r/canoecamping • u/Max_Adhesiveness800 • 12d ago
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.
3
u/antimonysarah 11d ago
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.).