i'ma push back a lil regarding the free loadout strategy
i would recommend just doing one of the loot augments or whatever to have the safe pocket in the event you do find a blueprint or another highly coveted item and you can take it back to base even when you die.
I wouldnt even bring a weapon, but if i did, just a level one something with at least two slots devoted to ammo if you encounter some wasps and snitches along the way, but still, even if you die, you got whatever is in your safe pocket.
case and point, did this yesterday. I killed my first bastion solo and ended up with two bastion batteries or whatever that i need for other shit.
Time was running out and there were mad wasps and snitches out and i was out of shield recharges and bandages. There was no way i was making it back to base.
Ended up dying but kept my bastion batteries. The loot i lost could mostly be given to me by the chicken so...
My hope is to keep blueprints and keys whenever i encounter them on solo runs