I'm going to the BWCA for the first time this year and would like to hear from experienced folks advice regarding gear...specifically clothing, footwear, and gear bag.  I will be traveling with a seasoned BWCA afficianado who is a great teacher, but believe it is useful to hear a variety of viewpoints from both men and women.

Thanks much!

What kind of advice do you need....clothing? wetbooting in cold water? Do you mean a pack?

Clothing....leave the cotton at home and go with synthetics and wool...Yah I know I will catch flack from the cotton purists. Bring a socking cap. Get your boots long before trip,  so you get to know them and bust them in-make friends with 'em.  Go back into the POD and few dayz and these are the boots I run...footwear is like drawers it is all about personal preference.

I run with a "wet clothes"/"dry clothes" system...

Have you looked at the equipment list on this site?

To get a good answer, you need to ask a good question.  What you bring depends on the time of year.  You need to give more details before it pays to answer your question.

Westwood

The equipment list on this site...was exactly what drew me to this site...please do follow the above recommendation by Marlin.  It helped me...n the many of the rest of us too...give it a look! U can modify it to a better liking for u by adding...i think (been awhile since I looked at it) and u can print it out... [smiley=thumbup.gif]

The first list I was asked to follow is always a kick for me to look at.   (You need to Login or Register That was for the last 2-3 weeks in May. Season and duration matter as well as wether you are tripping or base camping. First and foremost bring a positive attitude.

Some general ideas:
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I'd also suggest having "seasoned BWCA aficionado" take a look at all your stuff. Throw some extra in the mix first so s/he can delete some stuff. ;) Be sure to fight for what you feel you really need to be comfy. It's your first trip and everyone has different needs only you don't know yours yet. Don't be miserable to save a pound and some space. You can always refine on subsequent trips.

FWIW - All the women I've ever gone with love a sun (solar) shower.

Thanks db, for the links to the clothing and gear lists.  I had not come across them prior.  Also very interesting to see your "first list".  All will be helpful.  I'm also going to look into the sun shower idea.

marlin...what does "wetbooting in cold water" mean?

what you need to bring depends of course on how the trip is set up - I'm reading your original post to mean that you are "coming along for the ride", rather than being a semi-independent trip participant.

if you are going with an experienced BWCA tripper, more likely than not, all that you will be asked to bring will be your own personal items, and will wind up packing along some of the "group" equipment.

if that is correct, then about all you might be bringing is the clothes you'll be wearing, raingear, a complete spare set of clothes including a pair of camp shoes, raingear, your own fishing gear, and most likely a good sleeping bag and sleeping pad; and "personal" stuff such as toothbrush, TP, bug dope, headnet, sucscreen, first aid kit, medication, spare glasses or contacts - anything you can't leave home without - and if any of that is essential (like you can't see at all without glasses), you must bring spares in case of loss or breakage.

"wetbooting", more commonly called "wetfooting" means that you will be stepping in the water to enter and exit the canoe as it floats near the landings - noone wants to trash tthier expensive kevlar canoe by dragging it on shore and getting out with dry feet.  often, the landing area at hte putin will not even offer a choice.

if you are expected to be semi-independent, then you'll need the whole "kit and kaboodle" (bring spare kaboodle) - break that down into the major "topics" -  - what do I need to bring to camp/sleep;  to cook and eat, to fish etc.

the gear lists are a big help as a starting point, and then refind from there

don't go undergunned in the sleeping bag or raingear area - those two tend to be the areas that can give you the most misery if you can't sleep warm enough or stay dry in cold windy conditions, and nobody is going to have spares for you to use.

search for and read the threads on here about packing, and take to heart the advise about keeping your sleeping bag and spare clothing dry by double or triple waterproofing your packs

there are a lot of other threads you can find with specifics on footwear and packs - unless your partner objects, any decent backpack will work if it is large enough for your gear - I'll recommend the OTB Abyss boots you'll find reference to, but there is a big variety of choices in any of those categories.  You might also watch the "classifieds" on here to see is anyone is selling a pack you might be interested in -  I recommend a pack that has a padded hipbelt and padded shoulder straps

db wrote on Mar 5^th, 2010 at 6:47am:

FWIW - All the women I've ever gone with love a sun (solar) shower.

