What should you carry when backpacking alone?
When you backpack alone, carry the Ten Essentials scaled for multiple days: navigation with a backup, a full shelter and sleep system, layers for the coldest night, a headlamp, a stocked first aid kit, fire, a repair kit, enough food with a spare day, and water treatment. Add a satellite messenger or a satellite-capable phone if you'll be out of signal, and leave a detailed itinerary with a firm overdue time.
What to carry
01Navigation you can trust for days
Carry a paper map and compass as well as a phone or GPS with offline maps. Know how to find your position without signal. Multi-day routes cross junctions you can't afford to miss when tired.
02Shelter, sleep and layers for the worst night
Plan for the coldest overnight temperature you might see, not the forecast average. A tent or tarp, a sleeping bag or quilt rated for the conditions, and a sleeping pad keep you safe if you're stuck in camp. Pack a warm hat and dry socks for sleep.
03Food, water and a spare day
Carry an extra day of food in case weather or injury holds you in place. Bring water treatment, such as a filter or tablets, and a backup method. Know where water sources are and whether they're reliable this season.
04A first aid and repair kit for multi-day trips
Include blister care, wound supplies, an elastic wrap, medications you need and a small repair kit for gear: tape, a needle and thread, and a pad patch. A broken pack buckle or torn tent can be fixed with those. A knife or multi-tool helps with both.
05Light, fire and power
A headlamp with spare batteries, a lighter plus matches, and a power bank sized for your trip keep you functional after dark. Keep the power bank warm at night so it holds its charge.
06An itinerary and a way to reach out
Leave a detailed itinerary with each night's campsite and a firm overdue time; our guide to solo backpacking safety covers what to include. Start a Holler live link while you have signal so Guardians see your last known location. For true no-signal areas, a satellite messenger is the tool that works.
Related questions
Do I need a satellite device for solo backpacking?
If your route has long stretches without cell signal, a satellite messenger, personal locator beacon or a phone with Emergency SOS via satellite is the way to call for help. A phone app that needs signal can't do that. Check your device's requirements before you go.
How is an overnight different from a week out?
A single night near a road lets you skip the spare day of food and carry a lighter first aid kit, since you can walk out. A week in remote country needs a spare day of food, a backup water treatment, a bigger power bank, a full repair kit and a device that can call for help without signal. The NPS suggests considering a personal locator beacon for backcountry trips.
How often should I check in with someone?
Agree on it before you go: once a day when you have signal, or at planned points. Tell your contact when to call for help if you miss the final exit time. Make the overdue time realistic so it isn't triggered by a slow day.
What should my contact do if I'm overdue?
Try to reach you, then call the land managing agency or 911 with your itinerary and last known location. A clear plan makes that call faster. Our trip plan explainer covers what they'll need.
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Sources, checked September 2026: National Park Service: The Ten Essentials, National Park Service: Hike Smart, Apple Support: Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone.
More safety answers, or see the safety guides.