A List of Gear for Your Canoe Camping Trip

So you love the back woods and you've decided to take a camping trip, traveling by canoe! Good for you!. Canoing can be a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors like nothing else. Be sure you take appropriate things with you on your canoe trip – a camping gear list is below, with explanations. Note: There are other items you will want to take; this is a basic list.

Life Jackets ON!

Everyone on the boating trip must have a life jacket. Even very strong swimmers can drown if they are not in a life jacket – if the canoe capsized and the swimmers are struck unconscious by the canoe or rocks, they won't be able to keep their head above water. If they are in a life jacket, their chances of survival go up tremendously. Your camping gear list for your canoe trip must include enough life jackets for everyone to have their own, and they must use them!

Where's The Bug Zapper When You Need It?

Once you are on the water and skimming over the nice clear water, you're gonna wish you had a bug zapper – because there will likely be mosquitoes. Since you can't take along a zapper, be sure you have bug repellent on your list of camping gear for your canoe trip. You'll be glad you do. Your family camping gear list should definitely have bug repellent on it – kids with bug bites can be miserable!

Where You Gonna Lay Your Head?

Even on a canoe trip, you gotta sleep at night. You'll want to have a sleeping bag and tent, so be sure they're on your list of canoe camping gear. If you can, get a lightweight sleeping bag so there will be less to heft if you have to portage between lakes or around rough spots in the river. (To portage is to carry the canoe around on the land.) Your tent should be one that is easily set up – you'll appreciate that when your rowing muscles are tired and all you want to do is lay in your tent and sleep. You will probably also want a tarp over the tent for in case of rain. The tarp often comes with the tent.

What's For Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?

There's a good chance that you will want to eat while you're on your canoe trip. Your camping gear list for your canoe trip should plan for all meals, as well as healthy snacks. There are meal replacement bars, trail mix, fruit...all sorts of healthy things you can easily take on your canoe trip. You also might be thinking of fishing along the way, and having fish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If so, be sure your list of camping gear for canoing includes a fishing pole. You'll also probably want a net to help you bring in your catch. And, don't forget the bait!