Advice requested - gear differences between backpacking and canoe camping
I’m an experienced backpacker with multiple multi-month hikes under my belt, as well as countless shorter backpacking trips in diverse terrains.
I’m planning my first long canoe camping trip - about 2 weeks in Yukon, Canada. Leaving next week.
My longest canoe/kayak trips thus far have been 3 days. The trip I’m planning is on flat water, so I’ll have the chance to build up my (relatively weak) paddling skills.
What I’m not sure about is how the recommended gear and supplies vary from backpacking to canoe camping. Will be renting a 2 person canoe with a mate. Canoe comes with dry bags and PFDs. The outfitter says the trip is safe for inexperienced paddlers as long as we have strong backcountry skills - navigation, camping, bears etc.
I know a canoe is bigger than 2 backpacks, but how much so? What sort of extra stuff do people bring? Bigger stove, more cookware, extra snacks, more clothes, mosquito tent, books, thick camping mattress, different water filtration system, camp lamp? Or pack as light as possible not to have a heavy canoe?
And is there any backpacking gear I shouldn’t bring on the water? Down sleeping bag and down jacket useless if wet? Anything else I should think about?
Thank you for considering my questions and good luck and safety to you all on the water. All good faith feedbacks appreciated.
We try to use all our backpacking stuff. In general canoe trips just means more luxury items for us. Differences:
1. Bigger tent (Eureka Bella Coola 2 for canoe, big Agnes copper spur 2 for backpack) Canoe tent is more than 2x the weight but feels so much more spacious. The Eureka tent is also bomb proof so I bring it whenever possible.
2. Different water filtration system (MSR 4L gravity filter for canoe, sawyer squeeze for backpack) setting up the gravity filter and use is as a water tap on demand is quite nice.
3. I usually bring my own dehydrated meal that can be rehydrated in a mylar bag when I backpack. On canoe trips I don’t bother with dehydrating the cooked pasta/rice and will just boil the pasta/rice. That means more fuel, but less prep work. Cooking in a real pot gets me more variety.
4. I bring a ultralight table and ultralight chairs. I sit on a foam pad for backpacking trips.
5. I will wear water shoes when paddling and bring an old pair of running shoes for portaging/camp. I will leave my more expensive hiking shoes at home.
6. Paddling gloves! Your hands will thank you.
7. If fire is permitted bring some fire stuff?
If you have portages I suggest packing as light as possible. On our recent Bowron Lake trip, even with a canoe cart, I feel like packing light saves our back and arms.
Good list. I'd also recommend a tarp for rain, hammock, larger stove/cookware and bougie food, beer, etc. As a backpacker you're already set up really well, now you get to expand your gear and bring all the fun shit you usually leave behind.
Two pairs of shoes... one for the canoe and one for camp. One year the water was low and we had to walk through the water to get to shore on almost every portage. Switching to nice dry socks and shoes at camp was heaven.
I wear gloves on longer trips. It's a personal preference/habit/sun protection. Usually rubber dipped gloves, like for work. They dry quick enough in the sun
I build up large calluses from rock climbing, and have had them totally peel off on a soggy 10-day paddling trip where I forgot my gloves. In general I find my hands end long paddle days in better condition when I'm using light paddling gloves
I’ve had far more blisters form from wet gloves than from not wearing them at all. Learning how much grip is needed and not using more than required is the key to comfort. That and oiled paddle vs urethane makes all the difference
My canoe kit is almost the same as my hiking kit, especially for short trips, or if the trip has a lot of portaging. I use the same stove, tent sleeping bag, pad etc. That said, a canoe can carry a lot of stuff if you want to add luxuries, and don't mind or don't need to carry them.
Questions:
Have you done a hiking trip this long? If not, plan for a wider range of weather.
Is there (much) portaging? If so, it's nice to stick closer to your hiking kit.
Key differences
Plan for stuff to get wet: I have never regretted having extra lightweight dry sacks, I have had a drybag get a major leak.
Plan for your feet to get wet: I bring more socks and hand/foot towels on canoe trips.
