When paddling around on a small pond or lake for a short while, the gear you need is very little. However, when planning longer trips, including overnight adventures, your packlist can grow significantly. For the purposes of this article, lets look at situations only up to Class II rapids.
Basic Gear Packlist
- Buoyancy Operated Aquatic Transport or B.O.A.T* if you prefer
- Paddle (minimum one per paddler)
- Personal Flotation Device or PFD (Life Jacket)
- First Aid Kit
- Water (in bottles or
- Dry Bag(s)
- Whistle
- Flashlight
- Bilge Pump (if your B.O.A.T doesn’t have scuppers)
- Two-way Radios
- Sunglasses with leash
- Sunscreen
- Lip Balm
Additional Packlist Gear for Longer Trips
- Knife
- Multi-tool
- Insect Repellent
- Fire starter (Matches/Lighter/etc. in waterproof case)
- Space Blanket
- Poncho
- Tent or Hammock
- Snacks
- Float Plan (to be left with friend/family)
- Towline
- Compass
- Duct tape
- GPS
- Phone
- Maps
- Weather Radio
- Paddle Leash
- Float Bag(s)
- Flare or Strobe (for Emergency signaling)
- Water Purification (pump/iodine)
Clothing Packlist
- Appropriate swimwear or pants/shorts
- Footwear (water shoes/sandals/toe shoes
- Appropriate shirt (moisture wicking)
- Hat (don’t forget to protect your ears)
- Bandanna or face shield
Cold Water Clothing and Optional items
- Hat leash
- Paddle Gloves
- Dry/Wetsuit
- Extra/thermal socks
- Jacket
- Beanie
Obviously this is not an exhaustive list, but always use your best judgement of the time and conditions of your trip. Remember that even when the weather is warm, water can be very cold and hypothermia is your greatest threat in these situations. Click here for more information on choosing the right gear for weather and water conditions. Focus on safety first and we will see you on the water.