the kitchen sink. I still bring an Wetterling ax and a saw. I enjoy having a fire - some do, some don't. I hammock it for sleeping when solo but I also bring a 10' x 10' CCS tarp. Don't always put it up but I have it if I need it. I also bring a chair.

I can fit everything into two CCS Rucks and a Mountainsmith Lumbar pack (fancy way of saying a fanny pack) for 8 - 10 days. If it's more than that I use one Ruck & a CCS Explorer pack.

Make sure that you are drinking enough water, slow down and don't take any shortcuts, but mostly enjoy yourself.

Couple of items I definitely agree on.
- look at your food. I like extra protein bars to help keep energy up quickly and easily. I do always plan at least a couple extra bars and a full meal (just in case)
- Also for food, measure daily meals out, actually cook one or two if you need (oatmeal for morning, how much makes how much) also if your a coffee drinker, figure out how many cups you get out of a pound (I wont give up fresh coffee - FOR ANYTHING)
- A book. either Kindle or paperback. something to help get threw the quiet times, especially if your rain/winded in for the day.
- clothing, keep it simple, luckily your the only one going to probably see or smell yourself, careful not to overdo it. convertible zip of pants work well if your traveling spring/fall especially.
- watch the backups, on a group trip I always seem to pack too much rope, extra headlamp, lighters, clothes, maps, etc. on a solo your the only one to worry about, so one of everything should do it.

Something else to think about that wasn't mentioned (I don't think) what does your cook kit include. I used a Jet Boil Flash system , this way I could cook my meals and still make my coffee(French press style) all in the same pot. only disadvantage would be you have to use it for all meals as the pot doesn't really work over a campfire as well. I also did all dehydrated meals and just ate out of the pot, just a long handled spoon is all I needed. just a thought.

A cook kit can get very large and heavy or stay very minimalistic depending on your needs. its a big decision (most people eat/cook food at least twice a day every day)it will get used a lot.

good luck, and have fun with it.

i have taken some odd items to fill in the time alone when reading and fishing gets sort of old on wind bound days.

this is Fox Hole Radio kit i took a few years ago and spend some down time putting it together,all i got was hisssssssssssssssss.
another time i took a kit to sew a knife pouch.if you have a hobby
like that by all means take it.

All great suggestions. Use what makes sense to you and your style of camping/tripping. For me it's solo tent just big enough for my sleeping pad and bag. Howver, I take a 10' x 10' tarp under which I can store my gear and hang out if it rains. I also take a chair (my old bones appreciates it).

Keep meal prep super easy. Boil water only meals if possible. I take lots of drink powder including Crystal Light, Hot Chocolate, and Instant Coffee (sometimes Folger Singles). I know that's a sacralige to some, but I'm OK with it. Cup-o-soup, instant oatmeal,tea, lots of snacky stuff like nuts, cany, granola bars, etc. Cup. Spoon. Small pot.

I carry a SPOT personal locater, for emergencies.
I know this will sound funny to many, but if I can get radio reception I like to listen to AM radio, softly mostly talk stations or WELY. I don't read much.

My radio doubles as a NOAA Weather Radio, I do not want to get caught out in nasty weather if I can avoid it, (it helps me plan when my lay-over day will be, for when there could be cruddy weather), and in Alaska where I live now, it could be life (A dunk in 30 degree water) threatening. There is just limited weather forecasting there (AK) in general and I live off the electrical grid, besides.

Here is my radio.

quote LindenTree3: "
My radio doubles as a NOAA Weather Radio, I do not want to get caught out in nasty weather if I can avoid it, (it helps me plan when my lay-over day will be, for when there could be cruddy weather), and in Alaska where I live now, it could be life (A dunk in 30 degree water) threatening. There is just limited weather forecasting there (AK) in general and I live off the electrical grid, besides.

Here is my radio. "

I use the same radio and don't ever consider not bringing it. I like to know the winds as well as any rain coming ahead of time.

I love the idea of a dry solo run closer to home, I am going to start looking into a place to do this ASAP.