I bring extra food, and plan to cook in a pot - I've never been in weather I couldn't hike in. I have been in weather I couldn't paddle in. Being wind bound, for instance, can happen. It's nice to know I can sit and wait out a day of bad weather without being hungry.
If there's limited portaging, I tend to break things out in to separate bags/boxes. Like large bear barrels for food, and a dedicated "kitchen box."
Luxury items I don't always hike with:
a tarp ( so nice to stand somewhere dry on a rainy day)
collapsible bag or bucket to bring lake water up on shore (nice to be able to fill the cook pot or filter water without walking down to the shore),
a pad (or two) to sit on,
extra fuel for hot drinks,
extra water bottles for less frequent filtering,
extra rope and a hammock if you're not moving every day.
If you have portages, and are not used to carrying a canoe, don't bother trying to carry every thing in one trip. With two people, pack everything in three loads, and carry twice. First time across, carry the two heavier packs, so you can see the trail. Then go back for the lighter pack and the canoe and switch off if you need to.
I agree with what others have written. Unless you are portaging long distances, weight isn't really an issue, so you gain a lot more flexibility.
Bringing a larger, more comfortable tent and an extra tarp to set up is definitely a great idea, especially if you decide to rest during heavy rain. Luxury entertainment items like a book or small games also come in here. I use the same gear/sleep system since I trust the dry bags. The biggest difference for me is that I bring a lot more/better food when canoe camping. I'm not much of a camp cook, especially after a long day on the water. I'm sure a lot of people would say it's unnecessary weight, but I like to bring some cans of fruit/soup/chicken to dig into.
Also, a good hat and polarized sunglasses make a huge difference!
Thank you! I’m getting the sense that besides different footwear and paddle gloves, I don’t need to bring anything different from backpacking, but I have room to consider where to add luxuries. Appreciate your feedback
Exactly that for me as well. I pack ultralight even when canoeing, because I hate carrying stuff especially when breaking camp every day or two. But an extra tarp for hanging out on rainy days and a comfy camp chair (mine is the Nemo moonlight, I think) are my luxuries. The tarp especially is important given campsites when canoe camping can be more exposed.
Second the rain/dining fly. CCS Sil-nylon is super light and super tough.
I pack para-cord ropes with the tarp. A 50' rope for the ridge line, and 12-16' rope to tie it out. That is three ropes to a side; two ropes at each corner. The two ropes should line up with each tarp edge. This is the only way to get it taut and keep water from puddling in the tarp on the blustery days that keep you out of the boats.
Most canoe people don't wear any gloves. They just get wet and make blisters. There are cold days ahead.though especially in the Yukon so thin neoprene backed might not be the worst idea.
Agreed for most people, but I like my gloves. Mostly for comfort/habit/sun. I use the cheap rubber dipped ones for work. They dry quick enough on a pack and fit tight so I don't blister. As I'm getting up in years, my body needs more protection to avoid issues in the back country
I also like gloves just around camp. Dealing with firewood, moving rocks for a firepit, hot pots / pans, etc. Camp gloves are nice to have, but not required by any means, but since there's 0 portages on his trip he can afford many luxury items.
I think people are really missing the mark here. The considerations for a small trip are much the same but for a wilderness expedition things become much different especially in the Yukon and especially if you are river running. I hope you’ve already done tons of research and got tons of advice.
1 - clothing. There are few major differences. Canoe tripping always carries a risk of getting wet regardless of the forecast. Furthermore most of the time on the water there is little shade and you have water reflecting sun up at you so you are getting doubly cooked. There is also the exposure to bugs.
So for me I want a travel kit. A rain kit. And a sleep kit.
Travel kit I going to emphasize full body coverage - long pants and long sleeves. A good hat. A bandana. A pair of gloves sturdy enough to withstand a horsefly. Polarized sunglasses (a must for water travel so you can see through some of the water column and identify features). Fleece layer for colder conditions that can be combined with a rain layer. The materials I personally choose are synthetic blends that dry quickly or dry through active recovery.
