My Gear List for Solo Canoeing

A gear list is flexible. Funny thing is I find myself continually learning what works and what doesn't, and how much stuff to leave behind (most of it). My current trend is that I find myself buying tougher, more expensive gear, but buying it less and less.

My other current trend is to bring more simple things that don't weigh very much along. I find 50 feet of parachute cord has a number of uses. Anyway, on to the list...

Canoes
Wenonah Argosy in Royalex
Wenonah Prism in Kevlar
The Prism is best for longer trips where I am on bigger water. I use the Argosy a lot for weekend trips, overnighters, and smaller rivers and streams. That said, I'd feel just fine using the Argosy for a week in the Boundary Waters. A Cooke Custom Sewing cover is in the works for the Prism.

Essentials - carried in a Granite Gear Thwart Bag or Padded Stowaway:

• Map(s) of Area
• Suunto A-10 Compass
• Strike-anywhere matches in a waterproof case
• Firestarter. I like cotton balls saturated with petroleum jelly in a prescription bottle
• Water bottle (16 ounce narrow-mouth)
• Knife (small folding lock-blade of some sort - I use an Opinel)
• Petzl Duo LED/halogen headlamp
• Sunglasses (polarized)
• Insect repellant and sunscreen (SPF 40)
• Small first aid kit (Adventure Medical Kit Optimist)
• Vortex Optics Waterproof Monocular
• Digital Waterproof Camera (currently an Olympus Stylus 720SW)

Shelter - What I carry for shelter varies wildly and depends on the situation.

• Cooke Custom Sewing Lean Two Plus-this is my favorite tent as it is huge, has no floor, and feels like you're living outside.
• Frost River Canvas Whelan Lean-To - great for when there are no bugs.
• Sierra Designs Hyperlite 2 AST
• Cooke Custom Sewing 1.1 oz. 10x12 tarp.

I believe that you need at least one tent and one tarp except in the late fall, when there are no bugs and you can enjoy sleeping under the stars.

Sleeping Stuff

• Big Agnes Lost Ranger
• Exped Down Filled Inflatable Mattress

Just personal preferences here. I am not a mummy-bag sort of guy. I like foot room and I like to stretch out a bit. It weighs a bit more but that's okay, I'm canoeing, not backpacking. The down air mattress is decadent. I am becoming more decadent as I get older.

Paddling Gear
This stuff is what I've narrowed it down to for solo canoe trips.

• Turtle Paddle Whipoorwhill (Cedar)
• Bending Branches Black Widow (58" for me)
• Wenonah Black Rec Carbon Rec (52" for me)

These paddles are all very different from each other. The traditional paddle has become my favorite for long distances for reasons of efficiency and control. For putting on miles, the bent shaft allows me to really get a higher cadence and push it if I have to cross a big lake or run from a squall line. If I had to take only one paddle, it would definitely be the Black Widow. It does everything very well, nothing perfectly, but can handle any situation from shallow to deep water, fast currents to mill ponds. It's a great paddle if you can only take one.

PFDs

• Kokatat MSFit- For paddlers of the female persuasion, it is a fabulous PFD. For male variety paddlers, yes it is a woman's pfd. It is also SUPER comfortable. Try it, and if someone makes fun of you for wearing a girl's PFD, remember that Junior High School ends at 14 years old for most, but not all people.
• MTI Zephyr inflatable-great for hot days, as it has no insulation.

Stuff for Carrying Gear

• Granite Gear Solo or Quetico (or both for long trips)
• Ostrom Sherpa Barrel Harness (30 liter for solo trips)
• Granite Gear Thwart Bag and Stowaway

Kitchen Stuff

• Insulated mug from your favorite coffee shop
• Plastic bowl-Guyot has really cool ones that turn inside out for licking them clean
• Lexan Utensils
• Frost River Kitchen Roll to hold other utensils
• GSI Double Boiler
• MSR Alpine Cook Kit
• Svea 123 (my ancient stove that won't die)
• Jetboil (just for hot water, I don't cook with it)
• MSR Miniworks water filter
• Sea to Summit Kitchen Bits, just for spices and stuff-Worchester Sauce covers a multitude of cooking sins
• Scotch pad and small washcloth
• Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink

Personal Hygiene Stuff -all in a small Sea To Summit Lightweight Dry Sac

• Sea to Summit Pocket Soap-I love this stuff. No gooey bar of soap or liquid soap to leak in your pack. Little slivers of soap work wonders.
• Hand Sanitizer for quick clean-ups
• Small trowel for catholes.
• Sea to Summit towel

Clothes and Stuff

• Kokatat Destination Pants (quick-dry Nylon)
• Icebreaker merino wool long underwear (200 and 260 weight)
• Not-so-long underwear
• Kokatat Destination Wind Shirt
• Icebreaker Technical T-shirt (merino, but feels like cotton), long sleeve
• Short sleeve cotton t-shirt
• Kokatat Paclite Gore Parka
• Boots - Chaco Garvin
• Camp shoes - I like Teva Oraibis
• Lots of socks (Teko merino)
• Smartwool stocking cap
• Nylon baseball cap
• Fleece vest for layering

Things to Write and Draw With

• Ritchie Wet Notes Waterproof Paper
• Rite in the Rain Sketch Pad (also waterproof)
• Pencils (I can sharpen them with my knife)

Entertainment

• A good paperback book
• Nature guides (bird, plant, etc.)
• A travel chess/backgammon game
• Small Frisbee or other tossing type thing
• A deck of cards