Good evening. New to this forum. My girlfriend and I are planning a trip to BWCA in 2020. Next year, northern QC,but 2020....BWCA.
Looking for advice on gear lists. "Must haves","waste of time bringing".....etc. We have a fair amount of time tent camping/canoe camping on the CT River,and Allagash. No portages involved,other than around a hydro,or some rapids. That is all new to us. We also paddle a 16' Radisson. Any help, truly appreciated. We will be traveling from northern VT.

Quick tip, go to Seagull Outfitters website, they've got a trip checklist or two on their site that's pretty inclusive of everything you'd need.

You'll just have to cater what you take to your length of trip and tripping style. If you're trying to cover a lot of ground and single portaging, you'll want to travel lightly. If you're double portaging, that allows you to take some things you might otherwise leave behind, such as camp chairs, books, extra clothing, extra fishing gear, fresh food, etc..

You've go plenty of time, planning is half the fun. Have a great time. BTW, if I had to pick one item, other than the real essentials such as water filter, cooking utensils, etc., I'd take a tarp that you can set up quickly, sit under if it rains, keep you out of the sun and hang a hammock under if that's you're thing.

I would not plan on single portaging on your first trip. How much does your canoe weigh? Plan your trip accordingly. One thing you will want is a water filter. Also, I recommend finding some decent water shoes. It's so much easier just excepting that your feet will get wet entering and exiting your canoe. Many rocky portages. Think lightweight. Good luck.

Welcome to the BWCA forum. Sign up and sign-in and ask away as you gear up for your adventures. My guess is you likely already have most of the gear you'll need.
In any case, suggest reading the Trip Reports section on this site. So much knowledge is gained just reading those tales of adventures.

Must haves for me fall under clothing, shelter and cooking gear/food. However I have found certain items must go in my pack or on myself such as a knife, multitool, headlamp and chemical hand warmers in case I dump in the lake. I travel in the shoulder season so I want to be warm fast if I get wet so hand warmers then maybe fire. Remember that if you dump in the lake your only survival gear will probably be what you are carrying in your pockets or in your PFD.

We bring down coats or vests on our trips that pack small. My wife gets cold easily and a down coat is good insurance. Warm hats refer to a winter hat or balaclava.

Here's a starting point for you to make your own list. The food on my list is sparse as I tend to do things differently depending on what I want to eat. My list is intended for 2 people on a 5 day trip. I'm sure you can add to it as things like fishing gear are not included on it.

Welcome to the board.
There's a great area @ the top of this page "Planning" that has an extensive gear list along with other helpful info. Also at the top of this page next to the Chat Rooms is Search. Click on that and enter gear lists. Many of our members have compiled excellent gear lists in different formats, many of them customized for special interests such as fishing, etc. Also, as already mentioned, most of the outfitters will have a gear list on their websites. You can find a list of outfitters also at the top of this page, next to Planning. Feel free to ask questions; we love to talk about gear and we all have our preferences.

Although weight is a concern, volume is moreso, or perhaps rather, number of packs. What I would shoot for is 3 packs, one being smaller. This allows you to double portage. You don't want to more than double portage.
One trip is one person carrying the canoe and small pack and the other person carrying a larger pack. The next trip is both carrying larger packs. That should be it.
Your canoe should be set up with a good yoke so that one person can carry it.
Water filter - drinking water comes from the lake.

I have done 2 person, 5 day trips, quite easily with one good sized pack and a 30L barrel. One person takes barrel and canoe, other person takes pack and paddles. Efficient packing is needed and quality, compact, lightweight gear. You need the right tent, sleeping bags and pads cuz they are your biggest volume items. Next I would say is you have to know how to pack the right kind of food, have a good small stove and a compact cook kit. Most experienced camping people can condense clothing and water filters are getting smaller every day. 2 water bottles (one apiece for portage) and then fold up platy bags for camp water saves on bulk. A small sized, lightweight tarp, maybe a small folding hand saw, compact first aid kit, good packable rain gear.....and you've got the big stuff covered. Depending on canoe weight, I use an under seat bag for rain gear and camera for quick access. Key to be efficient, longer portaging is NO loose items and minimize crap strapped into canoe. My only true loose items are paddles and PFDs (they get hot to wear portaging) Paddles are carried by pack person and PFDs get clipped to pack with biners.
Keep all this in mind as you go over all the gear lists that will get posted and make your decisions.

Here is our list for our trip with 6 guys/5 nights. We basecamp and fish - a lot. There may be more gear here than you need, so tailor your equipment and food list for your needs.

