This article was written by Dan Wong, an experienced canoe guide in the Northwest Territories (and owner of Jackpine Paddle). This is not a comprehensive list of gear for a canoe trip. It’s simply 7 useful items that Dan brings with him on every trip. Some of them are obvious, others you have have not considered.
The “best” gear is of course, subjective, and tailored to each individual, their preferences and interests. Or as they say, different strokes for different folks.
Fun items are often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of bringing together all of the basic needs of canoe tripping: food, boats, communications, maps, etc.
A frisbee enables play. Between 2 people or 12. It can help paddlers relax and connect off the water. As you may know, group dynamics are an essential part of a good trip. Carefree moments are important, especially if the trip is stressful or challenging.
Frisbee’s also make great cutting boards. Or can double as a plate/bowl.
If you don’t like to play frisbee, consider bringing another fun game that you enjoy.
This is should be obvious but you need to have bear spray if you are on a canoe trip in Canada’s North.
It needs to be accessible to you, not in the bottom of a drybag. When paddling, use a carabiner to keep it clipped nearby on the outside of a barrel or dry bag, or on top of a spray deck. That way you can easily grab it when going to shore for lunch, hiking, or a pee-break. It’s totally okay for the bear spray to get wet or even submerged in water.
Bear spray can also be a liability if the cannister is punctured accidentally. We recommend using a nylon-woven sheath to help protect it from inadvertent punctures (not pictured below).
Sunglasses are important to prevent your eyes from getting sunburned or windburned. If you spend a lot of time outside, or are on a long trip, it’s even more important to be diligent about protecting your eyes.
As experienced wilderness guides will know – it’s not about comfort or even the advantages polarized lenses offer for reading the water. It’s about protecting your eyes from potentially permanent damage over years of canoe tripping.
Unfortunately, one pair of sunglasses is often not enough. Over a 12 day trip – with 12 people – almost guaranteed at least 1 person will break, loose, or forget to bring their sunglasses in the first place. If this happens, you want to be able to bail them out.
Even if you are solo-tripping, it’s worthwhile to have an extra pair of sunnies stashed away.
There is a strong tradition across many Northern Dene cultures of feeding the water or fire in ceremony. To ask for safe passage on your canoe trip, and as a way to connect spiritually with the land.
Obviously, we are not the experts on this at Jackpine Paddle and we don’t offer this as part of our guided services. However, we’ve had the opportunity to participate in several canoe trips led by indigenous organizations on their traditional lands across the Northwest Territories. Many of these trips have involved elders and other knowledge holders who have shared with us local or regional water/fire feeding ceremonies.
When the boats are loaded, I like to go down to the water’s edge a little bit away from the group. I take a pinch of tobacco and squat down at the water’s edge. When I am ready, I release the tobacco into the water. These are a few moments of personal reflection that mean a lot to me during a busy trip. It’s a way to clear my mind before stepping into the canoe for the first time each day.
Canoe trips can be intense experiences. It’s important to take time or yourself when you need to, and pay attention to your own spiritual and emotional needs.
You are likely cooking over a campfire or firebox on your canoe trip in Canada’s North. That means you are often cooking on or near the ground. Knee pads make kneeling on the ground much more comfortable, especially if on wet or hard rock. If you have FjallRaven pants, they may have built in knee pad holders.
Knee pads can also be handy to get into a kneeling position in canoe to lower your centre of gravity for greater stability on a windy lake or in rapids. You can also install knee pads into your canoe which are recommended for any canoe trip.
Busted your dry suit gasket? Use Aqua Seal.
Tent leaking? Use Aqua Seal.
Dry bag has a hole? Use Aqua Seal.
As a versatile adhesive, it creates a waterproof seal that is durable and flexible. Simple & strong, it’s amazing what this little tube can do.
You need to be able to tell the time on trip. It’s useful to know when to stop for lunch, or how long you have been paddling. If you are the leader on a trip, others will often ask you what time it is.
If you need to get up in the morning at a certain time – it’s handy to have a built in alarm clock and not have to rely on others to wake you up.
Casio offers timeless timepieces with a battery life that seems to extend to eternity. They are the perfect choice for a paddler looking for a light-weight option that has a low-profile for wrist gaskets on drysuits or paddling tops.
Also – these retro Casio watches have somehow become super trendy amongst guides in the outdoor adventure industry. Especially for millennials who remember using Casio in high-school.
If you are interested in learning more about canoe tripping on a hands-on, certified course – check out our Canoe Tripping Course!
