The Global Paddling Community

I decided to video myself unpacking my boat with the stuff I'd typically take for an overnight trip. Obviously there is no right way of doing things, and this is just to give you an idea of how I do things, and if you’ve never had the privilege of spending a night next to the river with your kayak then this video will certainly help. Note: I didn't mention toilet paper, my trusty folding knife and sunscreen. I did remember to pack these in before I left for this trip though, but they didn’t show in the video.

Packing gear is all about making sure it’s lightweight, and small, as space is a premium. It’s also important to pack the heavier gear closer to your body, and the lighter stuff nearer the stern of the boat. When packing my large Solo I like to use 4 smaller dry bags. I find that big dry bags that occupy half the stern are a real pain to get in and smaller dry bags (around 20 to 25 litres) work better than big 40 to 50 litre bags.

I hope this is of some benefit to you. Go out there, and have fun!

The tent packed inside the boat:
https://www.mountainmailorder.co.za/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=1779

Otherwise if I am not sharing then I sleep in this:
https://www.mountainmailorder.co.za/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=968

You just need a small tarp to rig up above the bag because climbing in and out of the bivi you can get wet.. Although once inside you are warm and dry no matter how much it rains. Excellent gear.