The Pros and Cons of Solo Hiking

After taking the plunge and completing a few multiday hikes solo, I put together a list of the Pros and Cons of Solo Hiking.
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[@WanderlustWithT]

I love solo hiking and do it 99% of the time, I don't like to be slowed down, or even worse, let you down with any plans made. I do however enjoy meeting other hikers on the trail.

[@FreedomOnFoot]

Great list of pros and cons. I love both solo hiking and hiking with others. Both are hugely enjoyable and rewarding in their own ways. I love the challenge and complete and utter freedom of solo hiking but also really enjoy sharing trail adventures with others and being able to look back together on those shared memories.

[@mushroomheadedfreak5078]

I honestly think it’s funnier with friends or family, especially when they help lend a hand to get up a steep hill or rock. At the same time I’ve never done much hiking, good video.

[@CowboyJojosAdventures]

I am proud of you for getting out there Haley. When I have walked with people the rule is 'walk at your own pace', generally we all catch up as we take water rests and snack rests. Like you I constantly enjoy stopping as I enjoy taking photos of wildflowers or footage. You would be an awesome companion to hike with. Excellent pros and cons.

[@moe_1886]

Excellent breakdown of the pros and cons Hayley 😊 I generally prefer solo hiking, but it's always good to be in a group as well. I'm definitely one of 'those' hikers that worries about slowing the group down by being unfit and stopping every 5 seconds to take a photo of a piece of grass or fluffy cloud 😂🤣 But for me, the best part of solo hiking is the freedom of being outdoors, listening to the sounds of nature (unless it's a hundred screeching cockatoos!! 🤣), and the excitement of discovering something new or finding that 'perfect' landscape shot. 😉

[@liesbethlong]

I love both as to me sharing it multiplies the joy but being alone deepens the connection.

[@melissaneville3323]

I discovered your channel recently and have been thoroughly enjoying your content! It's so great seeing local female creators on this platform!!

[@settohike]

Aww that’s so lovely to hear, thank you!! 😊

[@UmeshPerera]

Thanks for this beautiful and informative video Hayley. You also present things in a very peaceful and calming manner :)

[@settohike]

Thank you so much! Haha I feel like being calm is one of the only ways I can memorise the script when talking to camera. 😛

[@escursionisuburbane6107]

I totally agree with everything you said, yes there's plenty of risks, such as bumping into a pack of boars (we've got plenty here in Italy), stumbling and falling to the ground with no one around to help you....but the benefits in terms of peace of mind and becoming a more grounded human being are huge. Greetings from your fellow Italian solo hiker Eduardo

[@MonicaTVToronto]

I am quite an old lady but a two year old child in regards to hiking experience. Thanks to the global pandemic times, I started day hiking on weekends with my husband. While watching your video, I nodded many times about pros and cons of solo hiking you listed. Since I am not an adventurous woman, I am so glad that I have companion to go hiking together. Thank you for sharing. Definitely I will come back for more videos of yours. Many thums up from Monica, Toronto Canada. Happy hiking. 👍👍👍😊❤

[@settohike]

Aww thanks Monica! Lovely to hear that you have started hiking. I hope you and your husband find some great things to see! Love from Australia! 🌿💚

[@_sk_videos]

Totally relate with the stopping for pics and filming. The main reason I want to go solo

[@Healinghikesaustralia]

Thanks for sharing 🙂 I definitely prefer solo hiking more of a healing hike/escapism 😉🤠.....I hope your well and happy hiking👣🏞️🕺

[@bladesepicadventures7165]

Great solid advice Hayley :) As always, really enjoy your videos!

[@AdventuresofKatelyn]

Another great video, there is something special about solo hiking. I always feel so much more creative when vlogging and taking photos when it's just me.

