Camping using my H Revo - am I kidding myself?

Nanook, I looked at your link and saw the Cascade Designs Boundary Pack 115 (http://shop.aldercreek.com/Dry-Storage-Bags-Boxes/Dry-Bags/Boundary-Pack-115-C55-i521997.html) with shoulder straps.  I would not use it kayaking with my SIK, but I am interested in canoeing the  Bowron Lakes Provincial Park lake chain with the wife and kids as soon as the youngest can't be swallowed whole by a bear.  I figured it would be a good portage bag.  What do you think?  I figure it would probably be to big for a tank well fully loaded, but I guess one could use it partially packed on a SOT. Maybe the Boundary pack 70 would be better.  

- Craig

115 is kinda big.  , but in a canoe I think it's fine. The 70 is a good day bag, 115 if you are hauling camp on your back. Godd thing about roll tops is you can always make it smaller.

I am totally avoiding calculus and chem homework, so I thought I'd make a complete list of what I take on a 6 day sea kayak trip. I've got it down to a science at this point.

20L baja bag: (paddling clothes) 1xLS poly paddling shirt, 1xSS poly paddling shirt, 2xLS polartec fleece tops, 1x polartec fleece pant, 6 pair wool socks, wool/fleece beanie.

20L baja bag: (camp clothes) 6x t-shirts, mix of cotton & poly, 1 pair cotton shorts, 1 pair poly pants, 6 pair poly undies, gtex rain jacket, rain pants, toiletry kit, toilet paper (never leave home without it)

15L Seattle Sports Super Latitude bag: (sleep bag) 20F down bag, thermarest pillow, small nylon hammock.

15L baja bag: (safety bag) 2x Parachute flare, 2x Dye marker, 2x handheld flare, signal mirror, first aid kit, leatherman, aquaseal, seam sealer, gtex patch kit, rec repair, duct tape, zipper lube, seal saver, skeg cable, fire starter, matches, lighters, aluminum foil, extra batteries, strobe, emergency bivy, space blanket, cyanide...kidding!(I take a msr pocket rocket & fuel can & thermos w/ hot water & tea bags & chocolates when guiding to complete the kit)

2/3xMSR 20L Dromedary bags. one in front of the footpegs, one behind the seat, one in the day hatch.

20L Seattle Sports Super Latitude bag full of food that it matters if it gets a little wet.

1x Cascade Designs M soft side cooler. When these things are full you have to unzip them, get them in the hatch, then zip them back up. freeze meat before hand and it will last 2-3 days in the cooler.

4 man tent shoved up around the skeg box where nothing else fits. Doesnt matter if the tent gets wet.

2xThermarest Z rest. I usually fold them in half and mold them to the hull in side the hatch then cram other junk on top. If I'm really hauling a load, I'll unfold these and put them on the floor of the cockpit. Z rests are great because they're just foam, so I can't pop them and they don't absorb any water. I use 2 stacked on top of each other for a little extra cushion. The egg crate shape works well for stacking them together.

I have a little 5L "day bag" I keep handy with sunscreen, headlamp, snackbars, hand-held compass, lighter, fishing license, cash, knife, etc. all the little things it's so easy to lose and it sucks when you need them.

safety bag and day bag go in my day hatch along with a 20L drom bag and my clean canteen.

I take a pair of chacos and Gtex trail runners and cram them in where ever.

On my PFD I have a waterproof camera, hand held compass, VHF radio, whistle, NRS co-pilot knife, and Sea-light on my back shoulder.

Drysuit, PFD, sprayskirt, booties, tow belt, deck compass, chart case, bilge pump, paddle float & paddles I haul around in the mesh bag until I put them on and stow the mesh bag.

Lately I've been cushin' it and taking a coleman double burner stove in a 30L baja bag strapped on the back deck, and a camp chair strapped on the front, just don't tell my "hardcore" buddies.

Usually I take a crazy creek folding stadium seat and MSR simmerlite stove, 2 large MSR fuel bottles, coleman collapsible lantern...all of which is outdated compared to the stuff I see now. also take MSR cookset, OR camp kitchen. Fillet knife.

I've become minimal with fishing gear, using a handline, leatherman, 5 or 6 fishy lures, extra spool of line and small box of tackle & hook odds & ends. I can get my entire fishing kit into a small columbia soft cooler, that I keep in the day hatch. Rods & reels really take a beating on these kinds of trips, so unless I REALLY need a rod and reel, I've gone to the handline.

I bring lots of accessory cord for clotheslines, tarp, hanging food to keep critters out, hammock etc. I tie it on the end of a mesh bag, fill the bag with beer and float it out into the cold water & tie off the line. The sea is my beer cooler

that's about it! Pretty much how I car camp. The beauty of kayak camping is that the load isn't on your back! I used to be all ultralight and what not, but I plastered my face to the cold, wet, top of my tiny little 3 pound tent one to many times. Now I roll a 4 man, solo, or with my GF and sprawl.

man, I forgot 24xFat Tire in a can, and a bag or two of pinot gris, maybe a bottle of tequila & limes

woah I almost forgot the french press.

Awesome post there!
and
yes
we can tell you're still trying to avoid the homework...

woah I almost forgot the french press.

