My first solo is coming up. For those who have soloed, any tips on what to make sure to bring/not bring?

This thread had lots of good responses and may answer some of your questions. solo tips

Downsizing gear used in group trips is helpful...ie a small coffee pot and skillet.
Plan something to do to fill the time you would have been socializing and after you have done all the chores with no help.
I am often too tired to cook a big meal and am just learning to pack food differently. Part of tripping was sitting around the fire telling stories and now I cook more on a stove and sit along the shore looking over the lake and at the stars.

Have a great trip.

Are you renting a solo canoe? or do you own one? Either way, be sure to bring painters to tie it up.

Bring (or rent) a spare/different paddle. I take a double blade and a single blade.

Don't forget the ditch kit.

A good gear packing list will help you remember everything.

I'll throw out a few things I do and don't do. Others may do the opposite. You'll have to figure out what your solo trip is and you'll have a lot better idea after the first one.

The hard part is leaving things behind. When I first started out, I wanted all the neat little gear gadgets, but I've found out it just creates work packing, unpacking, and keeping track of a bunch of stuff I don't use. I have been gradually getting lighter, smaller gear, and evolving a simplified style.

For example, I don't have a lantern (and fuel) and a flashlight - just a small headlamp, which I use very minimally.

There's no social activity, like bhouse said, and people react to that differently - some people like to be busy and some (like me) prefer not to be busy.

On a solo I'm the only one to carry the load and the only one to do camp chores, so I try to minimize them to a certain extent. I use a gravity water filter rather than pump. I eat simple "add boiling water meals" that I eat out of the bag, so there's a very minimal kitchen and no clean up, fuel usage is minimal.

The meals are simple, but that doesn't mean they aren't good, although I find that without the "social aspect" to mealtime, it's different.

I use a bear canister to eliminate hanging a food pack.

I don't take a saw or hatchet and rarely build a fire, preferring to sit quietly in the dark and look at the sky. It's a lot less work, an easy way to lose a couple of pounds out of the load, it's interesting, preserves my night vision, and I don't smell as bad either ;).

I do however take a pen and notebook and keep a journal, sometimes with extensive entries. I also like walking around looking at little things and taking pictures of them. Sometimes, I spend a lot of time doing nothing. You might want to take a book.

Many people like to be busy on solos, play around with gear, cook elaborate meals, "process" fire wood and indulge their pyromaniac tendencies. It's their trip, and yours is yours. Hope it goes well and you enjoy it.

BTW, I usually plan shorter travel days when solo and maybe an extra layover day.

bring calm.

quote kanoes: "bring calm."

and a book and a radio

Thanks all for the ideas, both here and the referenced thread.

I'm renting a canoe. Had not really thought about painters until I read the "have you ever lost a canoe" thread on one of the other boards. Yes, bringing painters.

I'll rent an extra paddle.

Not big on cooking for 1 at home. Don't think that will change on the trip. Bringing the "just add water" food.

Not sure what else. I'm sure I'll have everything running through my head until I leave.

Really appreciate this forum.

You got some really good advice from Boonie. Freezer bag cooking, no lantern, no flashlight with little or no fire works for me.

Carry a Spot geo locator. It is not a race. Take your time and enjoy the scenery. Bring a journal and something to read. I bring a Kindle and it saved me from going nuts last week on my solo. Even if you don't plan on cooking, bring a small stove. There is nothing better than watching the sunrise with a nice hot cup of cooca. Bring a camera and document your journey. Go as light as you can but don't forget to bring the stuff that makes you happy. I bring a hammock and a chair. Too much for some, for me its what I like.

I forgot to add...I know the j-stroke.

I'll be using a stove. Charged up the extra batteries for the camera. I'm renting a spot. Bed is a hammock. Picked up a journal and getting a book this evening.

quote sueb2b: "I forgot to add...I know the j-stroke.


I'll be using a stove. Charged up the extra batteries for the camera. I'm renting a spot. Bed is a hammock. Picked up a journal and getting a book this evening. "

J-stroke good. Don't forget you may need to adjust trim depending on wind direction.

Sounds like you are ready to go. Have a good time. Don't forget the TP!

P.S. I never leave home without my Plackers. I use the ones with kevlar ;).

Everyone is different so don't be afraid to take something you will use like a saw for a fire.

Best advice people mention is to take your time. Take your time getting out of the canoe, portaging and paddling. You really want to enjoy the scenery as much as possible. I love seeing it all.

I bring a Luci Lantern because I like having it on in the tent around bed time. More of a comfort device but I use it in the tent when I go to bed.

I will have a fire usually on the second night I am at a campsite.

I think a light weight tarp and plenty of rope is almost a must if you know you will have rain on your trip. It's so much nicer to pack everything up under a tarp than in the rain. Nice to sit/stand under instead of in the tent or hammock.

Having mentioned rope I hope you have rope and something for clothes pins for a drying/airing out clothes. I use the small metal paper clamps for clothes pins.

For me a chair is worth the weight. I bring an REI flexlite so it doesn't weigh as much.

Have a great trip. I hope you really enjoy your experience.

Have a great trip and always wear your lifejacket,

don't forget the bear spray for the bruins, if ya got room.
could go years without incident then one day one wanders in camp.
(effective on 2-legged or 4-legged ones)

great advice above. I read every thread in this solo forum multiple times before my first solo.

Have a great trip! Be careful.... soloing can be very addicting.

Hey, all. Made it through 5 days. Did stuff that wasn't smart, and stuff that was. Lots of help from this forum, all greatly appreciated.

Glad you made it! The bigger question is did you like it enough to do it again?

quote sueb2b: "Hey, all. Made it through 5 days. Did stuff that wasn't smart, and stuff that was. Lots of help from this forum, all greatly appreciated. "

Would love to hear more about it - will you be doing a trip report?

I think I will do it again someday.

Want to do a trip report when I get my thoughts and my notes together. Right now, I only have my phone and not my computer.

I'll look for the report. The second solo will probably go a lot smoother and be more relaxing and enjoyable with everything you learn from the first one.