Packing your Kayak with Gear for a Trip

It is important to be reasonable about what you take on a kayak trip. Kayaks are small boats, after all, and their carrying capacity is limited, so you need to be realistic. A good rule of thumb is: If you’re wondering if you need it, you probably don’t, so leave it behind! 

However, even if you are paddling as lightly as you can, there’s enough capacity in a kayak to make your trip comfortable. For example, unlike backpackers, kayakers don’t need to carry only lightweight, freeze-dried foods — we can take fresh vegetables and fruit. We can carry many items simply because we can. Enjoy yourself but be realistic in what you take along. See our Trip Lists for information on what to take along on trips of different lengths.

When loading, it is important to make sure you trim your kayak properly. A kayak that is loaded too heavily either the bow or the stern will not paddle properly and can be difficult to control even with a rudder or skeg. A good guideline is to try to keep the deck seam of you kayak fairly parallel with the water surface. The more you go kayak camping, the more you will know how your boat feels and handles with different loads.

Place your heaviest gear near the centre of the kayak and lighter equipment and supplies in the ends of the boat. This will make the kayak more nimble and responsive. 

WARNING: Carrying a lot of gear on your deck can reduce stability and increase windage. You could also loose gear in rough water conditions.

Some Loading Tips:

• Use dry bags that have a relief valve which will allow you to compress them.
• Use compression sacks to reduce the space needed by compactable items such as sleeping bags.
• Flexible water bags carried on the on the hull of your kayak help to keep the center of gravity low and your boat more stable.
• Use the new flexible plates and bowls that can be fit into small places.
• Use nesting camp pots and cooking systems and small, light-weight stoves to save even more space.
• Small light weight stoves are now smaller than ever.