How to Pack a Sea Kayak for an Expedition

How to Pack a Sea Kayak Expedition Video
Featuring tips and advice on how to pack a sea kayak for a multi-day expedition.
Helpful links:
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Sea Kayaking Expedition Packing Kit List
What to bring on a multi-night sea kayak expedition can be divided up into 4 different lists, ‘Non-Negotiable Activity Kit’, ‘The Actual Expedition Essentials’, ‘Creature Comforts’ and ‘Extras’.
If you’re travelling with Wilderness Scotland on a sea kayaking expedition, we take care of the ‘Non-negotiable’ list in its entirety, and for ‘Actual Expedition Essentials’ we arrange for the camping, cooking and toilet equipment. We expect clients to plan for their own clothing and outdoor accessories.
If travelling with us, ‘Creature Comforts’ will be provided by Wilderness Scotland. If expeditioning independently, these items are optional.
'Extras' are just that, not essential to your safety and you can do your trip without these items but they can make your trip just that bit better! We’ve listed a mobile phone as an extra, however, any expedition benefits from a GPS location device in case something goes wrong and your need assistance. Mobile phones do not always have the capacity to serve in this manner so we recommend you bring a dedicated device.
These lists are optimised for our trips, but we hope that even if you’re embarking on your own adventure, this outline will help you with your independent efforts. Going on a multi-day extensive expedition is a serious undertaking that requires a lot of equipment and preparation to be safe, this is just an outline of the kit, it’s all ultimately dependent on where you go, who you’re with and what you’re doing.
Non-negotiable Sea Kayaking Kit for an Expedition:
- Sea Kayak
- Paddles
- Split Paddles
- Kayak Repair Kit inc Hatch Covers
- Hand Bilge Pump
- Float Bags
- Dry Bags
- Buoyancy Aid
- Spraydeck
- Cag
- Flares
- First-aid Kit
- Tow Lines
- Sponge
- Throwlines
- GPS location device
- Maps of area visiting
(The quantity of items depends on group size.)
The Actual Expedition Essentials:
/ / Clothing / /
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof over trousers and quick-drying walking trousers
- Weather permitting shorts/swimwear
- Moisture-wicking base-layer (Merino wool or synthetic) for upper & lower body
- Fleece mid-layer for upper body
- Warm socks, could opt for wetsuit and/or waterproof socks
- Neoprene shoes, trainers or wellies
- Warm hat & sunhat
- Waterproof gloves
- Change of shoes for on-land activities
- Change of clothes for on land/spare clothing
/ / Camping Equipment / /
- Lightweight tent
- (Lightweight) Sleeping mat
- (Lightweight) Sleeping bag
- Chargers & Rechargeable Battery Packs (if bringing items that need to be charged)
/ / Cooking Equipment / /
- Camping cooking equipment (gas canisters & stoves)
- Round cooking pots with lids and handles
- Cooking utensils (spoons, knives, chopping board, tin opener)
- Plastic bowls & cutlery for eating
- Washing up equipment (bowl, sponge & biodegradable washing up liquid)
- Travel tea towel
- Light & matches
- Cooking essentials (oil, salt, pepper)
- Ingredients to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Recyclable bin bags (separates for food, general, glass, cardboard/cans)
/ / Toilet Equipment / /
- Trowel
- Biodegradable toilet paper
- Durable waste bag (if packing out feminine hygiene products)
- Antibacterial hand gel
/ / Outdoor Accessories / /
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Midget net
- Midge spray
- Anti Bacterial Hand Gel
- Travel towel (microfibre is the best option as it’s lightweight and fast drying)
- 1 to 2 litre water bottle (Nalgene bottles can also double up as a hot water bottle!)
- Personal thermos
- Headtorch
(Again, the quantity of items depends on the group size and the duration of the expedition.)
Creature Comforts
/ / Food & Cooking / /
- Travel coffee press & ground coffee
- Folding seats
- Folding tables
- Thermos flask
/ / Camping / /
- Portable off-ground fire pit
Extras
/ / Camping / /
- Travel pillow
- Reading/cards/frisbee (evening entertainment)
/ / Tools & Technology / /
- Mobile phone
- Camera
- Binoculars

[@Corcioch]

I wouldn't put metal items in the front hatch personally, because of the compass on the fore deck. Back hatch for those. . . . . .multiple litres of water always goes close to the center of the boat for me. Thats important.

[@tinsoldier5621]

I love your accent. Um what about food? Water purification?

[@libbywolf2]

Yeah, what about food and water?

[@thomasjessen]

No dry bag for the sleeping bag?!

[@mairnealachamu]

There's a lot missing in this video. Water. Food. Cooking equipment. Dining ware. Emergency equipment. Camping tools etc. Heavy items like water need to be as close to the middle as possible. Smaller dry-bags, and more of them, make packing a lot easier than a few big ones, and also allow the use of the narrow spaces in the bow and stern. Tent poles and pegs and other metallic items need to be aft, to avoid affecting your compass.

[@hoser7706]

Where do you put your food for an expedition? Which hatch?

[@larsrytter1052]

it goes down the hatch obviously

[@hoser7706]

@@larsrytter1052 after you make the airplane sound…😉😬

[@jasonplape17]

Just “pop” it in