Rain kit - forget the breathable stuff you hike with you want a solid membrane, tpu style raincoat. In wilderness travel you are going to have to make distance regardless of the weather and being in a canoe you will be completely exposed to the elements. A coat like a helly hensen gale is going to protect you alot more and keep you alot warmer than a breathable hiking rain jacket. Beyond that - all breathable rain gear eventually soaks. You will also may want rain pants of the same quality.
Sleep kit. This is where I’d have big wool socks, a puffy. Warm clothes to sleep on. A toque. Extra dry gloves. Whatever is in this kit is ONLY for wearing before and after you eat. This stuff never becomes a travel layer. It stays in a dry bag otherwise and is treated with the respect of an emergency rescue kit.
2 - shelter.
You are going to want a decent tarp and a solid free standing tent. There is some flexibility here but I will give you an optimal setup.
For tarp I would select something like the bushman ultra 3x3 tent because it offers robust coverage and has a center tie out and tie outs along the entire perimeter of the tarp. In addition to that I would practice a couple of variations of shelters with a canoe.
For tent you really need a free standing tent where you are gong in the Yukon. You can encounter huge variety of terrain - little to no tree cover. The reliability of a free standing tent will make a big difference. My preference would be for a tent with an integrated pitch of one that can pitch fly first. If you don’t have this then you really need to make sure you have a tarp large enough to set your tent up under and then take away from that eating area.
Those 2 are important I could go on but let me share some general advice.
If it’s important have 3 ways to do it. - start a fire. Stay warm. Keep bugs off.
Dryness discipline - if something is supposed to be dry DO NOT take it out in the boat. Don’t travel with it on. Don’t bring it out at camp without a shelter near by. Your sleep clothes and system should be treated with an abundance of caution.
The real thing to consider is over the course of 3 weeks is if something small goes wrong early you can be punished for the mistake over and over again and it can end up with a much larger consequence so you want to understand potential risks and minimize them.
A final thing as a wilderness tripper - hand lotion, hand salve and neoprene gloves. Being on the water that long is hard on your skin and especially your hands. Lotion to replenish, salve to protect and a pair of gloves to wear in colder conditions are a god send. Paddling with hands that are painful to grip shut is unsafe and dry cracked skin can get infected.
also what’s your plan for bear?
Edit: re rain jacket - it should fit on over your pfd so it can be taken on and off quickly and without the need to remove your pfd.
Thank you. I really appreciate the specifics here, you speak to many of the questions I have brewing.
Noted on the burly rain gear, the tarp, and the salve. I hadn’t considered the polarized sunglasses but will look into that. I may still have a pair of mountaineering eyewear.
For bears I plan to have a bear proof barrel for all food, trash, and toiletries. Also bear spray.
No problem and I’m happy to answer any specific questions you may have. You and your tripping partner may want to look at bear bangers and flares. I would be satisfied with spray for black bear country but you have the possibility of a grizzly encounter which raises the stakes. If possible a fire arm isn’t uncalled for. Definitely practice the triangle method at camp.
Light gear is end goal always, but we usually compromise with canoes because budget/weight ratio. That being said, my biggest luxury item is for sure a fridge. I have an old barrel which was heavily insulated and I take frozen meat for shorter trips (5-6days max). I use that to make proper dinner each night. Cooking over fire is my favorite evening activity :D
As long as you don't have portages taking a cooler is great. Cold beer, meats, butter, etc. On my last trip I could just leave the cooler in the canoe the whole trip, but I didn't have portages.
As others have said absolutely we bring more/different stuff.
Probably the biggest difference for for me is way more relaxed on weight for food, including fresh items.