I am likely going to bring a SPOT to provide my wife with peace of mind. Simple food prep is also high on the list, though I'm going to be hard pressed not to have my normal one fish dinner during a trip!

Thanks for the ideas, this has continued to be helpful.

quote PaddleAway: "I love the idea of a dry solo run closer to home, I am going to start looking into a place to do this ASAP.


I am likely going to bring a SPOT to provide my wife with peace of mind. Simple food prep is also high on the list, though I'm going to be hard pressed not to have my normal one fish dinner during a trip!


Thanks for the ideas, this has continued to be helpful."

Make sure to tell her that SPOTS can and do fail from time to time.

"Make sure to tell her that SPOTS can and do fail from time to time."

Given her reaction to my talking about going in the first place, she'll probably assume I'm dead as soon as I leave the driveway!

(But yes, good point)

I was surprised to learn how much more of my time was taken up by camp chores. It should have occurred to me that if I were the only one in camp, camp chores would take twice as long.

With that in mind, I recommend doing what you can to keep things simple, as others have recommended. For me, that meant one-pot cooking in a Jetboil stove.

I would also consider using a BearVault, to avoid the nightly routine of choosing a tree and rigging ropes for the food pack.

Consider doing without a campfire. Skipping the campfire means you don't have to carry a hatchet or saw. It also frees you from gathering firewood. A campfire is a social event, and if there's no one to share it with, it may be more effort than it's worth. Enjoy the stars and sounds of the night, instead.

If rain is in the forecast, consider taking a tarp, and pitch it over your tent with enough room for a front porch. Creating a snug, dry space for yourself during a prolonged period of rain gives a sense of satisfaction, and can make you feel cheery. Being damp and confined to your tent when you're all alone is discouraging.

A couple of other thoughts...Seek solitude on your solo trip. Relish the experience of being alone, and learn to enjoy your own company. At the same time, know that those you encounter on the portage trail will be more inclined to greet you as a solo tripper. Introduce yourself, and talk with them. You'll have some new things to think about for the rest of the day.

quote TrekScouter: "

Consider doing without a campfire. Skipping the campfire means you don't have to carry a hatchet or saw. It also frees you from gathering firewood. A campfire is a social event, and if there's no one to share it with, it may be more effort than it's worth. Enjoy the stars and sounds of the night, instead."

Uggghhhh!! One of my favorite parts of a solo is the nightly campfire. But if I didn't have one I bet I would wake up and start my day a lot earlier!

quote Exo: "

quote TrekScouter: "

Consider doing without a campfire. Skipping the campfire means you don't have to carry a hatchet or saw. It also frees you from gathering firewood. A campfire is a social event, and if there's no one to share it with, it may be more effort than it's worth. Enjoy the stars and sounds of the night, instead."

Uggghhhh!! One of my favorite parts of a solo is the nightly campfire. But if I didn't have one I bet I would wake up and start my day a lot earlier!"

I know what you mean. I enjoy a campfire too, but by the time it's dark, I'm usually ready to escape the mosquitoes and hit the sack.

I use a Jet Boil also, Bearvault, Tarp and rarely start a fire. I find the fire grates nice little tables to set my cooking gear on. Never really thought about campfires being a social event, maybe that's why I don't bother with them, maybe it is because I am a firefighter and campfires have lost most of their appeal.

Here is a picture of my camp on a week solo up Little Indian Sioux to Finger/Beartrack and out Loon Lake.
I think I was trying to dry out, that is why things look like a bomb went off. I keep all gear including food under 40#.

I agree with the others regarding campfires. I love them, but when I solo I seldom have one. Too much work? No one to social with? Too tired? Enjoying the dark and night sky? I don't know - probably all of them.

quote Bannock: "I agree with the others regarding campfires. I love them, but when I solo I seldom have one. Too much work? No one to social with? Too tired? Enjoying the dark and night sky? I don't know - probably all of them.
"

The only time I make a fire when solo is to grill a fish dinner.

