Kayak Gear List

I meant to write down my gear list for my kayak trip last month and take some notes. My list is at the end of the post. I've spent some time reducing the size of my gear so that I can fit three weeks of food and gear into my NDK Explorer to do the trip. Hence, you might find it reads like a backpacking list.

Favorite Items:
Kokatat storm cag: When I got too cold, especially when we stopped for lunch, I could pull the storm cagoule right over everything else I was wearing (including my PFD).
Icebreaker long sleeve wool t-shirt: I wore this shirt every day. Even when it got damp, it cut the evaporative cooling off of my drysuit, and it is light enough that it doesn't get too hot.
Montbell Thermawrap jacket: This was my favorite for on shore. It was just warm enough for the wet fifty degree days, blocked some of the wind, and made a great pillow.

Ikea Bags: The blue plastic tarp reusable shopping bags at Ikea. They cost $2 at Ikea and are very small when packed. Great when we have to carry all of our gear up across slimy rocks during a low tide launch or landing.

Items I would change:
My Prolite pad was too thin for sleeping on for two weeks after paddling all day. I got knots in my neck and back. I would use an air mattress like the OR AirMat, although I had problems with the valve on this particular brand on a previous trip. Other companies sell similar products, however.

My BD Lighthouse tent started leaking after a couple years of hard use. I should have reapplied the seam sealer before the trip. For a more bomb-proof tent, I would get the El Dorado; however, it is a bit bulkier and heavier.
Kayak Gear for Prince Rupert – Port Hardy Kayak Trip

Clothing:
Kokatat gortex drysuit w/relief zipper, gortex booties attached
Kokatat bib (gortex overalls)
Paclite gortex paddling jacket (should take Kokatat TecTour instead)
Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero gortex hat
Glacier Gloves (waterproof 2mm neoprene)
NRS paddle wetshoes
Reed sprayskirt
Northwater tow-belt (worn around waist)
Kokatat MS Fit PFD
Reed chillcheater balaclava (slightly itchy – other neoprene balaclava instead?)
Kokatat storm cagoule
2 pairs nylon pants
Icebreaker 140 weight wool long-sleeve shirt
Short-sleeve rashguard top
Long-sleeve synthetic top
2 pairs socks (wool/synthetic)
1 pair synthetic sock liners
2 pairs synthetic underwear
Water shoe slippers w/tread (shore shoes)
Synthetic long johns top / bottom
Fleece hat
Montbell UL Thermawrap jacket (synthetic down)
Bugnet

Other Kayak-related Gear:
Paddle float (behind seat)
Quart-sized Ziploc (behind seat)
Foam Seat (Redfish Kayaks)
Sponge (behind seat)
Bilge pump (held by bungees in cockpit under deck)
Henderson foot pump (mounted behing footpegs)
Deck Compass (mounted forward front deck)
Waterproof watch (attached to PFD)
Boye cobalt knife on carabiner (front pocket PFD)
Whistle (attached to zipper PFD)
ACR strobe (attached to back of PFD)
Icom M88 VHF radio in Aquapac (in pocket on back of PFD)
Contact tow (2 carabiners attached to 3 feet of cord) on deck
Werner Ikelos 215 cm carbon bent-shaft paddle
Hatch covers for all hatches
Charts / tide tables
Boat-carry strap (Andrew carried this for group)

Camping Gear:
Black Diamond Lighthouse single-wall tent w/ground sheet (no stakes)
Western Mountaineering Hi-lite down sleeping bag (35 degree)
Thermarest Prolite 4 ¾ length pad (bring inflatable air mattress instead)
Small synthetic camp towel (for wiping condensation in tent)
10’ by 8’ silnylon tarp (used when tent had leaks due to bad seam sealing)

Food/Cooking Gear:
MSR pocket rocket stove w/compressed gas cannisters
1.5 liter titanium pot
Small titanium bowl
Nalgene bottle
2 MSR dromedaries (2.5 gallon each)
Plastic spoon
Knife
¼ sponge w/ itsy bitsy soap bottle
2 lighters
Aluminum foil (for windscreen)
Aqua Mira purification droplets
Bear hanging kit (2 pulleys, 2 carabiners, 2 50’ lengths Aircore spectra cord)
AlokSak odor-proof plastic bags to hold food
BearVault (clear plastic bear canister that fits in round hatches of our kayaks)
2 UrSaks (spectra sacks to protect food from bears)

Other Safety Gear:
Parachute flare
Smoke flare
Greatland laser flare
ACR signal mirror
EPIRB
Satellite phone (one for group: carried by Roy)
GPS

Repair Gear:
Fiberglass repair kit
Drysuit gasket repair kit
First Aid kit (incl. seasickness meds)
303 protectant (for drysuit gaskets)
Ziptech zipper lube
Duct tape
Zip ties
Extra lithium AA and AAA batteries
Whipping cord / needle
2 trash compactor bags
Multi tool
5 feet of shock cord/bungee
Aquaseal (in drysuit gasket repair kit)


Miscellaneous Gear:
Toiletries (toothbrush/paste, razor, TP, comb, vitamins)
Princeton Tec Headlamp (waterproof)
Extra sunglasses/sunscreen/lip balm
Watch w/alarm
WxTex 5 liter drybags w/valve
OR Hydroseal drybags -size #1,#2 (better than Hydrolite)
3 Ikea bags (blue tarp bags) for carrying gear
Pentax Optio WP digital camera (waterproof) w/float attached
25 feet Triptease lightweight cord
Money / credit card / passport
Waterproof journal, pencil