How to Pack for a Safe Kayaking Tour

Think Safety, Pack Light and Seal it Up Tight!

I have enjoyed many multi-day kayak trips here in Upstate New York.  At the moment, our lakes are frozen solid, but soon it will be paddling time once again!  In this article, I am going to focus on how to equip yourself for a three to seven day kayak excursion, during the three warmer seasons.  Winter paddling can be great, but it requires a whole seperate bag of tricks.  When it comes to kayaking for more than one day, how you pack is as important as what you pack.  Here are some pointers, from my own experience, for a safe, happy kayak touring experience.

The most important piece of gear you can bring is your PFD (personal flotation device i.e./ life vest).  Please don't ever get into your kayak without it on.  In some states it is perfectly legal to paddle with your PFD strapped to your deck rigging, but it won't serve you very well there.  If you're going out for more than one day, you are probably on a large body of water, paddling a much heavier kayak than normal, due to all the gear.  If, for some reason, the kayak capsizes during a long day of paddling, you will need all your energy for righting the kayak, bailing it out, and climbing back in, possibly while a mile or more from shore and in high waters.  If you have never tried a kayak re-entry in deep water, practice it in a controlled environment as soon as possible. Getting into a kayak on open water is more difficult than you would think and you want to have a technique down.  It's also important to understand, that if you lose consciousness without a PFD on, you are putting your paddling partners lives in serious danger.  Keeping an unconscious adult afloat is exhausting and more than likely requires the second person to get out of their kayak too.  This is a potentially deadly, yet avoidable, situation.