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.

Clothing Note: Cotton fabric does not insulate when wet and can be very difficult to dry on trail.
	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
	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
	Hat with wide brim for sun protection
	Bandanna
	Non-cotton knit or fleece warm hat
Accessories
	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.
	Toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, and dental floss
	Small bottle of hand sanitizer
	Personal hygiene products
	Prescription medication
	Small hand towel or washcloth
	Waterproof camera, or a non-waterproof camera with water protection
	Lightweight reading material, paper, and pencil
Equipment
	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 treatment or 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)
	Dish cleaning 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