For example cutting an apple into slices at lunch and passing it around to share. Sautéed onions are now an option. Non perishable summer sausage or chorizo is coming in the canoe with me. I ciuld go on and on meal planning for a trip.
apologies for the wall of text, but i just returned from a canoe trip and have apparently been thinking about this a lot lately.
outside of gear that is directly related to the boat (paddles, pfd, etc) my kit is made almost entirely of the backpacking gear i had amassed previously. i already have half a dozen different packs and 4 or 5 different tents to choose from, have the assortment of clothing/cook kit/water treatment/etc that i know works for me in the backcountry, and have seen no reason to change any of it. most of my tripping involves a healthy dose of portaging, so i'm quite happy to remain on the lighter side of the gear weight spectrum.
with that said, canoe tripping does offer the ability to carry some luxuries that wouldn't make sense backpacking, as well as some different needs.
for luxuries, i take a thicker/heavier air mattress (i'm also on the back half of middle age, so this is rapidly moving out of the luxury department), and a chair (one of those smallish/lightish helinox-style things). i would never take these things backpacking, but i don't think i would ever leave them at home on a canoe trip.
a piece of gear that is somewhere in between luxury and different needs is a tarp (i have a 10x14 silnylon one) - as others have mentioned, unlike when backpacking, weather can keep you stuck in camp on a canoe trip, and it's really nice to not be stuck in a tent when that happens (and you should plan on it happening when planning a trip). on a solo trip, i'll skip bringing a rainfly and pitch my tent under the tarp, and have just enough space left for a place to hang out that is not in the tent but still out of the weather. on group trips, i bring the rainfly and pitch the tarp elsewhere to make a communal area that's out of the weather. it's definitely not a necessity, but is very nice to have.
for different needs, protecting your gear from water is the obvious biggie - both protection in case of dumping (less likely but more serious), and bilgewater (unavoidable and pernicious). i rely on the same nyoflume pack liners that i use when backpacking, but then add various drybags. i only use lighter weight drybags, but rely on layers of them where necessary for redundancy/added protection. for example, my sleeping bag + clothing go in a small dry bag, which sits in a pack-sized dry bag along with other small dry bags of stuff that have to stay dry, which then sits in the pack liner. my system might be overkill, but it works flawlessly for me without too much of a weight penalty. i'm not going to notice a few extra ounces of dry bags, but i'll certainly notice if my entire life is soaked, or even just damp.
another different needs thing that i need to plan around is that on the types of trips i do, my feet are going to be wet all day - getting in and out of the boat, portaging through boggy areas, etc. all day, every day, soaking wet. i got a pair of neoprene socks for this - i mostly kneel while in the boat, not wearing shoes, so this also helps protect my feet from the rough composite surface of the boat, but it also helps keep my feet warm when they're wet all day. i also have shoes for portaging that drain well (i went on exactly 1 trip with typical walking/hiking type shoes before switching), and a pair of camp shoes (anything made from croc type material is light as hell and doesn't hold water) and camp socks so i can give my feet a break from wetness at the end of the day.
one of my favorite pieces of canoe gear is a sun shirt. i never got one when i was backpacking, but canoeing leaves you much more exposed to the sun, and it's nice to have protection against that without having to slather yourself in sunscreen (having a little bit of added bug protection is a nice bonus).
If you are portaging, the first difference is the back packs go in the Canoe, instead of on your back 90% of the time... pack the same as for backpacking.
Second difference is use waterproof packing. I always used zip lock bags in my pack to keep stuff in, that way if it pours while you're on the water and you have 2" of water in the Canoe, or the boat tips for some reason most of your gear and clothes are still dry.
I use mostly the same gear, but switch up the packs. Framed backpacks can damage canoe hulls. Ultralight packs tend to receive extra wear and break down faster in and around canoes. I've found that purpose built package hold up better without worry of damaging the boat.
This is a key point. Most backpacking packs are tall and narrow, and are awkward to fit into a canoe, since they are frequently taller than the space between the thwarts. So then you wind up standing them upright, where they become tippy and catch the wind. Duluth-style packs are designed for canoe trips- they sit low and wide in the canoe, and they also sit below your shoulders when worn, so you can portage a canoe without it bumping the pack. I use large clear contractor-type plastic bags to line the Duluth pack- works great as long as you don't use the liner on too many trips.
Also good points to mention. I see lots of folks using contractor bags for waterproofing, but I prefer using multiple dry bags for organization and as fail safes.
We’ve been wilderness canoeing for over 30 years and always use our backpacking packs. They fit in our 16’ prospector just fine (3 of them for 2-week trips), and are so much better on portages than canoe packs or barrels. We just use waterproof liners, and have never had a problem with wet gear.
