Hi all
Just wondering what gear you normally take along that you feel are "must have" items
I'm just wondering to make sure I have these items for my first solo.
I know items like, tent, sleeping bag, stove, all the normal typical items. I was wondering about the things the normal person wouldn't think to bring along.
Thanks
Mike

Soloing isn't always what you bring... Sometimes it's more like what you don't bring. In stead of a whole cookkit, just make up your kit of what you need. I got away from most camp foods as their portion sizes are either too much or too little. I spend my cold winter nights playing around with different ideas for meals... Then get them down to a good portion size. You'll find fuel consumption is less too. Most soloists complain that they bring too much food. Maybe a smaller rain fly. If you have a super light tent that isn't much more than a bivvy, you'll really appreciate a good rain fly to sit and cook under in inclimate weather. Most try to get lighter gear. I'm terrible at that, but you make those choices and live with them.

In addition to all the "regular stuff", I like to take a small camp chair, my kindle (the old monochrome one that holds its charge for over a week of reading a few hours/day), bourbon, a few cigars, camera or cell phone, and fishing gear.

Something to keep your mind working. I can be happy as a clam conversing with rocks, not everyone can though. I like a book or 2 to read, an MP3 player to listen to now and then when the bugs start getting argumentative. Lately been collecting navel lint to make a pillow.

butthead

Lately been collecting navel lint to make a pillow.


butthead"



This is what retirement does to you!

Here's some of my "must have" items.... My Leatherman, buck folding pocket knife, one of those cushions gardeners use to kneel on [use as a seat cushion in the canoe, kneeling pad when cooking, can be placed under my sleeping bag to level out that root you missed when you choose your tent site, fan for helping getting the fire going, seat cushion for atop my bucket. I always take a 5 gallon bucket with a gamma lid on it, some Gorilla tape, some large saftey pins. My jaw spreaders, long nosed fish hook getter outers, a good side cutters, yes I have had to use them to cut fish hooks off that were attached to me and the fish, Luci light. Machette with case. about a mile of extra rope, extra battery for my camera, seems obvious but extra paddle. TO KEN anyone who collects belly button lint for a pillow really needs to go solo. Thanks to reading that post I will probably have nightmares about being smothered with belly button lint when I go home this morning to sleep. FRED

Like Ben said, there's a lot of stuff I don't take - ax, hatchet, saw, lantern, chair, fishing equipment, or lots of "kitchen stuff".

I do take a spare paddle, "painters" to tie up the bow/stern of the canoe, nail clippers, plackers, a waterproof P & S camera that fits in my pocket and is on a lanyard around my neck. I also take a notebook and a couple of pens. Like butthead, I'm another easily amused "navel gazer" :).

collapsible water container for camp (besides Nalgene) smaller tarp (8 x 10) I have sat in the rain for hours, and nothing better then a tarp for this. bungee dealy bobs a MUST.
Lifesavers (good treat after a long portage) head net (bugs can get bad) I take EVERCLEAR, for my drinking (Learned that from kanoes) Use crystal light packets to mix with EC.
This cuts down on weight of alcohol (if you drink alcohol) spare paddle as mentioned before a must (I broke one before) I take one of those REI chairs, can't hardly stand it without my chair. dehydrate my own meals, think Ben touched on the advantage of that.
Gorilla Tape a must, much better than duck tape. GPS

a backup paddle. i use a flint striker to light my alcohol stoves, plus carry an extra butane lighter.
my food, dried, fits in a bear vault 500 canister container, keeps all critters away.
35 trips now, my gear is minimal, but necessary.

quote SunCatcher: "collapsible water container for camp (besides Nalgene) smaller tarp (8 x 10) I have sat in the rain for hours, and nothing better then a tarp for this. bungee dealy bobs a MUST.
Lifesavers (good treat after a long portage) head net (bugs can get bad) I take EVERCLEAR, for my drinking (Learned that from kanoes) Use crystal light packets to mix with EC.
This cuts down on weight of alcohol (if you drink alcohol) spare paddle as mentioned before a must (I broke one before) I take one of those REI chairs, can't hardly stand it without my chair. dehydrate my own meals, think Ben touched on the advantage of that.
Gorilla Tape a must, much better than duck tape. GPS"