Picked the shortest quote to respond to.  Very, very helpful list, that took time and am sure is greatly appriciated by all.  BTW the Spring, how to pack a yak sure sounds worthwhile.  Will keep my eye on the website and carve out some time if at all possible.  Thank you Nanook!  Look forward to a long link on yak camping.  holt

Nanook, I looked at your link and saw the Cascade Designs Boundary Pack 115 (http://shop.aldercreek.com/Dry-Storage-Bags-Boxes/Dry-Bags/Boundary-Pack-115-C55-i521997.html) with shoulder straps.  I would not use it kayaking with my SIK, but I am interested in canoeing the  Bowron Lakes Provincial Park lake chain with the wife and kids as soon as the youngest can't be swallowed whole by a bear.  I figured it would be a good portage bag.  What do you think?  I figure it would probably be to big for a tank well fully loaded, but I guess one could use it partially packed on a SOT. Maybe the Boundary pack 70 would be better. 

- Craig

115 is kinda big.  , but in a canoe I think it's fine. The 70 is a good day bag, 115 if you are hauling camp on your back. Godd thing about roll tops is you can always make it smaller.

Thanks Nanook

I know some people that have used these and love them. http://hennessyhammock.com/

Nanook. i noticed you said cotten t-shirts and shorts.. I thought i have read here that cotten is the last thing that you want on a yak.

and to add to that.. besides pollypro long johns and the expensive underarmor  what else would someone suggest for clothing under the dry suit thats not wool.


SG

Nanook. i noticed you said cotten t-shirts and shorts.. I thought i have read here that cotten is the last thing that you want on a yak.

and to add to that.. besides pollypro long johns and the expensive underarmor  what else would someone suggest for clothing under the dry suit thats not wool.


SG

Cotton, in the summer time, is a good idea, maybe not out on the ocean, or a large body of water, but you definitely want it around the campsite when you're out of your yak. 

French Press:  I got one of these for my ex GF when we went on a kayak camping trip to Hope Island 2 years ago:  http://www.rei.com/product/743758  I don't drink coffee, but she loved it.

We went camping for two days/nights, and I fit everything into my 14' SINK, and pulled her behind me in an inflatable sevylor kayak.  I found that I could bring way more stuff than I am ever able to bring when I'm backpacking.

Nanook. i noticed you said cotten t-shirts and shorts.. I thought i have read here that cotten is the last thing that you want on a yak.

and to add to that.. besides pollypro long johns and the expensive underarmor  what else would someone suggest for clothing under the dry suit thats not wool.


SG

I wear fleece. I don't do long johns any more.....they fall down around my ankles for some reason, and the tightness bothers me....maybe I just need a better pair. My normal outfit under the dry suit is fleece....just regular old polartec fleece....it's the best.

kokatat has some awseome stuff for under dry suits....it's super warm, and comfy as heck. http://www.kokatat.com/product_insulation.asp#outercore They even have a union/bunny suit of this material.

I've been wearing pretty much the same stuff from Immersion Research for a few years, will get kokatat when the IR stuff dies.

I wear cotton around camp in the summer because it feels good. The cotton T's & shorts are overkill. I don't need them, they're just luxury items, and the first thing to get tossed if there isn't enough space for beer. Technically your right, cotton kills & evaporative cooling and what not.....but not at camp in the summer. It's just nice to put on a clean tshirt.

Also, I sleep in the cotton T because sleeping in nylon or poly makes me sweat like crazy.

Nanook, I looked at your link and saw the Cascade Designs Boundary Pack 115 (http://shop.aldercreek.com/Dry-Storage-Bags-Boxes/Dry-Bags/Boundary-Pack-115-C55-i521997.html) with shoulder straps.  I would not use it kayaking with my SIK, but I am interested in canoeing the  Bowron Lakes Provincial Park lake chain with the wife and kids as soon as the youngest can't be swallowed whole by a bear.  I figured it would be a good portage bag.  What do you think?  I figure it would probably be to big for a tank well fully loaded, but I guess one could use it partially packed on a SOT. Maybe the Boundary pack 70 would be better. 

- Craig

115 is kinda big.  , but in a canoe I think it's fine. The 70 is a good day bag, 115 if you are hauling camp on your back. Godd thing about roll tops is you can always make it smaller.

Thanks Nanook

I know some people that have used these and love them. http://hennessyhammock.com/

I have one from Amazonia...who I guess is out of business because I can't find anything on the web. It's a one man lightweight made from parachute nylon that packs into a pouch the size of an apple. I think it was $19 and I've been using it for 5 years now.

thanks guys, yea i have made me some fleece stuff to go under my dry pants and top. I am allergic to wool. so i have been looking for other alternatives..

SG

Now that some great packing ideas, dry bag uses and clothes are on the table, how bout some food options?  What kinds of food lend themselves to be kayak travel friendly, yet still pack in the nutrients and flavor?

Raman noodles are light weight. Oops, you said flavorful.  Scratch the Raman noodles.

Now that some great packing ideas, dry bag uses and clothes are on the table, how bout some food options?  What kinds of food lend themselves to be kayak travel friendly, yet still pack in the nutrients and flavor?

fruit does well, oatmeal, pancake mix, burrito stuff, onions, peppers, pasta, soy milk, granola, pb&j, pittas, hummus, olives.....most stuff does pretty good in the PNW. the water is cold enough to keep things kinda cool in the yak. I also use veggie meat for pasta dishes and breakfasts. it lasts longer and they make some pretty good tasting stuff these days. take a stroll down the hippie meat alternative isle and try some stuff until you find one that tastes pretty good.

really just have to be careful with things that will make you sick if they go bad, like dairy and meat. Other than that pretty much anything goes. small sized things are better. allot of times I'll pre-cut stuff and re package in ziplocks. freezing and vacum sealing is really the way to go for as much as you can.