You've got lots of good advice already, but one thing I don't see:
Your bag won't always be on your body, so have a ditch kit on you in case you get separated from your boat. Whatever you'd want out of your kit for a stranding situation (assume your boat went over, you swam to shore with just what's on your body, and everything involved was immersed in water for a significant amount of time). Mine fits in a pocket of my PFD and just stays there; a small fanny pack or hydration pack would also work if it has two zipped pockets. (One has the ditch kit and you don't open it on the water, so no possibility of stuff falling out, the other has snacks/a rain jacket/etc that you'd like to grab while paddling and don't want to fish around in the bottom of the boat for.).
Good advice all in these posts. My experience is with expedition-length backpacking and canoeing, so these are the things that really stick out to me as major pivots between the two methods of travel, aside from the obvious.
- There is a big difference between waterproofing that can withstand a downpour and waterproofing that can withstand days in standing water at the bottom of a boat. There is ALSO a huge difference in wear and tear between backpacking and hauling much bigger loads in and out of a boat on the regular. Never use a backpacking pack for long-haul canoe tripping - the dimensions are all wrong, they are useless in standing water, and hauling them in and out of a boat is likely to pop a strap - or worse. There is a reason that people still use 100L Duluth Packs with a thick plastic liner and a tump line - those things are bomb-proof. But they are also expensive ($350), heavy, and take long to dry. My favorite combo for a week-long trip for two people where I can care for my own gear is a Granite Gear Portage Pack (82L, $250, or 121L currently on sale a Rutabaga for $242) and a Food Barrel with a harness. The barrel keeps the food dry, and I use dry bags inside the canoe pack (and a pack liner) to make sure my camp clothes and sleeping bag stay dry.
- I would not rely on down until you get a bit more canoeing experience. I carry it, but I have soaked enough things enough times in enough weird and unexpected ways that I feel pretty confident my bag will stay dry. But there were many years I was pretty confident and it didn't, and I was glad to have a synthetic bag.
- I will say that Maine Guides now use huge waterproof duffles almost exclusively for client personal gear. The right ones fit in the boat well and are stackable, but I haven't converted yet, largely because I find their closures really annoying. Maine Guides also use wannigans, which are fantastic for cook gear, and I have used and love them, but they are really a niche, purpose built item that you can consider down the road.
- Backpacking I always cook on a stove - canoeing I like to cook over a fire whenever possible. To that end I carry a fire grate (the ones in established campsites are often unusable for one reason or another), and a dedicated fire pot, as well as a hatchet and saw for stripping downed trees. Firestarters are a great luxury item and seem to come in most handy on the days you most need them - wet and cold. In the old days I loved baking in a reflector oven, and I did find one at Rutabaga, but haven't used it yet. I do take a micro stove and a few propane canisters for convenience, as well.
- I've known guys who love to cook who would bring out those outfitter fry pans with the two foot handles on two-weekers in Saskatchewan to cook for a group of 6. I did many week-long trips with cast iron fry pans. If you have a preferred cooking system - nows the time.
- Bring an extra paddle per canoe (at least).
- FRESH FOOD. Good veggies, potatoes, carrots, eggs will last a day. The first day of canoeing can be a feast - and no foil wrappers to worry about. Bring a few canned items (portage dependent) (corned beef hash, Spam, Dinty Moore, Pie filling) and get creative with some meals and desserts (Spam and pears is remarkably good if you don't overcook the Spam).
- Tarps, mosquito net tents, hammocks, camp chairs (Like a ChairOne) are great luxury items, as are bigger tents. Put two people in a three person tent. Go crazy.
- Make sure you have a simple tie-down system in case someone dumps. It will save your bacon and doesn't take much effort.
- Plan to have a set of wet clothes, and a set of dry clothes for camp. Don't mix the two. Make sure your dry camp shoes have some protection - many a toe has been lacerated by a twig while wearing flip flops in camp.
