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KIT AND EQUIPMENT FOR TRUENORTH CANOE TRIPS
by Jed Yarnold
  
 
 
 
You probably have some pretty well formulated ideas as to what constitutes an ideal outfit for river running or living and paddling in the wilds of N W Scotland. So please bear with me as I expound my thoughts on the canoe borne aspect and how it impacts on what we carry. Here are some factors and principles to bear in mind:
 
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A wilderness canoe can easily carry an all up weight of 1000 lbs of personnel and
cargo.
•
If you need it or really want it, you can take it. Woo Hoo!
•
But remember everything you take has to be packed, stacked and portaged,
including the boat!
•
Each member really only needs to be self sufficient for clothing, sleeping kit,
bowl/mug/knife/spoon, personal medicaments and wash kit, that’s all.
•
Everything else can be shared. After all, we are an entity, a team
•
For those not acquainted with wilderness travel by open canoe, the sort of gear
that you would wear for mountain walking will do for this sort of adventure
•
River running from autumn through to spring you may, however, decide to wear a
dry suit over thermals. In almost all weathers I tend to wear pile and pertex
salopettes and wellies with some stout foulies over the top – no need for wet suits.
•
I strongly recommend that camping partners split into different partnerships for
paddling. Please let me know your plans re camping. Do you have tents?
•
Forgetting vital equipment is crazy.
•
Endless duplication is really crazy. So we will be group catering unless this is a real
problem, or we are a group exploring other aspects of field living and practising
cooking as part of the learning process.
•
A tidy boat with a minimum of well packed duffels is a joy.
•
A boat full of egregious bits and bats is a real pain in the neck!
•
Bitter experience has proved that radios, walkmans and newspapers take us
straight back to our normal existence and really detract from the experience.
•
If we all communicate with each other, discuss and agree kit to take it makes for
a first class trip, so please make suggestions. Mackerel lines, movie camera?
•
Have a think on what you would like to get out of the trip let me know then the
deputy leader and I can prepare.
•
Lastly there is no such thing as a stupid question, so please ask on any aspect of
kit, conditions, terrain or the itinerary.
 
I enclose a kit list which experience has helped me formulate. Less than this you may be uncomfortable, much more than this makes the portage a tad more challenging than it need be.
At the risk of telling you a lot of what you know already or things you may wildly disagree with, I also enclose some thoughts on the principles of clothing and equipment, according to Jed.
      
     
             
 

Personal canoeing Kit
Clothing Hints
Kit Ideas
Expedition Kit List
Personal Kit List

          
 
For book your Trip call us on 07904 144546 or e mail at jed@truenorthoutdoor.co.uk
          
             
 
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Personal Canoeing Kit (Wilderness Tripping)
Wilderness travel by canoe is remarkably hard on personal clothing and equipment. Mud, rain, tree branches, thorns, granite, fire and food all conspire to soak it stain it, rip it, melt it, singe it and generally wear it out as quickly as possible. Only the toughest and most versatile clothing will survive long enough to become “old favourites”. So here are some pointers to success:
•
Designer labels tell you more about the price than the function of the clothing. Farm shops, workwear shops and Countrywide, however, sell a whole range of tough clothing that is really inexpensive.
•
Some of the less “Gucci” labels stocked by Millets and Blacks are great value for money. Look out for Peter Storm, Regatta, Gellert and Eurohike.
•
Minimise, Minimise, then minimise again (Consider the wolf, ask Jed!)
•
Read the care label and make sure you read the textile bits. In brief:
THE BAD GUYS!
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Cotton, Cotton Rich, or worse 100% Cotton: “In the hills cotton kills” “On the river cotton makes you shiver”. It gets wet, stays wet, binds and abrades and when wet will cause you to lose body heat 9 times faster than bare skin. True!! However, in mix 65% polyester to 35% cotton it is comfortable and versatile as warm weather camp gear for shirt and trousers. For paddling, however, and from autumn to spring avoid cotton. For very good reason the Canadians who are known for their plain speaking refer to it as “death cloth”.
•
Linen, see all above for cotton and some. It also gets dirty and crumpled quickly and is ridiculously hard to wash and dry. It shrinks and loses shape. The pits!
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Wool, this is a tough one. Wool is warm-ish when wet and won’t melt but it is “hydrophilic”, never dries without a heat source and weighs a ton! It doesn’t get niffy as some of the man-made fabrics do and super thin long sleeved vest and long johns are great, but all in all it has been superseded by fleece. See below.
•
Leather, it is hopeless as an outer layer of clothing, hot in summer, cold in winter, never dries or if force dried becomes a suit of armour.
THE GOOD GUYS
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Polypropylene, this is great for next to the skin wear on wet trips, it wicks away moisture in seconds and dries fantastically fast. Most often seen as “Lifa”, the close fitting, blue, long sleeve T shirt and long johns with the white stripes on the sleeve by Helly Hanson. Look for cheaper versions they are available. You can rinse it in the river or loch and put it straight back on after wringing it quickly and you’re good to go. Also makes excellent liner socks for first rate moisture management. It does get niffy, however, this is a small price to pay for first rate performance when paddling in chilly weather. Some versions now are antimicrobial which makes them perfect.
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Polyester, this is the best all-rounder. As fleece, Polartech, or other micro fibres it is hard to beat for thermal properties. It’s tough, light, cheap, warm when wet and is “hydrophobic” which means it hates water and dries really quickly. As “Coolmax” it is more pricey but will keep you warm and dry.
•
Pertex, a finely woven, windproof, shower-proof material that makes a fantastic garment when combined with a plain fleece inner layer. Buffalo brand is brilliant but again look out for cheaper versions on the market e.g. Mardale or Trax. This is the mainstay of wilderness canoeing gear in changeable weather.
•
Acrylic, poor man’s wool. Brilliant! Cheap as chips, warm, tough, dries quickly. Great as a spare jumper. Brilliant as fast drying sox.
   