I gotta have a fire for a little while every night. Even if it's just feeding the twig stove. Something about a fire just makes it a complete experience.

quote Bannock: "I agree with the others regarding campfires. I love them, but when I solo I seldom have one. Too much work? No one to social with? Too tired? Enjoying the dark and night sky? I don't know - probably all of them.
"

One thing about solos is you get figure out what works for you....and it might not be what you expect. If you normally like fires on group trips you might not on a solo if for no other reason than it is a lot of work and if you are moving every day your just too tired. I generally do not build fires but on my solo trips to WCPP, good firewood is very abundant at most campsites. I found I really liked having a fire when it was easy to build. Don't lock yourself into any particular thought on how you want to spend your time. Take what the trip gives you.

quote hooky: "I gotta have a fire for a little while every night. Even if it's just feeding the twig stove. Something about a fire just makes it a complete experience."

+1

quote LindenTree3: "I use a Jet Boil also, Bearvault, Tarp and rarely start a fire. I find the fire grates nice little tables to set my cooking gear on. Never really thought about campfires being a social event, maybe that's why I don't bother with them, maybe it is because I am a firefighter and campfires have lost most of their appeal.


Here is a picture of my camp on a week solo up Little Indian Sioux to Finger/Beartrack and out Loon Lake.
I think I was trying to dry out, that is why things look like a bomb went off. I keep all gear including food under 40#.
"

Same here. Last year for my first solo my only pack was 38#s. I came home with 2 days worth of food and duplicated a lot of items I did not need to.

Spring and fall, I always have a little fire at night just to try and dry stuff that's a little wet or sweated up, my coffee can stove works great for this because you don't need a saw to find a pile of twigs.

I am going to try a pre-solo solo. My plan this spring is a 12-15 mile solo down the Boone River in central Iowa. Get dropped off at a county bridge about 6am. Camp 6.5 miles downriver on the river at a WMA after doing some fishing along the way, and make the last 7 miles the next day in about 5 hours. Again, some smallie fishing as I go. This gives me a chance to practice cooking, carrying, paddling the solo canoe some more, getting comfortable being alone if only for a short time.

quote djw22: "I am going to try a pre-solo solo. My plan this spring is a 12-15 mile solo down the Boone River in central Iowa. Get dropped off at a county bridge about 6am. Camp 6.5 miles downriver on the river at a WMA after doing some fishing along the way, and make the last 7 miles the next day in about 5 hours. Again, some smallie fishing as I go. This gives me a chance to practice cooking, carrying, paddling the solo canoe some more, getting comfortable being alone if only for a short time."

I would suggest that you also try a borrow pit or a couple small and then larger lakes as well. Paddling on a river vs. on a lake is a little different. Give yourself more time getting used to paddling a solo canoe in different conditions.

Sounds like a shakedown cruise. With no portages you should have plenty of time. This being a “getting comfortable being alone” trip plan on filling your time. Other words don’t paddle to camp set up and find that you have 7 hours before bed time with nothing to do. It is real easy to be alone if you have a lot of things to get done.

Magic Paddler makes a good point. River paddling you can cover more distance than you can on a lake, obviously. I did a search and found a nice paddle.net review of a day trip from Webster City to the Des Moines river. You will have plenty of time to fish and still make camp very early with your planned trip. Having nothing to do on a solo can be tough for some people. Also on smaller rivers check water flow, too low and you will be dragging bottom a lot.
Looks like a nice trip. I have camped and paddled Brushy Creek, another really nice lake to explore in that area. Camp at the north camp grounds if you do stay overnight. Much nicer sites.

quote hooky: "I gotta have a fire for a little while every night. Even if it's just feeding the twig stove. Something about a fire just makes it a complete experience."

I rarely make a real fire when camping solo, but I always burn a handful or 2 of sticks in my stove before bed. I think of it as a "personal campfire". It's fun, minimal effort, minimal commitment . .ie . .I can burn it for 10 minutes if I want to. With the windscreen in place, it even kicks out a little warmth.

Last year there were a few nights were it was really rainy and cold. The only fire I could easily get going was in my stick stove and I was glad to have it, lol.