Planning a kayak trip is never easy. Sometimes you need to plan to stay there for a night or two. When you go to ice fishing you can carry a temporary ice shelter in your bag. But a kayak doesn’t have that much of a space. You need to carefully consider what to pick and what not to pick.
In this guide, I will help you with how to pack a kayak for overnight trips.
4 steps to Pack a Kayak for Overnight Trips:
Step 1: Gears
If you are borrowing your kayak gears, make sure to test them beforehand to see if they fit. Safety gears are super important. You can’t just say I am good at swimming I don’t need them. You absolutely do.
Step 2: Weather Forecast
Sometimes even the Finnish weather forecast will turn out to be true.
Jokes aside, you should follow the weather forecast of the place you are planning on visiting.
Weather is subject to change. But a 7 days forecast will give you the basic idea that you need to find out whether it going to rain or not.
Step 3: Safety First
As much as you enjoy an adventure you have to know when to call quits. Your life is far more important than an adventure. There is no point in risking your life for a bit of thrill. If you understand this then you know when to give up.
Step 4: Other Necessary Things
You need to pack according to the weather. You don’t need to bring a winter jacket on a hot summer day. Make a checklist and mark the items that you packed for the trip. You can go overboard or you can stay minimal.
Packing will also be based on how many participants are going on the trip.
Here is the checklist that I think you should take with you:
- Kayak
- Paddle
- 1Spray skirt
- Life vest
- Sunglass and hat
- Waterproof shoes
- Waterproof pouch for phones and cameras
- Gloves
- Sunscreen
- Towel for the kayak
- Reflecting stickers on kayaking vest
You need to cook food on the trip if you don’t want to starve.
- Camp stove + gas
- Pans and pots
- Plate, cup, and cutlery
- Matches
- Knife
- Drinkable water
- Frozen snacks
You can’t stay on the kayak overnight. You need to set up a camp on the surface. For camping purposes, you need some equipment.
- Tent or hammock (whatever you prefer)
- Mosquito net (if your tent doesn’t come with an insect-proof layer)
- Tarp if needed
- Strings and pegs
- Sleeping bag and camping mat
- Travel pillow, earplug, sleep mask
- Socks and hats depending on the cold
As for personal hygiene and other necessary kinds of stuff. Here is the list.
- Hiking sneakers
- Windproof clothes
- Pants for kayaking and hiking
- Mosquito spray
- Swimsuit
- Towel
- Personal hygiene stuff
- Sanitizer
- Bin bags
- Toilet paper
You may be wondering that’s a huge list. But trust me, most of them will fit in your hiking backpack. I am assuming you will take a car to your destination, you can carry those stuff on the back of your car.