  CLOTHING HINTS
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Hats – You need 2, a broad brimmed one to keep the sun off your nose and ears and to stop the rain running down your face and back, it will also hold your bug net away from your face; a woolly one (Acrylic / fleece) for warmth in the evening.
 
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Wet Weather jacket and trousers – You do not need to spend a fortune on “membrane” technology. Vinyl, P U coated nylon will not, like some brand names, stop working after a few days and a quick shake gets the wet off. Go for cheap and cheerful but with taped seams. Also go for a baggy fit so you can sling it on over your BA (NOT in white water!) and it allows the air to circulate and thereby reduce condensation.
 
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Socks – Merino wool / Coolmax mix are fantastic but can be pricey. Acryllic and nylon work a treat, are tough and dry really quickly. Wool, comfy but oh so slow drying. Cotton, useless!
 
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Footwear – Everyone has an opinion on this subject, but a good combination is: either wellies, combat boots or even “muckers” from a riding or farm shop they’re cheap, flexible but waterproof, tough enough for the woods and have a proper heel block to save sliding on the portage. River sandals for when its hot (beware sunburn!) and or trainers in the evenings to let your feet breathe. If it’s buggy wear sandals with socks (you might be mistaken for a vicar and be asked to say grace at supper – but a small price to pay for itch-free feet!)
 
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Gloves – Gardening gloves are great around camp when sorting the fire collecting wood and avoiding bugs. Sore hands are a pain to paddle with.
 
   
 
KIT IDEAS
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Plate – Hard plastic or wood could well be in little bits after the first portage or someone drops a boat on your pack so go for a bowl, stainless steel dog bowl or 20cm balti dish, either is ideal.
 
•
Mug – Again, simple steel mug perfect. Thermal mugs are OK but can be a tad fragile and hard to keep hygienic you also have to wait for your tea to cool, how crazy is that?! Avoid aluminium it will burn your lip! Wooden kuksa, lovely, step on it once – finito!
 
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Spoon – Stainless steel is ideal, it will cut food in your bowl and is hygienic; I never bother with a fork and eating knife and have never missed them. Your choice!
 
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Torch – LED head torches are compact, lightweight, ridiculously long battery life and brilliant for finding your way to the loo at night or reading in bed. They needn’t be expensive look for a “Carp-lighter” in your local fishing shop.
 
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Candles – low tech, effective, stick a stumpy fat one in your gear.
•
Loo paper – Individual packs of tissues great, one pack per day for all needs. Bog roll; drop it once in wet heather and its sphagnum time!
 
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Books, - Do take your journal and a book
•
Fishing gear – Hand lines or a compact telescopic rod and spinners.
•
Now the bit you really need:
 
Remember if in doubt, leave it out!
Jed
   
EXPEDITION KIT LIST
These items will be provided by Truenorth Boat Gear 
Trailer / spare wheel / toolkit
Open boats/ ratchet straps
Paddles min: 1 per person 1 spare per boat
Bailers
Poles
Sailing rigs
Throwbag / rescue line / painters
Buoyancy Aids (unless you prefer to bring your own – let me know) / whistles / 10 foot slings
First Aid kit
Repair Kit
Group Kit
Expedition size Lavvu /Tarp / lines / pegs
Cooker / fuel / Pans/ kettle / ancillaries / tools /water filter system
Sail
Axe / saw / wedge
Food packs / barrels
Expendables: Polybags / cloths / washing liquid / Scotchbright
The Provisions
 Mapping
   
  PERSONAL KIT LIST- SCOTTISH SPRING / SUMMER
  Paddling Kit (anything not worn must be easily accessible)
Shell
Broad brimmed hat preferably or baseball cap
Foulies (I have WP Cags and Salopettes, if you need to borrow some let me know)
Wellies and sandals (my preferred option) or mountain shoes / combat boots and old trainers
Thermal Gloves
Mid Layers
Windproof + fleece (Buffalo, Mardale or Trax are ideal)
Bush shirt in 100% manmade or polycotton 65%/ 35%
Tough bush pants – zip-offs are a good option
Buff, scarf or bandanna
Thermal socks
Base Layers
Quick drying grundies / swimming shorts
Thermal vest / T shirt
Liner sox
Polyester or polypropylene long johns
Additional easily accessed gear.
Bush Knife or penknife / Headtorch  
Mug /Spoon  
Water bag or Bottles (1 Litre minimum)  
Personal First Aid kit/ bug dope (deet) / sunscreen/ lip balm/ head net  
Main Pack - Camping Kit (Camping partners can share an enormous 100 litre bag between them or opt for a smaller individual pack each)
Tent / poles / pegs (Ideally shared 2 man tent – bug screen is essential! Let me know your plans or problems). Some folks may opt to stay in the Lavvu
 
Therm-a-rest / roll mat
Sleeping bag
Prog bag: Wash kit / shamagh or thin towel / housewife / book / batteries / candle / spares / hooch / journal & pen
 
Eating Bowl – 20 cm Balti dish or dog bowl ideal
Mobile phone
Spare kit
Touke/ woolly hat
Softee Jkt or fleece top
Spare tough slacks / zip offs
Spare tough shirt
Spare: long johns / grundies / sox / T shirt
   
 

Any Questions? Please email on jed@truenorthoutdoor.co.uk. Remember, if it takes 1 hour to pack heavy, it takes 3 hours to pack light! Happy packing
  Jed