[@AmyOutdoors]

Yep, that's a good list! The one other thing I'd add is that going alone means your other half doesn't get dragged along to keep you company when they don't really want to be there and you don't have to listen to him whinge the whole way, lol. I've been going solo adventuring for 2 years now, and I love it for all the reasons you listed as pros 👍

[@settohike]

Hahah it sounds like you are speaking from personal experience 😋 I secretly reckon Matt used to enjoy hiking with me until I decided to invest in my new camera and film everything I see 😂

[@AmyOutdoors]

@@settohike 🤣 uh huh! We walk separately during the day and meet up at lunch and camp now... that way there are no huffing noises in the background as I record everything that catches my eye, lol

[@mikefuery7714]

Hi Hayley, I really enjoy your work and insights…you are an extremely talented producer and communicator and your advice is rock-solid. I also enjoy seeing again the places that I have also been to. Your experience with a painful Achilles’ tendon on the C2C was almost identical to what I experienced when I did it…I had to bail at Conto and didn’t have walk-friendly sandals, but that was a brilliant work-around you mentioned. I look forward to watching more of your work and being inspired! 😊

[@flash2mc]

Good video. Thanks for sharing your advice

[@settohike]

Thanks for tuning in! 😊

[@juliapatten572]

Good on you and thanks for sharing! Happy to have subscribed!!

[@settohike]

Aww thank you! and happy to have you on board! :D

[@helenwallis5914]

Love this Hayley ❤️

[@settohike]

Thank you 💚

[@SelvinJoyk]

Enjoy being alone! Spot on. Love the videos Hayley 🥰🥰. Keep em coming.

[@settohike]

Will do! Thank you so much! 💚

[@HillDogTV]

great little vid.

[@settohike]

Cheers!! 😄😄

[@UltralightHiker]

Great set of pros and cons for solo hiking

[@settohike]

Thanks team! 😄😄

[@sirravi]

Go and do it - Inspiring! Thanks!!

[@settohike]

Aww thank you!! 😊😊

[@andybrockbank3027]

Solo hiking overnight is something I am yet to do but plan to do so in the coming spring. I generally walk with friends but being a little slower than some and faster than others I tend to spend lengthy periods on my own with my own thoughts. As a result I zone out and enjoy the location in my own way. On a recent Overland Track walk in Tasmania was so in my own zone that I walked away from the rest of the group and only rejoined the group at the Narcissus Hut for the ferry trip. Good video and quite thought provoking.

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

extremely good upload Set To Hike. I smashed the thumbs up on your video. Keep on up the really good work.

[@settohike]

That’s so much! I appreciate it! 😁

[@stanlogan5996]

I love solo hiking but if a few of my close friends want to go, that also would be fun.

[@settohike]

I think we are on the same page! 😊

[@Nomad-XA]

My favorite pro about hiking with someone is if a bear comes, I’ll get away 🏃😉

[@mickbeckers]

Spot on!

[@settohike]

Cheers! 😀

[@MeasuredLight]

Really great video, Hayley! A lot of really great thoughts and ideas!

[@settohike]

Thank you so much! 🙂🙂

[@MeasuredLight]

@@settohike you're welcome 😄

[@megalicious7757]

Ooooh new pack!

[@settohike]

hahah spoilers! 😋

[@KartsHuseonica]

Interesting vid Hayley. Numerous points here that I'd not given any thought to before. I love those ArmaSkin socks.

[@settohike]

Thanks for watching :) I love the ArmaSkin socks too!

[@OutandAboutwithTrev]

Hey Hayley nice video- Fun story I didn't start doing solo hikes but was doing hikes with a friend nearly 30 years ago. But only able to see him at the start of the track, sometimes at lunch time and then at the end of the day when I got to the campsite. He walked a bit quicker than I did and I tried to catch up with him that knocked me around. One day while hiking up to Mt Feathertop I thought....damn it I'm basically hiking on my own. so the next trip I went off by myself and well with thousands of kms under my belt..I'm still doing solo hikes. I do like to catch up with other hikers for sure. But like that I can just hike as quick or as slow I want to, have lunch when I want it and camp where like to...I do understand what you saying about having a car at the end to come back to your car...Iv'e never been able to do that. Anyway I am off in a couple of weeks, on my own again going up to Mt Bogong for a snow hike...not sure if there will be other people up there but should be interesting. As a bloke I can understand your issue about a women hiking alone...I not sure else I can say about that one. It's tricky...and yes I carry a PLB (All the time...)

