I've never used an outfitter for anything* and at the prices some of you folks pay I'm curious as to why you just don't purchase your own equipment?  Or at the very least, purchase everything but a canoe and simply rent that item only?  Between me and Pascanell we share almost everything.  He buys this, I buy that - we use it together or when one of of needs it alone, it's available.

If it were me, I'd take that $1,000 refund and buy a decent pack and the gear I think I might need.  IMO, trusting a total stranger to adequately pack for you on a trip that means so much is not a risk worth taking.

I realize that this is not the point of NH's post and I'm sorry he had such a bad experience.  But, good outfitter, bad outfitter?  Whatever.  Get your own stuff and "fuh getta 'bout it."

*(Correction.  I once rented a life jacket from a Canadian outfitter to avoid a Crown Land Camping fee.  It stayed in the car.)