Paddling Gear
- Canoe and paddles
- PFD’s
- Mesh bag and rope for anchor
- Maps (more than 1 set)
- Sponge
- Rope
- Straps
- Canoe seat
- Duct tape

Fishing Gear
- Fishing rods, reels and tackle
- Leech lockers
- Fishing net and stringer
- Filet knife
- Fishing license

Camping Gear
- Portage Packs
- Day packs
- Sleeping bag/waterproof sack
- Sleeping pads and schnozzel
- Pillows
- Hammocks (2)
- Tents/ground covers
- Tent rugs
- Tarps (2-3)

Cooking/Kitchen Gear
- Soft sided cooler
- Blue Barrels (2x30L)
- Water bags (2x2L)
- Water filter (gravity) and one pump for backup
- Backpack stoves w/fuel canisters
- Boiling pots (3 sizes)
- Fry pans (2 large)
- Plates (plastic camp plates)
- Cups
- Spatula, spoon, fork, knife, tongs (cooking utensils)
- Flatware (eating utensils)
- Cutting boards
- Coffee making setups (and/or Via)
- Dishsoap
- Handsoap
- Dishtowels
- Sponge/scotch pad
- Kitchen sink (camp sink)

Clothing
- Hat w/visor
- Swim trunks
- Light weight shorts with zip-off bottoms
- Water shoes (Keens or other)
- Crocs (for camp)
- Wool or poly shirts/sweaters (long and short sleeve)
- Wool or poly long johns and underwear
- Bandana
- Rain gear
- Socks (smartwool)
- Thin stocking cap
- Gloves

Miscellaneous
- Personals – toothbrush, floss and paste, advil/aspirin, ear plugs, etc.
- Camera
- Watch
- Lighter, waterproof matches
- Water bottles
- Camp chairs
- Camp tables
- Maps, compass
- Camp towel
- Sunglasses
- Reading glasses
- Sunscreen
- Bug juice (deet)
- Pocket knives and/or multi-tool
- Head lamps (LED)
- Extra dry sacks/Ziplock bags
- Clothesline rope
- Lightweight camp saws
- Batoning knife
- First aid kit
- Sewing kit
- Toilet paper
- Extra rope
- Extra batteries
- iPhone
- Solar charger + cables
- Cable lock

Menu

Breakfast Ideas
- Pancakes
- Maple syrup
- Pre-cooked bacon
- Oatmeal
- Nuts and fruit
- Coffee and tea

Lunch Ideas
- Jerky
- Trail mix
- Dried fruit
- Cheese

Dinner Ideas
- Steak, potatoes and green beans (first night)
- Fish tacos – tortillas, red pepper, chipotles, cilantro, pico de gallo, rice, etc.
- Fried fish with breading, rice, carrots, green beans, onion
- Fried fish with breading, pasta(spaghetti), onion
- Jambalaya – fish, crawfish, bratwurst, rice, onion, red pepper and spices

Misc.
- Salt and pepper
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Smoked paprika
- Other spices
- Garlic
- Cilantro

Dessert
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate bars

Booze/Refreshments
- Box wine
- Cigars
- Hot chocolate

johndku: "Quick tip, go to Seagull Outfitters website, they've got a trip checklist or two on their site that's pretty inclusive of everything you'd need.


You'll just have to cater what you take to your length of trip and tripping style. If you're trying to cover a lot of ground and single portaging, you'll want to travel lightly. If you're double portaging, that allows you to take some things you might otherwise leave behind, such as camp chairs, books, extra clothing, extra fishing gear, fresh food, etc..


You've go plenty of time, planning is half the fun. Have a great time. BTW, if I had to pick one item, other than the real essentials such as water filter, cooking utensils, etc., I'd take a tarp that you can set up quickly, sit under if it rains, keep you out of the sun and hang a hammock under if that's you're thing."

+1. Seagull has a good gear list that I usually edit and send to folks who plan on joining me. I just took another father/son duo with my son in to Seagull through Alpine and up to red rock bay (Sag). The list helped :). Get portage packs instead of backpacker packs or rent them from Seagull for your packing. Deb (owner) and her crew will be glad to help you out if you go in that way. Try to limit your carries over the portages to two trips a piece which includes the boat. I used to live in Vermont and hike the Whites and Greens. You will do fine :) Enjoy your trip!

If your 16’ radison is the canoe I think it is, it would be a poor choice for the bwca. Consider renting a canoe from an outfitter.

My personal suggestion only, by no means do I believe my philosophy is right for everyone, but this has worked very well for me: Think of this more like a backpacking trip and less like a river trip. It's really somewhere in between, but the more hassle you can avoid on portages, the more fun your trip will be.

Don't overload your packs and canoe with luxury items and fresh food and large cooking gear. We made that mistake on our first BWCA trip after having completed several river trips where "the canoe did all the work." Portages aren't easy and if you pack too heavy, even a double portage might be too challenging. The food bag DOES get lighter as you go, but that's little solace.

I'm not saying to go ultra-light, but make some choices based on weight and space. Your back will thank you later.

Freeze dried meals may not be your first thought for an ideal outdoors trip, but they save the most weight and space. This saves you considerable time and effort for meal prep and cleanup, too. Some folks really enjoy the idea and process of elaborate camp meals, but not having to do dishes is pretty appealing, too.