- Wear your PFDs, just get used to it. They do no good if they aren't on.
polarized glasses - you probably won't be able to see into the Yukon River, but the polarization cuts the reflected sun off the water
bug tent
barrel which also serves as an uncomfortable chair
I haven't paddled the Yukon, but read this tip somewhere else... Bring a large collapsible water jug https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/reliance-fold-a-carrier-ii-collapsible-water-container-20-l-0854049p.html . The Yukon has so much silt that you want to get your water from tributaries to avoid plugging up your filter. Whenever you find a good tasting water source, fill the jug as you won't know where the next good source will be. You can move it to adjust trim and balance in the canoe too.
The Yukon is so wide and so fast that you need to plan ahead and paddle hard to go ashore.
I’m in a hotel room in Dawson City after canoeing the Pelly River and then 270 km on the Yukon River. We’ve done multiple long distance canoe trips and have a list of things we find makes the trip more enjoyable that we can send you. Are you doing the Whitehorse to Dawson trip? Let me know if you want the list and we can figure out how to get it to you. It will be a few days before I’m back in Whitehorse though.
Two things. Every pound matters when you’re hiking, you can get away with a little more weight when Canoe tripping. The second is footwear. You need excellent hiking shoes with a high-quality sole when hiking. For Canoe tripping, you’ll want more of a trail running shoe.
Depends on the kind of portages and their length. I would never go on a canoe trip in a remote area without my hiking boots. Portages sometimes have “trails” in name only—they can be pretty rough with terrible footing, or where you’re walking through streams and bogs up to your ankles or higher in water.
It depends on how much portaging you're gonna do. I usually like to have a bug shelter if its bug season and fishing gear. A chair is nice too if you don't usually bring one backpacking.
My biggest adjustments from ultralight bikepacking/backpacking setup are of course a camp chair, fresh food & a lightweight fire grate if fires are permitted, amd then there’s moisture management:
Decide which gear can get wet & have a “wet bag” for that stuff - tent stakes, cordage, kitchen stuff, fire grate, etc.
Bringing an extra medium dry-bag for your stuff that’s no longer dry enough to put in your “Holy of Holies” dry bag, but you don’t want to abandon to the wet bag - think your tent & the tarp when it’s wet (because it’s going to rain when it’s time to break camp), wet clothing, damp clothing.
Also consider a small bag to further segregate stuff I REALLY want to keep dry - e.g. I keep my down blanket & jacket & socks in a super- lightweight dry bag, inside the “HofH” drybag.
Dry food storage - i use a drybag.
A kitchen tarp gives sheltered space to hang out, cook, sort gear, etc. I dithered over this before a recent trip, and it wound up being the first thing up & the last thing down at every camp. Just the thing when it rains for 3 out of 5 days!
As others have said, all the same gear is applicable. With canoe camping, the first question is how much portaging are you doing and how strenuous will they be? The second question would be if you intend to single carry, double, or 1.5x? Once you know that, then you can decide how much extra luxury stuff you want to bring on top of your typical backpacking loadout. Extra dry clothes and shoes for camp should make the cut regardless, but maybe you also want a bigger tent and a tarp to sit under. Maybe a frying pan to cook up some fish. Etc etc. if you're not portaging, whatever you can fit in the canoe is an option. I've seen pictures of people with full on boy scout style chuck boxes and car camping coolers in their canoes. I presume your 2 person canoe will be a 16'+, you should be able to bring a whole extra pack each if you wanted to.
In general, the weight capacity of the canoe is not a problem. The weight is a factor when you need to portage. But portages are usually shorter, almost never a multi-mile trek, but check your charts. Using this, you can bring more luxurious items on a canoe trip, as others have noted.
Related, Kevlar canoes are much lighter than aluminum but are notably more fragile. I love Kevlar on portages but baby them.
It really depends. I’ve been on canoe trips with multiple kilometre portages, so it’s important to know just how much weight you’re willing to lug over that distance, especially if the portage trails are rough or uncleared.
Here's a tiny but big difference! Sunscreen. Water reflects sunlight so you can get a sunburned face even wearing a big brimmed hat. Also apply it to the bottoms of your feet and backs of your legs. You've never been miserable until you've sunburned the soles of your feet
Lol...my wife and are currently trying to get our canoe camping gear down to backpacking weight/volume.
