Credit: Kevin Callan
It seems every first trip of the year I forget something at home. In the past I’ve forgotten matches, rain gear, my camp mug, sunscreen, bug repellent, extra flashlight battery, paddles and even toilet paper.
This year, I only left behind hot chocolate and an extra wool sweater. Problem was, the average daytime temperature hovered around 4 degrees Celsius, night time temps dropped to minus five, and the rain turned to snow two days into the trip. I wish I would have brought that extra sweater. The only way to deal with this dilemma is to prepare an equipment list and then check and re-check it at least a-thousand times before heading out. Here’s a packing list for a five-day trip during moderate weather conditions
Clothes:
- Two shirts
- One wool sweater or fleece top
- Three extra pairs of socks
- One extra pair of underwear
- Two pairs of pants (no blue jeans)
- One pair of shorts (doubles as swim suit if you’re not into skinny dipping)
- Hiking boots
- Sneakers, moccasins or sport sandals for around camp
- Bug hat (finer mesh for black-fly season)
- Bandanna (useful for spraying bug dope on rather than directly on to your skin)
- Wide rimmed hat
- Rain gear (make sure to keep handy on the top of your pack)
- Quality sunglasses
Toiletries:
- Beach towel (those light weight ones from Therm-a-rest are great)
- Portable toothbrush and toothpaste (small travel sizes can usually be purchased at drug store)
- Toilet paper (store in a zip-lock bag)
- Hair brush
- Biodegradable soap
- Hair band
- Razor
- Contact lens solution
- Glasses case and extra pair of glasses
- Birth control
Kitchen Set:
- One medium and one small cooking pot with lids and non-stick frying pan (to avoid expensive cooking sets purchase all three separately at a department store and simply remove handles)
- Outback Oven
- Travel mug
- Metal plate (plastic Frisbee can also be used as a plate, bowl and toy for the beach)
- Hard plastic spoon and metal fork
- Metal spatula
- Aluminum foil
- Camp stove with extra fuel container and funnel
- Waterproof matches in waterproof container plus a butane lighter
- Scouring pad and sponge mixture
- Tea-towel
- Pair of garden gloves for grabbing cooking pot off the fire
- Lightweight saw
- Water bottle
- Water purification gadget
- Spices, jam, peanut butter, coffee, sugar, maple syrup, honey, margarine, etc...various size, shape and style of plastic containers
- Meals packed in separate containers and in one large food bag
Sleeping Gear:
- Tent
- Ground sheet that fits inside tent
- Large rain tarp
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad
Packs:
- External or internal frame pack
- Various stuff sacks for cloths and other items
- Separate pack/barrel for food
- Day-pack
- Camera bag
Individual Items:
- Maps with waterproof map case
- Compass
- Bug dope
- Hand lotion
- Sun screen
- Camera, film and extra batteries
- Playing cards, cribbage board, etc.
- Fishing licence
- Camping permit
- First-aid kit
- Repair kit
- Roll of Duct tape
- Extra zip-lock bags
- Couple of strong garbage bags
- Journal and pencil
- Paperback novel
- Hammock
- Bird, tree, animal track identification guide
- Binoculars
- Star chart
- Fishing rod and small compact tackle box
- Pocket knife
Items (required by law) for Canoe or Kayak:
- Two 30-metre lengths of nylon rope stuffed in a throw bag
- Flashlight
- Sounding device (whistle)
- Approved PFD (personal flotation device)
- Bailer
- Extra paddle
Luxury Items
- Collapsible camp chair
- Camp pillow
- Extra-long sleeping pad
- Solar powered radio
- Propane-fired hot-shower gadget
- Two-burner camp stove
- Miniature espresso maker
- Java Press/Coffee Bowden
- Thermos
- Cast-iron frying pan
- Reflector Oven
- Bug Screen
- Lantern
- Hammock
- Cooler packed with ice and an endless assortment of fresh food, spirits of choice, and ice cream
- Oversized tent
- Fold-out picnic table
- Top Secret Outdoor Adventure Locations
- How-to Videos & Articles
- Interviews with Known Explorers