So You Want To Do A Overnighter
If you ever get out on a kayak and do an overnight trip you will be hooked!
There is a lot to consider when going overnight on a kayak. You are limited on space so before you pack everything but the kitchen sink Let’s do some planning. I’m going to approach this as if you are just packing for yourself.
Food:
Lets face it food is the first thing I think of lol. This can vary a lot for each person for sure, but you can make it more of your own as we go.
The first day I try to keep it simple with just a small lunch or snack, maybe a sandwich, some nuts and some peanut butter crackers with water. I try to keep things plan and simple during the day.
For supper you can go as far as you want and make something over the fire, maybe bring a good steak or even have some grilled chicken. I have a small grill grate that will fit in the back tank well of my kayak that works great for grilling. It’s just a flat grate so I have to cut something to make legs for it or find some rocks for legs, but that’s just part of the fun of it! Breakfast is my favorite meal and I love to make time in the morning for breakfast. Bacon and eggs are my go to meal, oh and don’t forget the coffee. A little trick for the eggs is to mix them up before hand and put them in a ziplock bag just be sure to double bag them and everything else you plan to put in the cooler. I’ve recently started using a French Press and the coffee you get out of it is delicious. I will link the one I’ve been using below and some of the things I recommend for cooking over the campfire.
Affiliate Links:
French Press: https://amzn.to/3fVpTio
This is a good all around cook set for one are two people: https://amzn.to/3iFkQo7
This long spoon is good for cooking over an open fire: https://amzn.to/2VPTT8j
My chose for a camp stove if you don’t have a fire to cook with: https://amzn.to/3yKNdXp
Sleeping:
This Hyke & Byke tent is one of the simplest setups I’ve ever used. It says one to two people but I would say It would be a little cramped with two: https://amzn.to/3g2OZfg
As a kid we always had a tent to sleep in, but over the past few years I’ve started using a hammock with a tarp. It has it’s pros and cons and so does the tent, but we won’t get in to that right now. For now I would say just take what you have as long as it’s not too big to fit in the kayak. Sleep systems as it’s called can get quite expensive so after you get your first trip under your belt, then you may want to start investing in some better and lighter equipment. If you do decide to go with a hammock an under quilt or a sleep pad will be a must if the temp gets down anywhere around 70, at least for me that is lol. The weather will play a big factor in what type of sleeping bag or sleeping pad you will need. Always check the weather before each trip and just keep in mind you can’t bring the whole house.
Bear Butt makes great camping gear for the price: https://amzn.to/3iH7bgf
Packing:
This is where a bigger kayak can be nice to have. I’m like everyone else out there and have a cooler for just about every occasion lol. I tend to grab a soft cooler when I go kayaking just because of the weight, but I have seen some folks take some good size hard coolers too. I don’t know if you like cold water or not, but I tend to not keep my water in the cooler. As far as ice I will freeze a half gallon jug and a few bottles of water and as it melts you can have some cold drinking water too.
Dry Bags:
Dry bags are essential gear for kayaking along with carabiners. I had a friend turn his kayak over on the river and not only did everything he had got wet but, he lost a lot of stuff in the river.
I like to pack my stuff in smaller dry bags just because my kayak has a hatch in the front and you can stuff a lot more in it with smaller bags, even though it has a hatch I still like to use dry bags with most of my stuff. I also have some larger dry bags I will use for bigger items and will strap them dawn in the back of the kayak with the carabiners.
Conclusion:
There Is a lot more to talk about, but I believe this will get you started. Food and water is something I’m always thinking about. A soft cooler is good to cut down on weight, freezing water bottles will help with ice and you can drink it after it melts.
Dry bags are something I will not go without. You will be glad you had them if you happen to flip your kayak over, just remember to tie them down.
Don’t forget to bring something like a good steak or some chicken to cook over the open fire, Also a grill grate for cooking.
Whether you plan to bring a tent or a hammock try to look at the weather to prepare for what you will need to stay warm so you want get stuck out in the cold.
For more information consider subscribing to the blog. Also, go over to my YouTube channel, you can find lots of info over there as well and some cool places to explore!
If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me!
Bama Outdoors 