Packing List For A Canoe Adventure

9/03/2020Henry Brydon

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9/03/2020Henry Brydon

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From tents to tuna, duct tape to dry bags; here’s the ultimate packing list with everything you need for a wildly fun weekend canoe adventure.

Whatever your reason for committing to a river adventure, you’ve made a fantastic decision.

Once you’ve finished patting yourself on the back though, it’s likely that a degree of mild panic has taken over….Where do I go? Who can I go with? WHAT DO I PACK?!

Fear not. You’ve thrown a bat symbol to the skies and we’re here to help, just without the tasty matte-black motor. Acquiring gear is a daunting task that repels many would-be-explorers from having the best weekend of their lives, so below is everything you need to pack to ensure a fun, comfortable and safe time on the water.

Just A Few Quick Tips

1. You don’t need to spend bucketloads of cash – beg, steal and borrow!
2. In a group? You don’t each need all the below items. Always gear share.
3. If buying new gear – aim for the most compact and lightweight you can afford.

Essentials

Canoe, paddle, PFD and helmet (you aren’t getting far without these)

Clothing

Day

River shoes (don’t skimp on these – Dunlop Volleys highly recommended)
Long sleeved thermal top is best for sun protection
Swim shorts / quick drying shorts can double as a swimsuit for men
Swimsuit for women
Baseball Cap / Bucket Hat

Night

Woollen, thermal socks
Sweater or jacket: Fleece or Wool (doubles up as a pillow)
Warm, compact-able shoes for the evening
Sarong (lightweight towel and doubles up as a headpiece)
Raincoat
Warm tracksuit pants OR polyester pants

Camping

Hammock/tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Tarp (perfect for rigging up in wet weather to provide shelter from the elements, and to enjoy a dry meal)
Water filter / water purifier

Other Gear

Water bladder
Water bottle (with carabiner to loop onto your bag)
Headlamp
Sunglasses with a strap (in case you go into the drink)
Large zip-lock bags for wet gear
Matches / lighter
Multi-tool
Duct tape (Tip: you don’t have to bring the whole roll! Wrap a portion of the roll around a pen)

Health & Safety

Maps (ideally laminated)
Satellite phone and EPIRB for emergency communications
Spot tracker
First aid kit
Suncream (can also help with chafage!)
Insect repellant
Basic toiletries (including lip balm and wet wipes)
Wet wipes
Toilet paper

Optional

Wetsuit / rashie (depending on water temperature)
Gloves for paddling
Fishing equipment and license
Waterproof camera / GoPro
Lots of dry bags
Coffee maker

Cooking & Food

The beautiful thing about canoe travel is that you can carry a little more gear with you, although this shouldn’t be an excuse to load yourself up like you’re moving house (trust us, if you capsize, having to gather your worldly possessions downstream is about as fun as bar fight with Conor McGregor).