HIKING                                         HOME                                     PADDLING

HOW I GEAR UP AND PREPARE

You'll find many different ideas on what gear to buy and what to bring with you, and I am not trying to pass myself off as some kind of expert, but what I bring with me is below for what it's worth (specifics in parenthesis if I can recommend the product, the company behind it and the customer service of that company). 

As for purchasing things from your list, I'd go to Dollar Tree first, then get everything you can from the remaining list at Wal-Mart or a place like Dollar General or Family Dollar.  After that go to a sporting goods store and, for anything that's left, go to a specialty store.  This will make buying gear the most cost effective.  I'd try online too, obviously, because there are some really good deals out there.

To go paddling I bring (in no particular order):

• A BOAT!  (I planned a group outing once and with too much on my mind I forgot mine and had to turn back en-route!)

• Long sleeve moisture wicking shirt.

• Bike shorts or bathing suit

• Water shoes

• Paddle (I use a Bending Branches Infusion) with glow-in-the-dark stickers on it for added night visibility just in case.)

• Baseball cap

• Hand towel to put over my head to block sun and to get wet in the water when I want to cool off

• Sunscreen

• Digital camera

• Cell phone with number for the nearest outdoor recreation area or forest service

• Head lamp just in case I'm gone until after dark

• Extra batteries for camera and head lamp

• Dry box in which to put some of the above things

• Dog leash which I loop around the paddle, through the dry box, and latch onto the webbing of my kayak.  [Side note:  Don't spend $30 on a paddle leash when a $1 dog leash will work just as well!]

• Map in dry bag

• Personal floatation device (PFD) (I use an Astral Norge) 

• Large sponge for sopping up the water that gets into the boat

• First aid kit with some outdoor survival items (I use one from Adventure Medical Kits)   

• Can of some kind of pepper spray which I keep within easy reach.

• 2 Seat cushions:  one to sit on and one for my lower back.

• Pocket knife

• Whistle (I have mine on my life jacket and easily accessible).

• I also sometimes bring something called a Dog Repeller for any trouble with dogs at the put-ins.  It will supposedly repel them harmlessly with ultrasonics.  I tried it out on the neighborhood nuisance dog and it seemed to work.

• Enough trail mix for 2 days just in case.

• Enough water for 2 days just in case.  [Side note:  I don't use sports drinks anymore.  I've found that trail mix has enough electrolytes in it.  Sodium and potassium are almost always found in trail mix and are probably listed on the label.  I can't imagine a trail mix that doesn't have these minerals in it.]

To go hiking I bring (in no particular order):

• Long sleeve t-shirt even in summer (barbs, poison ivy, ticks and sun protection are all in mind here)

• Jeans even in the summer (for the same reasons)

• Hiking boots

• Map or guide book 

• Carpenter belt with plenty of compartments to put all my stuff in.  [Side note:  I use this instead of a backpack because I find that it keeps the core of body grounded when I wear it low around my waist.  Do this, and you may feel a positive energy flow as I do.  I feel as if my spine is lengthening up from my core and releasing energy.  It's a surprisingly powerful feeling.]

• Some kind of mesh that comes down over my face to keep out gnats and other insects.

• Hand towel

• Sunscreen

• Enough trail mix for 2 days just in case

• Enough water for 2 days just in case

• Cell phone with number for the nearest outdoor recreation area or forest service.

• Digital camera

• Head lamp just in case I'm gone until after dark.

• Extra batteries for camera and head lamp

• First aid kit with some outdoor survival items (same paddler medical kit as above) 

• Can of some kind of pepper spray which I keep within easy reach

• Pocket knife

• Dog Repeller (see above)