Weekend Kayaking trip. What do I pack?

I'm going on a few kayak camping trips this summer with my AI. I'm hoping to get some advice from other kayakers on what to take. I'm a bit of a minimalist, and I know that we can fit a lot of equipment on these boats, but I'm looking for what some of you might consider taking on these trips if you had to pare things down to the necessities.

Here are some things to consider:
- I'm usually close to other campers or boaters,
- I'm always camping on designated campsites, although they are basic sites
- I'm only packing for one person
- No need to include "boat safety" stuff. I've got that figured out.

I'm hoping that you'll help with the "What you'll need" list, and the "What would be nice" list.

Here's an example (not exhaustive)

What I need:
- Map/Compass
- Clean drinking water and Filter
- Portable camp stove
- Portable saw/fire starter of some type
- Multi-tool
- Tent
- Rope to hang food away from bears

What would be nice:
- GPS
- Camp chair
- etc.

Any ideas from experienced kayak campers would be great! Also, any pictures of your loaded boats, or your gear would also be great. Sometimes it's the things that aren't mentioned that help the most.

Thanks!

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Where are you going? What if anything are you going to do beyond kayaking?

I'll be taking a few trips in Northern Ontario. Freshwater lakes and rivers. I'm primarily looking to camp, and to see what others have felt is necessary for that. I'll be on the lookout for wildlife, and there's great scenery up there, so I'll have camera's with me. But that's what I'm looking to do.

I'm trying to keep my boat as light as possible, and I know there are other users out there who enjoy the same type of minimalist camping, but they always have lists of things that they wouldn't do without. Anybody can camp with a sleeping bag and some energy bars, but that's not my kind of fun. To me, there's a happy balance of bringing the right stuff, without bringing too much, and that's what I'm hoping others can help me with.

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Hi Augaug,

Here are some things I find indispensible when camping with my Hobie Adventure. Sometimes I feel like minimalist camping, sometimes I feel like camping like royalty.

A cot. I bring this all the time now. The wide version. It is only about 10 lbs in weight, it is easy to setup, and it sits 15" above the tent floor. It prevents you from sleeping in water if rain leaks into your tent, and you can also store lots of gear underneath, thus saving considerable space inside your tent. You end of sleeping above your gear rather than in it And perhaps most importantly, it contributes to a great nights sleep. There is something about sleeping off the ground that contributes to a more satisfying sleep. If you want to enjoy your experience camping, you need to have a good sleep. Each day depends on it. I bungee it down on top of the Adventure's front hatch. Also, in the morning it is so much easier to sit down on the cot while putting on your clothes. So much better than lying on your back on the ground doing your best impression of an iron-cross ab workout maneuver

http://www.rei.com/product/378067

I place one of these things on top of the cot. It is small, light, and easy to pack. It also has a built in hand pump. This will help keep you warm and comfortable on cool nights. I can't say enough good things about the Exped Synmat air mattress. This mattress has synthetic insulation built into it for added warmth (R value of 6!) and pumps up to its 3.5" thickness via the built in hand pump. You simply press up and down on the mattress to inflate it. Ingenious design.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001SFDJ1I/ref=oss_product

I have tried sleeping in mummy bags and I find that they feel too much like what a straight-jacket might feel like - and so I just can't sleep well in them. And I find the less expensive versions are just too cold, while the pricier versions are warm - but their cost leaves me cold. This is unfortunate, because mummy bags pack up really small - which is an advantage. The sleeping bag I take for kayak camping is a 0 celcius (32 F) rectangular bag with a flannel liner. It is very roomy (I can roll around in my sleep without fear of waking wound-up like a Pillsbury apple turnover in the morning), very warm, thick and comfy, and the flannel is soft to the touch and feels good on the skin.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001M5TN6O/ref=oss_product

I assume you already have a tent. I have 4 of them. This is my favourite for solo camping with the Adventure. It is a single-walled tent. Waterproof. Only two poles. Quick and easy to set up, and tiny and easy to pack. And no fly to mess around with (or lose in the wind while setting up in the middle of nowhere).

