Complete Gear Breakdown for 7-Day Kayak Camping Trip | What to pack kayak camping

Choosing the right gear for a kayak camping trip can be tricky. In this video, I walk you through all the gear that I brought on my week-long kayak camping trip on the Petawawa River in Algonquin Park, and I talk about some of the gear that I loved and would bring again, and some of the gear that I brought, which I would probably leave at home next time.

Watch the full trip video:

🫶 PADDLING GEAR I USE

🤟 CAMPING GEAR I USE

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[rerolley]

One thing I like for kayak camping is a large mesh carry bag to put all the small dry bags into when carrying them from shore to camp. They take up little space and really help manage multiple small dry bags.

[waterbourne]

Agreed, test pack at home to ensure it all fits and systematise what will go where very helpful until you're used to it. I've seen countless people at the put in on a multi day trips panicking because they haven't. I find paddling in sandals works for me without incident in nearly twenty years paddling. Provides foot protection and allows stones etc to be washed clear before dropping them into cockpit. I have Chaco Z/2 which has the imo superior loop over the big toe. Comfortable and tough. I love my zenbivy lite bed too, I have three for the various seasons, the smaller lite pillow, and the flex mattress- no squeaks and comfortable as. Over here a number of us erect tarps over our tents. Mine is a 4 x 4m which gives me a sheltered area to cook etc in the rain. It's the first thing I put up and last to come down. If need be I can slide my kayak under it and unpack / pack everything out of the weather and then stow the wet tarp inside a dry bag to keep the water off everything else. It keeps the tent dry so that I don't end up with a wet inner if packed down wet. Smaller dry bags easier to stow, labelled describing content class. Trangia storm cooker for me- silent, stable, self contained, sturdy, and bomb proof. My normal one is around thirty years old. Nothing to go wrong with them. Use the pots or frypan as plates. Clean and dry using burner to evap last of moisture. Light with a firesteel- lighters don't work when wet hands wet the striker and the firesteel and the Trangia meths fuel can be used to start a fire if necessary. Ear plugs to ensure undisturbed sleep from unusual noises and snorers. Power bank. Gumboots for camp, roll them up and strap them for stowing- sneakers stay wet once they get wet, gumboots keep your feet dry and double as good enough hiking boots for me. Ideally stow heavy gear near bottom and centre of boat for trim, centre of gravity etc. Carry bag (eg ikea) for toting gear between beach and campsite / vehicle. Great fun kayak camping. Good gear overview, similar experience.

[DaveStarr.]

If you're looking to go without DEET for whatever reason I can personally recommend PROVEN brand picaradin based insect repellant. Black flies, mosquitos, ticks, deer flies, horse flies and more. Comes in a lotion for skin application, and a spray for gear/clothes.

My skin has been much happier since ditching deet. Just a few cents from a fan. Upper Peninsula, Michigan.

[StumpyPaddler]

Great breakdown of the gear needed. I have an amputated leg and have to bring my swimming leg with me so packing my kayak becomes more of a challenge but always find a way to make it work! Great video and thanks for sharing.

[Medawgoner]

Look in to scuba socks, to protect your feet from abrasions. The are made of soft wicking Lycra/Spandex material. I live in an area with lots of coastal sand, and blisters used to be common. The scuba socks dry quickly, as well.

[RMJ]

That was a great breakdown! That last tip about test packing at home is 100% spot on! Sea to Summit makes a great compressible dry bag - I keep my down hammock quilts in it (in the stern compartment) I tie a string to things I cram in the bow compartment - makes getting them out a bit easier.

[patrickh]

Spoon with an extra long handle, available from various manufacturers. Easier to stir the freeze dried food/meals in the bag with. Keeps the fingers clean. Or the dirt on your fingers away from the food.

[yjjk]

After a recent trip in Finnish Lapland:

Drysuit is the real MVP. Not for the water, but for the mosquitoes!

I packed day-bags, small drybags with dinner, breakfast and the next day's clothes. Greatly reduced the amount of unpacking and re-packing. I used Ziploc bags inside each drybag to keep the food contained if it exploded; what I *should* have done was Ziploc the clothes instead, because when I dumped the boat, EVERY. SINGLE. DRYBAG. LEAKED. Didn't have a stitch of dry clothing left beyond what was already on me and inside the drysuit. Some re-sealing to do...

[slowridephotographyadventu]

i need to up my coffee game, getting pretty tired of instant. My go to for footwear is Keen closed toe hiking sandals. They're super comfortable, pretty good grip and tough!

[TimBee]

We used to use the milk bags because they were sturdy. Tie them off with elastic bands.
Elastic bands were really convenient, too.

[anninwhack]

Salt Creek is my favourite tent for primitive kayaking. Thx for sharing all your gear choices.

[LustigWoodworks]

Loved this review. Great insights! Thanks for taking the time.

[deaninchina]

Just back from a paddling trip in a Greenland boat with really low volume. I used a Bivvy bag, a three person tent footprint n tarp instead of a tent.

Totally agree on the chair!

[Paddleclips]

Great video Ken, that looked like a great trip you went on bar the bugs. Take care.

[maryhenry]

Another great video Ken, thank you. Nobody does better gear reviews. I use IKEA shopping bags to portage all those small pieces - I pack the bags last so they’re on top, and throw the gear into them. IKEA bags so light yet strong. And it’s fast - everyone races through portages, right? Re coffee, that system looks intriguing, but I’m always concerned about the coffee grounds - do you pack them out, Ken? I think I’d have too large a bag of grounds after a week. So I simply drink instant coffee 😬

[runltdan]

I recommend a Long spoon when ya use a lot of dehydrated food. I love the stuff, most of the major brands taste great! Great presentation….absolutely new subscriber 👍

[wellhung]

Tip for the GeoPress
Unscrew the cap a bit to let the air escape, that might be why you’re having difficulty. It takes a good amount of pressure, but not as much as you described!

[arcanum]

Re shoe problems: I realize the general recommendation is against sandals (and flipflops in particular), and I understand why, but I wonder if carefully selected sandals might've helped with your abrasion problems while remaining secure enough and grippy enough for purpose. On the one hand they're more open so it's easier for stuff to get in, but on the other hand they're more open so it's easier for stuff to get out. I have some Bedrock Sandals Cairn Evo Pro sandals that are secure enough to swim with and have sole material designed to grip wet surfaces. I know Merrell makes a foot-encompassing shoe-like sandal as well.

[philoulabroche]

Merci beaucoup pour toutes ces précisions rationnelles ! ❤

[markmorris]

😊 Great video, Ken! Dawn and I always appreciate your reviews on essential items. Not so sure that was the burp valve!