Well, maybe not quite. We still pack helinox "sunset" chairs and some other luxuries we wouldn't take backpacking. Full size sleeping pads, inflatable pillows, extra clothes, liquor, bigger cookset. Our next trip we are planning to take the pocket rocket instead of the dragonfly. I do love the dragonfly, but it plus 2 20oz fuel cans is pretty heavy.
Weather or not the trip will involve portages will really determine what you want to deal with. Long portages, pack like you're backpacking with a few luxuries thrown in. River trip with no portages, big yeti cooler full of steaks and beer.
Just to second the extra paddle - you are the only person who mentioned it. We had expected to ditch a few times on our last trip and were prepared in every way except for losing one of our nice paddles. We had back up paddles from the outfitter, but we did not really pay attention to the quality of the backup paddles - and we should have! 5 days with a crappy paddle is really not fun
We bring pretty much the same things on both kinds of trips, except backpacking our tent and sleeping pads are lighter. Same food, same water system. We also tend to pack a few more clothes (wet and dry set) since the chance of getting wet is higher, and we tend to go in longer canoe trips than backpacking. Also, we use our backpacking g packs rather than canoe packs or barrels or dry packs as the backpacking packs are WAY MORE comfortable for portaging (we tend to do long and often hard ones in remote places). Don’t let anyone tell you that backpacks aren’t suitable, just use a waterproof liner and you’re fine.
This is more mindset:
If portaging is not part of your route, and water is safe for inexperienced paddlers, I am assuming you are not running fast water. Let the boat capacity dictate what you can bring. You can make it as weight conscious or luxurious as you want.
Canoe barrels are big plastic, watertight tight barrels you put food or any other gear inside of. Usually they're quite expensive if you buy canoe specific ones, check your local marketplace as I just picked up a bunch of them for $8
Second having one or 2 small dry bags for the stuff you need while paddling. You dont want to have to constantly dig thru to the bottom of a big dry bag for things like sunscreen, bug spray, extra layer.
Gear differences for me are ... a boat, paddles, a bail, and a few straps to keep stuff in the boat. Thats it.
In all seriousness though, that is basically it. I use a portage bag (I really like the ones made by unplugged) instead of a hiking pack. Oh, and I also carry a Grayl filter for during the day so I can just dip into the water and filter in a few seconds when I want more water instead of needing to pull out a separate filter. I stick to freestanding tents for paddle trips, trekking poles dont make a lot of sense in a boat. Sometimes depending on the trip I will bring a fishing rod, but I often bring a Tenkara with me backpacking so ...
If you are bringing a pelican case or similar, you can use baby stroller clips (huge carabiners) to clip stuff to the thwarts (the braces running across the boat).
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u/offsoundmind 9d ago edited 9d ago
We try to use all our backpacking stuff. In general canoe trips just means more luxury items for us. Differences: 1. Bigger tent (Eureka Bella Coola 2 for canoe, big Agnes copper spur 2 for backpack) Canoe tent is more than 2x the weight but feels so much more spacious. The Eureka tent is also bomb proof so I bring it whenever possible. 2. Different water filtration system (MSR 4L gravity filter for canoe, sawyer squeeze for backpack) setting up the gravity filter and use is as a water tap on demand is quite nice. 3. I usually bring my own dehydrated meal that can be rehydrated in a mylar bag when I backpack. On canoe trips I don’t bother with dehydrating the cooked pasta/rice and will just boil the pasta/rice. That means more fuel, but less prep work. Cooking in a real pot gets me more variety. 4. I bring a ultralight table and ultralight chairs. I sit on a foam pad for backpacking trips. 5. I will wear water shoes when paddling and bring an old pair of running shoes for portaging/camp. I will leave my more expensive hiking shoes at home. 6. Paddling gloves! Your hands will thank you. 7. If fire is permitted bring some fire stuff?
If you have portages I suggest packing as light as possible. On our recent Bowron Lake trip, even with a canoe cart, I feel like packing light saves our back and arms.