Equipment Checklist - Canoe Packing

 

Personal Gear: Clothing  (NO COTTON!!!)

☐ 2 Long sleeve shirt Lightweight synthetic
☐ 2 Convertible Pants or shorts Lightweight synthetic fabric. Pants with zip-off legs recommended
☐ 2 Underwear Synthetic NOT cotton;  should be a dark color
☐ 3 Pairs of socks Light-to-mid weight synthetic or wool running or hiking socks—no cotton
☐ 1
Belt or Suspenders
☐ 1 Clean/Dry Clothes For wearing in camp and travel
☐ 1 Bathing Suit For swim test and swimming
☐ 1 Pair of Water Boots Full ankle coverage, a rugged stitched or vulcanized sole and drainage at the instep. Boots should not be waterproof.
☐ 1 Pair of Camp Shoes Closed-toe/closed-heel camp shoes with hard soles, such as lightweight sneakers.
☐ 1 Flip Flops/Sandals Use if showers are available - these are NOT permitted on trail
☐ 1 Rain shell Quality Waterproof (not just water resistant) Jacket with Hood.  NO PONCHOS - these are VERY dangerous if a canoe capsizes
☐ 1 Insulating layer Fleece or wool pullover.  Avoid down because it looses its ability to insulate if it gets wet
☐ 1 Base layer set 1 light thermal top and bottom
☐ 1 Hat with a brim Broad Rimmed or Baseball Style
☐ 1 Knit/Stocking Cap




Essentials - On the Water

☐ 1 Personal Flotation Device USCG approved; - one per paddler
☐ 1 Rescue Line at least 15m long - must be buoyant ; - one per canoe
☐ 1 Bailer Cut down bleach bottle works fine - one per canoe - tie down to canoe
☐ 1 Dry Bag Used to Store other Essentials; - one per paddler


10 Essentials

☐ 1 Pocket Knife Small Swiss Army type knife is fine - must be sharp
☐ 1 First-Aid Kit Small personal kit (half sandwich bag sized)
☐ 1 First-Aid Kit - Whistle or Horn Pealess whistle or horn for signalling; Audible for at least one-half mile
☐ 1 First-Aid Kit - Mirror Signalling Mirror - a cell phone will work, but a military signalling mirror is better
☐ 1 Extra Clothes Extra set of Synthetic layers - plan to get wet
☐ 1 Rain Gear Quality Waterproof (not just water resistant) Jacket with Hood.  NO PONCHOS - these are VERY dangerous if a canoe capsizes
☐ 1
Rain Gear - Shelter Mylar emergency blanket or tarp
☐ 1 Water Bottle Ideally 1 Liter, wide mouthed with Carabiner Style Clip. 3 liter capacity in 2 or more containers.  One can be used for drink mixes, but needs to be placed in bear bag. 
☐ 1
Water Bottle - water purification Tablets or filter if on fresh water
☐ 1 Flashlight Replace batteries before trek.  Bring extra batteries and bulbs;  headlamp preferred
☐ 1
Flashlight -Signalling ideally waterproof with strobe function
☐ 1 Trail Food
☐ 1 Matches & Fire Starter 2 different types of fire starters. Small lighter, waterproof matches, ferrorod or magnesium bars are acceptable. 
☐ 1
Matches & Fire Starter - Tinder Fuel tablet or other longer burning tinder kept in Freezer bag
☐ 1 Sun Protection - Sunglasses Sunglasses don't need to be expensive.  Ideally protects peripheral vision
☐ 1 Sun Protection - Sun Screen Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide works best; wide brimmed hat, long sleeve shirt and pants will significantly reduce how much sunscreen is needed
☐ 1
Sun Protection - Lip Balm Chapstick or similar; SPF of 25+
☐ 1 Map & Compass- Compass Working Compass; Suunto or waterless military lensatic compass recommended
☐ 1
Map & Compass -
Map
Coated Map in waterproof case; Ask SPL for map; USGS Quad Maps
☐ 1
Map & Compass -
GPS
Optional and does NOT Replace Paper Map and working compass; waypoints programmed
☐ 1
11th Essential - Repair Kit Duct Tape; small roll warped around pencil or water bottle; possibly also multi-tool, scissors, screw driver, cable ties