http://www.amazon.com/NEMO-Andi-Ultralight-Backpacking-Tent/dp/B003F5UNP4

I also bring along a tarp just in case I get rained on. When it rains - a tarp can turn an otherwise claustrophobic "I can't believe I've been trapped in my tiny tent all day" nightmare into a "Wow - it's great to be outside watching the rain with my legs stretched out - enjoying the views while dry under this tarp". Make sure to purchase a tarp pole. Bringing some reading material for rain days might be useful too.

http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-41981003-Adjustable-Tarp-Pole/dp/B001M0NVGC/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1300108582&sr=1-1

While under the tarp, you can sit in one of these. It is very lightweight, durable, aluminum (no rust worries), mesh (doesn't collect rain and is easy to wipe off) and fits inside the front hatch of the Adventure!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Travelchair-Teddy-Aluminum-Chair-Blue/dp/B0017UYLLG/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&qid=1300109767&sr=8-41

I use my ratcheting ropes that I secure my car-topped Adventure with to easily and quickly secure the camping tarp to four trees. Just pull to tighten. Simple and easy.

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/thule-855.html

When the weather turns miserable a trusty weather and wind-proof lighter is a necessity. This is the one to bring if you need a reliable torch in all conditions. I never camp without it.

http://www.amazon.com/Windmill-Delta-Stormproof-Lighter-Black/dp/B0015NDPGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1281717620&sr=8-1

Out of all the gear I own, this is the one item I use all the time. It takes up little room, provides hands-free functionality, and shines bright for what seems like an eternity on 3 AAA batteries. It can even be used as a tent nightlight (the inside of my Nemo Andi has a little mesh sleeve near the tent peak for this very purpose).

http://www.amazon.com/Petzl-E47-PBY-Headlamp-Yellow/dp/B000N7M9PY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1281715588&sr=8-4

Here is the saw I used to cut dead-fall. Works great. Collapses easily.

http://www.amazon.com/SVEN-SAW-Sven-Saw-21/dp/B002J900EQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1300110241&sr=1-1

I can go on - but I think I'll stop here. The above list includes things I can't do without.

Mike

Pass The Pigs: http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Moves-104 ... B00005JG3Y

Liquor...

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Regards,
SedonaAI

'08 Revolution (SOLD!)
'07 Adventure Island
'07 Adventure Island

Psalm 107:23, 24 (KJV)
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

Thanks Mike, and Sedona Al,

I've got a few different personal preferences compared to you, Mike, but that's all really helpful.

And, pass the pigs! I had NO idea what that was. Looks simple and fun! As far as the liquor, I'll save that for first aid... like, after the bear gets me, I'll drink that fast as I waste away!

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Since it is a trip, you may need to take some photo for memory. Kayaking is a water sport, if take phto in kayak, it is not safe for camera. How about waterproof bag for digital camera? If you think it is necessary, you can refer to http://www.pvc-bag.net or search from google, ebay...Don't buy US$0.99 those cheap pouches, quality comes first, anyway, digital camera is expensive.

This is what I typically take on a kayak camping trip.

I won't mention the obvious things like "bog" (i.e. toilet) kit, kayak safety kit, toolkit, spare parts, fishing kit etc; just the bits that relate to the camping part:

Bivi bag - I use a bag which is almost a tent - it is very similar to an Integral Designs Unishelter. the advantages of this design are a) small size & light weight; b) overhead hoop to keep fabric off your face; c) long curved zip closure - if lying on your back looking up the zip goes from above one shoulder over your face & down to the other hip - this means that you can sleep looking at the stars and sit up to cook but also that the zip is very watertight thanks to a covering flap; c) mozzie net door flap=no bugs; d) breathable. It is not as light as a non-hooped model but that's OK on a kayak. If I cannot rely on the weather and am staying out for more than a couple of nights I take a Phoenix Phreerunner single hoop goretext tent which has sitting headroom, cover for cooking, and more room to hole up in (enough space for 2 friendly people).
Lightweight sleeping bag and mat. I use down bags and have never had a problem with them getting wet. I use a sheet of very thin, light weight foam as a sleeping mat.
Stove. I have several to choose from but always end up back with my trusty Trangia which I use in a very lightweight triangular potstand with a foil windshield. Just add 10% water to the alcohol fuel to stop your pans getting blackened.
Matches. No need to get fancy - I just empty the matches into a small plastic screwtop bottle, cut off the striking strips from the matchbox and slip them in beside the matches. When a match has been used it goes back into the bottle. If I am going on a longer trip I take 2 or more bottles.
Cookpot. I use a titanium billy with a lid for all my cooking and eating and a titanium "spork" for scoffing with.
Waterbottles. I take 2. Nothing fancy. One is a plastic screw top soda bottle of whatever size I think I am going to need - this I use during the day. The other is the plastic bag out of a winebox - this I use round the camp because it holds enough water for cooking dried food, washing, washing up & rehydrating without too many trips back & forwards to the water source. They are easy to fill and the water is easy to dispense. The tap/cap mechanism can be a bit stiff to get out of the bag at first and initially everything will taste of cheap wine but the taint will soon disappear and the cap will loosen. They are strong & reliable and weigh & cost nothing. I have 2: a main one and a spare: the main one is just beginning to get leaky around the cap seal but otherwise has been doing its thing for 25 years or so !
Food. Packing enough food for a longer trip can be a problem especially if you are going to be very active. Again I don't get fancy; I just raid the local supermarkets for any kind of dried food that I can find. I discount any packet which states "simmer for 20 minutes" - it needs to be ready in 5 max to conserve cooking fuel. Staples are boil in the bag rice, mashed potato powder, a plastic bag of oatmeal (with dried milk, fruit & sugar mixed in), dried fruit, dried veg (peas are good as full of sugar), whisk-and-serve desserts, trailmix etc etc. Sure this is not exactly healthfood but it is only for a relatively short time. I then discard all the useless cardboard packaging and transcribe labeling and cooking instructions onto the remaining foil packages if they are not printed there. Then I sit down and try to work out what is going to get eaten day by day to make sure I have enough. Then I throw in as many packets of nuts, chocolate bars, trail mix, dried fruit etc as I think I can get away with just in case. I also change what I eat - typically I will try to eat meals to minimise washing up so each "course" tends to get tainted with the previous "course" and I usually end with a hot drink - often just hot (reconstituted dried) milk - and will eat whatever falls to hand/will fill me up so often eat unconvential things at mealtimes e.g. peas for breakfast.
"Brew kit". Enough dried milk, coffee sachets, teabags, sugar sachets for the trip all together in an airtight plastic container.
Washup kit. A small amount of eco-washing up liquid in a small plastic bottle with a small square of scouring pad suffices.
Victorinox Swiss army penknife. Wouldn't go on a camping trip w/o one ! Mine has 2 blades, can opener, scissors (great for fishing line & opening dried food packets), flat & crosshead screwdrivers, tweezers & toothpick. You can do most things with a swiss army penknife and they don't rust !
Clothing I take a minimum: outer shell (paddling top, trousers & hat suffice when kayaking), 2 pairs of undies, 2 pairs of socks (1 for wearing, 1 for overnight washing & drying), shorts, tracksuit bottoms, vest, shirt, fleece. In colder weather, e.g. extra layers top & bottom, gloves & scarf the general rule being more thin layers rather than fewer thick layers (for versatility and warmth). On my kayak I take 1 pair of crocs for sploshing in/traversing mud and 1 pair of "proper" shoes for land-based activites e.g. walking.
Light The light I take is a micro LED torch - in fact it was sold as a cycle light with 3 settings (off, on, flash) and a small bungee to enable it to be secured to a handlebar. In camp it can be suspended from a tent zip tab or a branch as a reading/cooking light and held in the mouth as a head torch. It is tiny and weighs and costs next to nothing.

All of the above I pack into drybags: 1 large dry 60 litre (?) holdall with a roll top which goes under the bungees in the rear load tray and 2x orange Hobie rolltop drybags which came with my kayaks and which go in the boat. Depending on how many people are going & for how long everything can easily fit into the 60l bag or I will need to augment the dry storage which I do with black poly binliners.

Some people might think this list is minimalist but purists will no doubt think I am soft; I find that it is a good compromise of packability, weight, versatility and performance. I usually find that everything gets used & nothing seems to be missing with this amount of kit; anything more or less & things tend to come back unused.