Suggested clothing and personal items for your BWCA canoe trip
Some items may be available for purchase in our small but well-appointed outfitting shop.
ClothingNote: Cotton fabric does not insulate when wet and can be very difficult to dry on trail. |
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| Reliably waterproof rain jacket and rain pants. Ponchos are discouraged. | |
| 1 or 2 light weight long-sleeved shirts (at least one made of nylon or poly) | |
| 1 warm non-cotton long-sleeved top (fleece, poly, or wool). | |
| 1 or 2 t-shirts (at least one non cotton) | |
| 2 pairs of non-cotton (nylon or quick dry) pants. Jeans are discouraged. | |
| 1 pair of shorts | |
| Swimsuit | |
| 2 pairs of quality wool socks for traveling. Wool keeps your feet warmer and more comfortable than cotton. For trips longer than three days, add extra pairs of wool socks. | |
| 1 pair of cotton or wool socks for camp | |
| 1 pair of non-cotton long underwear tops and bottoms | |
| Extra underwear | |
Footwear |
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| Wet shoes. These will be wet while canoeing and portaging. Old sneakers generally work well. Hiking boots with good ankle support for portaging work well, but keep in mind that they will get totally submerged. Flip flops, crocs, or open-toed sandals are discouraged. During cool conditions, some people prefer to wear knee-high rubber boots with an aggressive tread to keep their feet dry. | |
| Dry shoes. These are your lightweight camp shoes. Tennis shoes, heavy duty closed-toe sandals, boat shoes, or moccasins work well. | |
Headwear |
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| Hat with wide brim for sun protection | |
| Bandanna | |
| Non-cotton knit or fleece warm hat | |
Accessories |
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| Sunscreen and lip balm, both with SPF protection | |
| Sunglasses and lanyard | |
| Lanyard for your prescription eyeglasses | |
| Insect repellent. DEET is an effective insect repellent for use on skin and clothing. 25% to 35% DEET is the recommended concentration. Higher concentrations damage equipment and are not significantly more effective. Treating clothing (not skin) with permethrin is also an effective insect repellent. |
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| Toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, and dental floss | |
| Personal hygiene products | |
| Prescription medication | |
| Small hand towel or washcloth | |
| Waterproof camera and memory/film, or a non-waterproof camera with water protection | |
| Lightweight reading material, paper, and pencil | |
Equipment |
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| Small flashlight or headlamp with good batteries | |
| Pocketknife or multitool | |
| Fishing rods, tackle, fillet knife, and license. Click here for our suggested fishing tackle list. | |
| First-aid kit | |
Canoe Trip Gear List
Our Complete Outfitting Package includes all of this.
| Ultralight canoes (with portage pads) | |
| Paddles | |
| Life vests | |
| Detailed waterproof navigation maps | |
| Navigation compass | |
| Lightweight backcountry tent | |
| Waterproof rain tarp (ie, dining canopy), with attached rope | |
| BWCA-approved food (no cans or glass bottles) | |
| Food pack | |
| Specialized portage packs for gear, clothing, and personal items | |
| Sleeping bags | |
| Self-inflating sleeping pads | |
| Therm-A-Rest trail pillow | |
| Cook kit with pots, fry pan, plates, bowls, cups | |
| Coffee press, or coffee pot | |
| Utensils, including forks, spoons, knives, serving spoon, spatula and ladle | |
| Cook grate and trowel (Quetico only; BWCA campsites have fire grates and latrines) |
| Water filter | |
| At least one water bottle per person | |
| Camp stove and fuel | |
| Crazy Creek camp chairs | |
| Toilet paper | |
| Hand sanitizer | |
| Folding bucket (for doing dishes and dousing the campfire) | |
| Dishcleaning kit including biodegradable soap, sponge, abrasive cleaning pad (SOS pad), and non-scratch pot scraper | |
| 50′ of utility cord (handy for a clothes line, extra guyline, securing a canoe, etc.) | |
| Matches and lighter | |
| Bear rope system for hanging food out of reach of bears | |
| Trail saw | |
| Compact trail hammock | |
| Slap straps for safe, simple, and tree-friendly hanging of hammocks | |
| Small roll of duct tape |