[@PrimalRenegade17]

Hey Hayley, great video! Could you please do a video on the best places to buy ultralight/general hiking gear in Australia? It can be a real challenge to get high quality, lightweight gear hear I find. I think myself and others would appreciate some tips!

[@settohike]

Hey!! That is actually a video that is on my list to make as I am starting to get more and more interested in ultralight gear and upgrading a few things 🙂

[@ozadventures67]

Great job as always. I guess there will always be the Male vs Female safety aspect.

[@mironycz]

Super Cool..🙂

[@settohike]

Thank you 😊 😊

[@tomnoyb8301]

Pace: No two people's pace is the same. Always, one is faster than the other. One feels pressure to exceed their limits, while the other is held back.

[@settohike]

Good way to sum it up!

[@stevegoodwin5841]

Great job young lady. 62 and never been but am going to give it a crack soon.

[@settohike]

You’ll be great! 😄

[@joshg6et98]

Another awesome video. Have you bought a new camera recently?

[@settohike]

Thank you! 🙂Why yes I have! It was a late 2020 lockdown purchase 😋

[@stevegoodwin5841]

I did a couple of day Hikes in Grampians a month ago and now have a want to do overnight loop now. Getting some gear together now.

[@settohike]

Exciting to hear you say that! Getting some gear will be part of the fun too! Let me know how your trip goes 😊

[@Pelfu]

This was amazing Hayley do you make these video edits by yourself?

[@settohike]

Thanks so much! Yeah I do (I’m also a video editor by profession) 🙂

[@McRain23]

Hope we meet someday here in Philippines

[@settohike]

I actually went to the Philippines for a little holiday in Nov 2019, might of ran into you and didn't know it! haha

[@MisterTMH]

I have done some nutcracker hikes solo. I still have yet to call the rescue chopper via the PLB or be seriously looking at going home in a box.

[@settohike]

Thats a positive to hear! haha I met someone who had once set off a PLB because they broke their leg! Fingers crossed we continue our clean streak!

[@yogijems2282]

Hi Hayley :) I know I'm commenting on an older video, but I was wondering how you found people to go overnight hiking with? Or did you luckily fall into a group with the same interests. Love hiking but have just bought all the equipment to camp as well.. not sure I have the balls to go solo yet ha

[@settohike]

Most of the time it’s been my partner that I have convinced to come hiking haha. Most of my friends are not really into multi day hiking, so that’s why I started to go solo because I felt like I was missing out. I’m sure I’d just have to send a message to a group asking for hiking buddies as I dont really love going alone. But always a hard thought when you don’t know them! We are stuck in a weird situation haha

[@davidguthrie5941]

I solo hike specifically to be alone.

[@praktika1082]

Question: that durston tent ... How does it handle windy conditions?

[@settohike]

I’ve had a couple of really windy nights but with all 8 pegs and good ground it was completely fine like any other tent. 🙂

[@richoslandscapephotography164]

You forgot one pro. Not having to share your shapes with anyone 😋😋😋

[@settohike]

hahah! 😂oh dear how could I have forgotten such a crucial point!!

[@Kcignatius]

Shout me a coffee link seems to be broken.

[@joannabialek2864]

Hi, I always think about safety. How is hiking for a young pretty girl?

[@settohike]

I just hope that if someone was going to do something bad, that a multiday hike would be too much effort for them 😛 but nah, so far so good, usually meet lovely people! I often sleep with my plb next to my head though haha

[@MrEverth007]

Hikw qith me mami