Kayaking gives you a feeling of liberation that only a few escapades on land can ever match. You float across the open ocean, or paddle down rivers by day, and sit around a campfire at night. Kayaking gives you access to remote spots that you can’t reach with large boats, or on foot.
If you are a multi-day paddler, you can easily pack your boat for several days on the waters. However, packing for more than one day’s trip, for the first time, can be extremely stressful.
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When packing for a long kayaking adventure, you should address safety, make sure that you keep your items dry, and carry sufficient gear to keep you comfortable, without over-packing. The following are some of the things you should pack for your next kayaking trip.
Safety Equipment
To have a safe paddling adventure, ensure that you carry safety gear. A personal flotation device, a safety whistle, spray skirt, bilge pump, paddle float, and an additional paddle will ensure your safety in the waters.
Additionally, make sure that you take a first aid kit, in case of any accidents, as well as sunscreen to shield your skin from the sun. For any other emergencies, carry a cell phone, a headlamp, a small knife, and a map of the seashore you will be kayaking nearby.
Food
One of the benefits of long kayaking trips (that may also involve camping) is that you can pack large drinks and food items, unlike hiking, for example. Most kayakers love bringing several bottles of wine to enjoy around the campfire, but a hiker can never consider carrying such heavy items.
When you are selecting the type of foods to bring during your trip, take more food than you anticipate using. That’s because many paddling hours may lead to high appetites, and it’s also crucial to plan for any unforeseen delays, due to any unusual weather conditions.
If you are rowing on salty waters, carry an extra filtration system, or bottles of purified water. When kayaking in hot weather, carry salty foods to make up for the salt that you will lose, through sweating, in the sunlight.
Gear
If you are going for an overnight stay during your kayaking trip, you will require a tent and a sleeping bag for the night. However, if rain is improbable, then you don’t have to bring the tent. Carry a pair or two of comfortable shoes, and a set of dry clothing for camping, as well as a warm jacket for the cold evenings.
Also, remember to pack a lighter to start a fire with, in the event of cold weather. One of the best things about kayak camping is that you can bring bulky gear in the kayak, which will make your camping experience extremely luxurious and comfortable.
However, it can be quite exhausting if you have to go through all your items to locate the things you need at any single time. Make sure to put your most needed items together in a certain place, so that you can find them easily.
Dry Bags
Once you get the safety equipment together, dry bags are next. They are one of the most significant things to pack when going for a kayaking adventure. A dry bag of high-quality will keep your camera, sleeping gear, food, and clothing dry, even if your kayak gets flooded by a wave, or in the event of a rollover.
Try to find bags that have sealed seams and rolled enclosures, and more importantly, ones that put into consideration the size of your exterior. Some kayaks come with a sealed partition with a tiny opening; if you have this kind of a boat, you will require some smaller dry bags.
Most of the sporting products shops offer dry bags, and you can even buy them online. For your smaller items, carry canisters or dry boxes to hold and secure your keys, cameras, and cell phones.
Conclusion
Packing is an incredible exercise in planning and organization. To make things easier for you, it is much better to pack many little items, instead of a single item that’s too big. Also, if there are items that should not ever get wet, you had better pack them in a dry bag.
You can also use bags of various colors to pack different things, or label your bags to help you locate the things you need easily. When packing the boat, ensure that you distribute the weight evenly between your stern and bow, and try to center the weight in your boat as much as possible.