Down sleeping bag over synthetic fill, if you have a choice.

One "luxury" item that is a must-have necessity for me is some kind of seat-back/chair contraption. If I don't have back support of some sort, my trip goes from fun to miserable about 2 hours in. Crazy Creek makes a good one that isn't terribly expensive and can be used in camp on top of a log or boulder for a makeshift chair as well.

Make sure you have good rain gear. You will very likely get rained on, and if it's one of those all-day or two-day rains, you may not have the luxury of waiting it out in camp and may have to paddle on in the rain. Which, as long as it's not a deluge, is a surprisingly pleasant experience.

Others have suggested renting a kevlar canoe from an outfitter, a suggestion I will echo. I can't agree more with this. A longer Wenonah canoe will be easier to paddle, and will also be significantly lighter than your Radisson.

That's not everything, but there has been a lot of good advice on this thread already.

I came to the same conclusion as BuckFlicks. I've been telling people who think they'd like to join me that we'll be backpacking with a canoe, not car camping with a boat.

I like to travel rather than base camp. I double portage since I'm neither young nor strong. Portage mileage of my trips averages around 35% of total travel mileage and I like to travel most days.

I don't know your plans and capabilities, but plan accordingly.

One guy's must have is another's not necessary. I don't take a chair for example. I take gear that is fairly light and compact and leave behind many of other people's must haves. On the other hand, I often solo for 2 weeks and the weight of even dehydrated food adds up.

I'll second the suggestion to get a lighter, more efficient canoe if possible. It will be easier to portage and paddle; you won't have the current helping you and will sometimes be paddling into the wind (OK, most of the time).

Outstanding advice so far, listen to these folks, they know what they are talking about! I will add: spare paddle, and don't skimp on tent and sleeping pads(or hammocks) , rain gear, canoe, or footwear. Minimize wearing cotton and bring fewer clothes,bring extra rope for clothes line and a few clothes pins and wash out and hang dirty clothes. Minimize the heavy or extra food, food is where people could probably save the most weight. Have fun!

I hiked the Presidential Range, half in 2012 and the other half 2016 (beautiful beyond words!). It was more physically demanding than what you will probably encounter here. The biggest difference is the number of other people. Out east, we met people every couple of hours, more often near the summits. Depending on where you go in the BWCA, you may not see anyone else for a couple of days, there are no AMC huts, and it's about 100% likely that you will get zero phone reception. Help and rescue (or even other humans to talk to) may be a long distance and a long time away. The most important thing you can bring is your brain. Think safe. Be safe.

I hiked the Presidential Range, half in 2012 and the other half 2016 (beautiful beyond words!). It was more physically demanding than what you will probably encounter here. The biggest difference is the number of other people. Out east, we met people every couple of hours, more often near the summits. Depending on where you go in the BWCA, you may not see anyone else for a couple of days, there are no AMC huts, and it's about 100% likely that you will get zero phone reception. Help and rescue (or even other humans to talk to) may be a long distance and a long time away. The most important thing you can bring is your brain. Think safe. Be safe.

Yes, do take a spare paddle and attach to thwarts with BDB's, NiteIze twist ties, etc., so it's not lost in a capsize. Also take "painters" - bow and stern lines - for tieing off your canoe so it's not blown away. Storms come up quickly there, so should always be done at night.

Yeah, lots of helpful suggestions above. Your gear list depends on what you want out of the trip. My wife and I don't fish, and we are very young, active and in shape, so we like to go, go, go. We approach our bwca trips like an ultralight backpacking trip with a canoe. Even if you're not hard-core single portagers like us, use a backpacking gear list, then think about whether you actually need all the items on the list. Lots of those lists are meant to sell gear (REI's).

Welcome Green Mtn. Boy. My family came from northern Vt, but that was a long time ago.

There's already a lot of great advice above. I'll just add this: as you starting thinking through gear specifics, be sure to come back here and search through the GEAR topic. We've debated just about everything, sometimes many times. I'd say the areas where we agree are likely fewer than where we don't. Thats because we each find what works for us, and we are not all the same. Best footwear, best rain gear, best paddle, best knife, best stove, best filter - we've debated it all. On most of the "should I bring a ..." type questions, you often get the emphatic "yes" folks answering somewhat more than people who just don't think it's that important, so judge accordingly. At the end of the day, if you are coming here in June - August, you can probably get by without to much; just a few things for safety and a few for comfort and convenience.

BTW, while we have a search function above, I usually find better results by going to google, typing "bwca.com" and any other search terms. Of course, feel free to ask away too. People here love talking about gear!

Once you take your trip, after deciding what to bring, please come back and tel us details. Like what you never used (& maybe didn't need) what you wish you had brought and what you were very glad you decided to bring. Always good feedback for our group here.