Personal Gear: Sleep System

☐ 1 Sleeping bag
Compact, synthetic, lightweight and rated to 35°F with a compression style stuff sack - NO Down or Cotton Sleeping bags - they loose all insulation value when wet
☐ 1 Dry bag for sleeping bag
Your sleeping bag must be waterproofed in dry bag or contractor trash bag. 
Roll-top dry sack made of silnylon-type fabric, just big enough to fit your sleeping bag is ideal.
OR pack can be lined with trash compactor or contractor grade trash bag.
☐ 1 Sleeping pad
Closed Cell or self-inflating foam
☐ 1 inflatable pillow (optional)
Inflatable pillow weighs only a few ounces and takes little space.  You can also stuff an empty pillow case or bag with clothing to make a pillow.




Personal Gear: Other Gear

☐ 1 Backpack
70-120 Liters, Drybag preferred
☐ 2 Dry bags (for sleeping bag, clothes)
OR 1 backpack rain cover +  1 dry bag
OR 1 pack liner
All gear needs to be waterproofed
☐ 1-2 “Camp Towel”    Bandanna, Buff or Synthetic Camp Towel
☐ 1
Bathing Towel    If shower are available
☐ 5 Mess Kit    Plastic or Metal: 12 oz Bowl, 8-12 oz Cup/Mug, spoon/spork
☐ 2 Prescription Glasses    IF needed with keeper strap - contact lenses should be avoided
☐ 2 Personal Medications    If needed – 2 supplies to carry in separate locations
☐ 2 Personal hygiene kit Don't forget toothbrush
☐ 5 one-gallon Ziploc freezer bags Freezer bags are more durable than regular Ziplocs




Personal Gear: Optional

☐
Camera With extra batteries and waterproof box
☐
Head Net For mosquitoes
☐
Rain Pants Frogg Toggs work well.  NO heavy plastic/rubber rain pants. Could double as second pair of pants
☐
Book For Reading
☐
Journal For personal reflection




Food

☐ 5 Dinner Professionally made dehydrated meals taste OK, but you have other options
☐ 5 Breakfast-in-a-bag Hearty cereal or something equivalent
☐ 6 Lunches First lunch will be consumed at trailhead and does not need to be packed away. 
☐ 6 Days of snacks Packaged and labeled for each day.  1,200-1,500 calories per day.  Mix it up so you don't get sick of it




Group Gear (to be divided among canoes)

☐
Knife 1 Good Knife per Canoe (3-4 total)
☐
Small Compass    1 Good Compass per Canoe (3-4 total)
☐
Map Case    1 Map Case Per Canoe (3-4 total)
☐
Set of Maps    1 Set of Maps Per Canoe
☐
Sunscreen 1-2 bottles per crew – SPF 15 or greater – no aerosol cans
☐
Bug Repellent    1-2 bottles per crew – High DEET content recommended – no aerosol cans
☐
Hand Sanitizer 1-2 bottles per crew is recommended
☐
Toothpaste 1 Tube per crew is recommended
☐
Medicated Foot Powder    1 Bottle per crew is recommended
☐
Tents Enough for everyone - divided into canoes
☐
Stove Camp stoves (1 stove for every 3-4 people)
☐
Fuel Canister fuel.  20 oz for 12 people for 5 dinners
☐
Water Filter 1 high quality pump filter +1 Sawyer Squeeze as backup per patrol
☐
Pots w/lid One 4 liter pot and one 2 liter pot per patrol
☐
Trowels 1 per patrol
☐
Bear bags + line 3-4 per patrol
☐
Group First Aid Kit 1 per patrol
☐
GPS tracker 1 per patrol




Group Gear Optional

☐
Fishing Poles   
Limit 1-2 poles per crew.
☐
Fishing Tackle   
Make sure it is lightweight and compact.
☐ 1
Repair Kit   
Multi-tool, duct tape, small sewing kit
☐ 1
Binoculars

☐ 1
Fillet Knife   





Other

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