I'm jealous db. :-X

k

My best advice-
     Listen to the group leader.  He/She will tell you what's needed.  Everytime I taken someone along, I give adivice (take this, not that...and so on). Most of the time they half-heartedly listen but still manage to take extra stuff, that ends up being an anchor.  

Have a great time!

My suggestions for clothing choices are to take as little as you can be comfortable with.

1) Think layers & multipurpose/use.
2) think lightweight
3) Think fastdrying.

Keep those in mind as you select/purchase your clothing, and you'll be fine. For raingear, get the best you can afford, gore-tex is best. For portage boots, get the best you can afford. They need to provide support, great traction, and be fastdrying.

> All the women I've ever gone with love a sun (solar) shower.

I resemble that remark. Nothing like a warm shower on what might be the only sunny day of your trip, even when you travel solo.

Extra boot laces are something I never travel without.

DB,  what the heck is an "onion anchor"?

"onion anchor" is a mesh onion or potato bag. Load with a few grapefruit size rocks, add some cord, you've got an anchor. Take the rocks out, it only weighs a few ounces, and doesn't take much room.

Excellent! And sound advice...in regard the the gear/equipment list and OS's 3 points of wisdom.

Ha, turns out QJ has an excellent   (You need to Login or Register that's probably very helpful for newbies and perhaps even aficionados. It covers most anything you might think of and a lot you probably wouldn't. It's a bit dated and just one person's opinion but I'd call it required reading for the uninitiated who desire a better clue what their in for. There's another list in there too.

I remember my first trip being nothing like I expected mostly 'cause I didn't know what to expect. There's lots of things Lee Hegstrand shared that an aficionado wouldn't even think worth mentioning face to face, and it's all in one place. Worth a read and I wish people still sent me things like that for QJ.

Hey, have a good trip! Let us know what surprises you most.


BTW - Bear repellent was mothballs ... I didn't smell any on either of those school trips. See - newbies never listen.   ;D

Thanks, all for the info.  You've given me a lot to read and think about.
[smiley=dankk2.gif]

One of the better books on the subject is 'Canoe Country Camping' by Micheal Furtman. I loan my copy to any newbie that I am taking on a first trip.  ;)

You could just rob a bank and buy everything in the BWJ online store ;)

All excellent advice. I'd pay particular attention too the good rain gear and sleeping bag/pad when you get your gear.
Weight is always a consideration. You can save plenty by using multi-purpose items and wearing synthetic clothes.

Your gear will evolve over time. Trial and error and personal preference will be your guide. I'd rather bring too much stuff the first time, than be short and uncomfortable. As long as you can carry your gear and keep up, it's just part of the learning curve.

I did the ultra-light thing during my backpack days. Part of the allure of canoe camping was the ability to bring along certain creature comforts that you would never haul on a long hiking trip.

Depending on the person, those could be fancy coffee pots/solar showers/camp chairs etc.

Some items are necessities, not luxuries. I wouldn't go on a trip without a good sleeping bag suitable for time of year. On that line, better to have to un-zip, than shake and shiver all night.

Same with rain gear. Another item I wouldn't go without is a decent tarp.
A large tarp for meals/fire is nice, but even a smaller one used with your tent sent-up can be a comfort in nasty weather.

My 2 creature items are my Byer mosquito hammock and the solar shower. The hammock is a nice place to read/write and nap, even doing duty under tarp as emergency bivouac.

Solar shower is nice after a few hard days paddling /portaging. Nothing beats a hot shower/clean clothes and a good meal IMHO before hitting the sack.  In cold weather the quick dip doesn't really do the trick.

I know it's time when I can't stand to sleep with me ;D
The British had it right, just because your in the wilderness, you don't have too live like savages ;)

Kudos to you all. ;)

MNAdventurer,
I have not weighed in on this thread as I believe that there are others far more qualified to give advice in this game of canoe camping. I will add a few things that have not been touched upon that may prove to be a real "asset" (pun intended).