What is "everclear"?
Some things I didn't think of are the sink and gorilla tape.
Thanks
Mike

quote butthead: "Something to keep your mind working. I can be happy as a clam conversing with rocks, not everyone can though. I like a book or 2 to read, an MP3 player to listen to now and then when the bugs start getting argumentative. Lately been collecting navel lint to make a pillow.


butthead"

That's good to know about the belly button lint. :-)
Mike

I consider these items must have in no particular order:

1. Multi tool of some type
2. Balaclava for cold nights
3. Luci light (light, pack able, no brainer)
4. Reading material
5. Down sweater or light coat (I travel in shoulder season)
6. Head lamp with extra batteries
7. Saw
8. Storm proof matches
9. Insulated sleeping pad
10 Tarp with lots of rope

Everclear 190, nice clean burning dual purpose alcohol stove fuel.
May need to trek to WI to obtain it, a Cheesehead thing.

The sink helps contain the lint gathered.

Gorilla tape for gorilla fixin'.

butthead

PS; MOST IMPORTANT-----------------------------a sense of humor. If you can laugh at yourself the whole world starts to make sense! bh

Ken, you never cease to amuse us. That lint could save your life if you need to start a fire fast. Mix it with ear wax and fill egg carton slots. How would you market that? Haha!

quote butthead: "Everclear 190, nice clean burning dual purpose alcohol stove fuel.
May need to trek to WI to obtain it, a Cheesehead thing.


The sink helps contain the lint gathered.


Gorilla tape for gorilla fixin'.


butthead

PS; MOST IMPORTANT-----------------------------a sense of humor. If you can laugh at yourself the whole world starts to make sense! bh


"

:-), oh I laugh at myself. I lived my whole life up to five years ago in Wisconsin and never heard of it. I was born in Tomah. Moved up to Philips area for many years. Went to college in LaCrosse and lived in Marshfield where both my kids were born. Maybe too much info :-)
Thanks Ken
Mike

EverClear is Grain Alcohol In Nebraska it is 190 proof is some states 150, Some states do not sell it. It is about 2x more potent then anything else, so takes half as much to do same damage. Mixes well with Gatorade crystals, crystal lite, lemonade, etc.
Will also get a fire going :)

SunCatcher

quote butthead:

PS; MOST IMPORTANT-----------------------------a sense of humor. If you can laugh at yourself the whole world starts to make sense! bh


"

Yes, bring your sense of humor! I've set off twice and realized I'd left mine in the car. Had to paddle back to get it.

Dave

quote RetiredDave: "

quote butthead:


PS; MOST IMPORTANT-----------------------------a sense of humor. If you can laugh at yourself the whole world starts to make sense! bh



"

Yes, bring your sense of humor! I've set off twice and realized I'd left mine in the car. Had to paddle back to get it.


Dave"

:-)

Some extra things I added a few years ago:

1. An inreach explorer, so I can message my wife from time to time and she can track me. (her piece of mind = more trips for me)

2. A tablet, because the inreach map works much better blue toothed to a tablet. Also, I use the tablet as a kindle.

3. A battery power pack to recharge everything a few times.

Also, when solo I always bring a saw and small ax. I do most of my cooking over wood, either on the fire pit, or I bring a small folding stove (designed for sterno) and use it with wood for fuel. I bring a light weight alcohol stove with a small bottle of alcohol as an emergency backup.

Mostly my solo gear is the same as it would be for a group trip of the same type. The only thing I consider optional for group trips but a must have for solo trips is reading material . .kindle, book, etc. I hate sitting in my tent without anything to read on a rainy day.

I always take a notebook and pen on solo trips. Usually do not on group trips.

I always take alcohol on group trips but not on solo trips.

Otherwise it's about the same. On wilderness trips I'm more of a "group solo" kind of guy anyway . .I don't rely on my buddy to bring essential gear, etc . .if I need it, it's in my pack.