The Solo Camping Checklist

Track & Canopy · Updated 2026-10-16 · Tick items as you pack — print or save as PDF from your browser.

1. Shelter and sleep, one-person scale

A shelter you can pitch and strike alone, in wind, in the dark. That single standard removes half the catalogue and most of the regret.

  1. One-person tent or single swag you can pitch blindfolded by memory Essential
  2. Groundsheet sized to the shelter Essential
  3. Mallet and spare pegs — you are the only peg counter Essential
  4. Sleeping bag rated below the coldest forecast night Essential
  5. Insulated mat; no one brings you a blanket

2. Communication and safety

The group normally shares these jobs. Alone, they are the trip's insurance policy, and the only group on this list that grows with remoteness.

  1. Printed trip plan and contact card in a waterproof pouch Essential
  2. Charged phone plus power bank, kept inside the bag not the glovebox Essential
  3. Personal locator beacon for anywhere outside mobile coverage Essential
  4. Sealed first-aid kit with broad crepe bandages Essential In snake country, the bandages and a pressure-immobilisation course matter more than any pre-packed box.
  5. Headtorch plus a backup light, both charged Essential
  6. Whistle on the belt while walking tracks

3. Water and food for one

Cooking alone succeeds on repetition, not ambition. Simple hot food, counted water, and smells sealed against animals who know you are the only one on site.

  1. Water container sized to your days and the next certain refill Essential
  2. Stove with sealed canisters, one burner is plenty Essential
  3. Lighter and matches in a dry tube
  4. One pot, one pan, one mug, one spoon
  5. Sealed food bin or locked car — every smell is an invitation
  6. Bin bags; pack out everything, there is no one to nag you Essential

4. Sun, wind and rain

Nobody tags you in when the UV peaks or the storm lands. The weather group is self-rescue equipment when you camp alone.

  1. SPF 50+ sunscreen, in date, reapplied by habit Essential
  2. Wide-brim hat with chin strap
  3. Packable rain jacket worn before you feel cold
  4. Insect repellent with picaridin or DEET

5. The quiet kit

The solo trip is bought for the intangibles. These lines are why one-person trips get repeated rather than survived.

  1. Ear plugs — a reserve at night is not quiet
  2. One book or journal, paper not screen
  3. Camp chair positioned for the fire and the view
  4. Small repair kit: tape, patches, multi-tool