I would be loathe to be without my tripod stool. Getting ready for a trip is all about visualizing the different scenarios you may encounter and getting into DETAILS about how you will address them. Of course with limited experience that is easier said than done but I digress. Visualize sitting around a bright cheery campfire and singing songs and roasting marshmallows (I usually accomplish 1 out of three and I aint tellin). Sounds great right? Now get the same picture with your rump on a hard damp log or better yet a nice cold rock. Gettin the picture?

There are many different choices out there for seating and making your own decisions and having your own "style" is part of the fun and satisfaction. I will, however, make a pitch for the simple tripod stool.

1. It is lightweight and compact. If you search you can find the "backpackers version" with aluminum legs as opposed to steel. It weighs exactly one pound and folds into a tidy little roll. It will run you about $20.

2.It's comfy enough and gets you off the ground. Unless your tall beware the stools that get you to high. The chair isn't only about comfort and it's nice to be able to reach down to the ground easily to accomplish various tasks ( such as stirring that oatmeal so the raisins don't burn).

3. This ones important to me. When I break camp I dislike having to constantly be bending over. When I stuff my bag and my tent I find it much easier (and less stressful on the back I might add) to do these tasks from a sitting position. The lightweight little tripod is easily and quickly moved about and has nothing in the way to impede your hands. You are unobstructed for 360 degrees.

4. I have heard unfavorable comments disparaging the tripod from very experienced people I have high regard for. The objection is thus, that the stool legs are liable to sink into soft soil and deposit you (and your plate of freeze dried spaghetti) on the duff. I suppose that can and has happened. I have hiked the high country out west often for 2 weeks at a time for well over a decade and have about 70 nights in canoe country and have not found this to be much of an issue. Others may disagree. Perhaps size and build may have something to do with it. Just keep that in mind and give the stool a test of sorts to determine its stability. Re-positioning is easy enough.

The other item you would be exceedingly wise to bring is a pair of "camp shoes". Again think DETAILS. Many bring sandals. If you go that route bear in mind they will likely get wet. You may, in fact, find yourself using them in the water when/if you go and take a dip. The mornings can be rather cool. Will your camp shoe/sandal accommodate a nice thick sock? If you choose to bring a sandal type shoe a smidge of care should be employed if they are open toed. Wouldn't want to get a toenail hung up on a rock now would we?

Good luck, drink lots of water and breathe deeply!!    

I'll put in a vote for a thermarest chair kit, if that is the type of pad that you go with.  You get some comfy double-duty from the sleeping pad for very little weight added.
Mike B.

Aluminum webbed lawn chair!  Does not pack real well, but not bad at between 3 and 4 pounds.

Too bad they do not make them anymore.

Sit in the canoe......stand on land......sit in the canoe.........stand on land. Now all I need  is a swinging medallion. ;D

Old Salt wrote on Mar 6^th, 2010 at 12:59pm:

One of the better books on the subject is 'Canoe Country Camping' by Micheal Furtman. I loan my copy to any newbie that I am taking on a first trip.  ;)

Just finished reading this book.  Thanks Old_Salt for the recommendation.  A good reference book that I will refer to from time to time as I prepare for my first trip. [smiley=dankk2.gif]

We go on October Canoe trips, so our gear and clothing might be different from db's May list and ours could be much different from others on this site.  I think the main thing is bringing warm practical clothes and boots, and not bringing everything under the sun. It's good to be prepared, but in hindsight I always wonder why I brought a particular item. Also, don't double up and bring group gear that the leader is bringing.  You'll realize what I mean when you have to lug any extra, unneeded stuff over and back a dozen portages.  Here's our gear and clothing list recommendations for others.

One other item I bring that is a subsitute for the aluminum chair and may be the same as the thermarest chair kit Mike B mentioned above.  I always bring a lightweight folding seat cushion that provides a warm, comfy seat with back support in the canoe and doubles for a chair in camp.

starwatcher

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