If you’re a nature enthusiast who loves to camp around in secluded destinations, you should give canoe and kayak camping a go at least once in your lifetime. Plus, who knows, you might even get addicted to the feeling once you give it a try!
Depending on the type of adventure you’re planning, you can either opt for a canoe or a kayak camping trip accordingly. Furthermore, if it’s your first time around, you can refer to the following guidelines to ensure the best time during your camping excursion:
1- Take a Paddling Lesson to Fight the Currents (and Practice!)
Paddling in calm waters is not much of a hassle. Plus, you can always turn around whenever you want if you feel like things are not working out as planned. However, canoeing or kayaking under strong currents is an entirely different scenario. Once you’re there experiencing it, there’s no other way around. Therefore, you should know how to steer your vessel in that situation, in addition to learning about ferry angles and capsizing.
For this, you can take paddling lessons beforehand to learn all the necessary basics. Moreover, it’s essential to spend a significant time practicing your skills on flatwater after your lessons to ensure you have all your bases covered.
2- Think Beyond Digital
Extreme temperatures, either warm or cold, can drain out your gadgets’ batteries fairly quickly. That’s why it’s best to bring a map’s hardcopy and a compass along with you, in addition to power banks, so you don’t get lost in case you lose your GPS.
3- Consider the Time of the Year
Planning your trip around the natural factors that you’ll be up against during canoe camping or kayak camping is also crucial. That’s because even a steady breeze or drizzle can exhaust you more quickly than you’d initially imagine. Sun exposure is also another concern for which you’ll need to prepare with shades and covers. Finally, you have to take other associated factors into account as well, including bugs.
Note: On your first canoe and kayak camping adventure, it’s best not to stretch your trip for more than a day or two. Plus, you should always stick to your devised plan of action since straying away from your route can lead to unnecessary and unexpected hassles.
4- Keep It Light
Not to mention, you should always keep your gear light to prevent your vessel from weighing out and unbalancing you on the water. Remember that a boat heavily submerged into the water is much easier to swamp.
5- Create Your Go-To Camping Gear List
Lastly, packing crucial gear is always key in executing a successful kayak or canoe camping trip. For example, here’s a list of things you must have on-board when leaving for your camping destination:
- Waterproof, airtight container to store all your gear
- Life-jackets
- Extra paddle
- Map
- Boat shoes
- Sunscreen
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- First aid kit
- Matches
- Knife
- Headlamp and batteries
- Cookware and utensils
- Water and food
- Raincoat and rain pants
- Beanie and gloves
- Dry camp shoes
We hope these canoe and kayak camping tips help you plan the best trip where you can create tons of unforgettable memories! Questions about EZ Dock? Surf through our website check out our options, or contact us at (800) 654-8168 for more information!
