What's in your PFD pockets? What do you carry in a pocket as opposed to a bag or pack? Why?

Basically everything in/on my PFD are emergency items I might need if I get separated from the canoe and pack. This includes a medical Kit .3 in waterproof package, emergency Mylar blanket, signaling mirror, length of paracord, waterproof matches / mini fire kit, mini flashlight, 1 fancy fruit roll-up snack from REI, and keys on the Stohlquist Drifter's key clip (if I have room anyway, otherwise they are attached to the clip on my backpack, but I figure if the pack gets away, the PFD will not, and I will want those keys!). Whistle attached to the shoulder strap, and dive knife attached to the front lashing clip (the back clip on this PFD I leave empty unless I am out at night on waters with power boats in which case I put a bike lamp on my back and wear a headlamp while paddling)...

Graybeard- in the ‘search’ area type in ‘ditch kit’

NikonF5user: "...and I will want those keys!)..."

What keys do you take on a canoe trip? Or why do you take keys?

bobbernumber3: "

NikonF5user: "...and I will want those keys!)..."

What keys do you take on a canoe trip? Or why do you take keys?"

Car keys come to mind.

In my cargo pockets of my pants I carry:
An SOL space blanket,
Light cordage so I could make the space blanket into a shelter,
A Swiss Army knife,
A Bic lighter and fire steel, and
Some birch bark.

I carry a lighter. Djeep brand if I can find it.
Good enough.

There’s an old saying about “ditch kits” - if it’s not on you, you don’t have it. I carry those items on me. I also carry things I use during the day in my pockets.

NikonF5user: "Basically everything in/on my PFD are emergency items I might need if I get separated from the canoe and pack. This includes a medical Kit .3 in waterproof package, emergency Mylar blanket, signaling mirror, length of paracord, waterproof matches / mini fire kit, mini flashlight, 1 fancy fruit roll-up snack from REI, and keys on the Stohlquist Drifter's key clip (if I have room anyway, otherwise they are attached to the clip on my backpack, but I figure if the pack gets away, the PFD will not, and I will want those keys!). Whistle attached to the shoulder strap, and dive knife attached to the front lashing clip (the back clip on this PFD I leave empty unless I am out at night on waters with power boats in which case I put a bike lamp on my back and wear a headlamp while paddling)..."

The one year I carried my keys with me while tripping I lost them. Fortunately someone found them and turned them in to the outfitter

I learned my lesson: NEVER carry keys with you in a canoe. Leave them with the outfitter, or in the car console or glove box (assuming you have keyless entry)

boonie: "There’s an old saying about “ditch kits” - if it’s not on you, you don’t have it. I carry those items on me. I also carry things I use during the day in my pockets. "

I also live by this qoute. I have an NRS Fisherman with a pack attached to the back. I carry:

in pack:
first aid kit and tourniquet
life straw
emergency blanket
emergency poncho
storm proof matches and fire starters


in the pockets:
compass
gps
whistle
signal mirror
PLB


Attached to the PFD:

Gerber River knife
whistle

Mosquito headnet!

In my PFD pocket: mylar emergency blanket, lighter, waterproof matches, plus SPOT is clipped to PFD and whistle is around my neck
Also, I always wear a small waist pack which holds: signal mirror, permit, list of emergency numbers, car key, more matches, BeFree 1L water bottle/filter, and compass.

bobbernumber3: "

NikonF5user: "...and I will want those keys!)..."

What keys do you take on a canoe trip? Or why do you take keys?"

The keys to get back into my car when done!

Graybeard: "What's in your PFD pockets? What do you carry in a pocket as opposed to a bag or pack? Why?"

I'll put my spin on this...I would also group everything else on my person into the equation. I have plenty of stuff in my pants pockets as well.

Either way, concur with what others have said: it's all about what is directly on your person. If you go in, there is zero guarantee you have anything from the boat in your reach anytime soon.

I have redundancy on the ability to start a fire, I have a compass, whistle, bug headnet, knife, bandana, moneyclip (CC/ID/Ins card/$), sunglasses, readers, phone (tethered with elastic cord to PFD), SPOT, couple of snack bars, fishing license, forceps and a few fishing lures. And in cold water times, a space blanket.

I should probably beef up the first aid component a bit. Happy with the main kit, but some items should make their way into my vest.

I have a Ninja so only one front pocket. Compass and phone for picture taking in the pocket. I'm curious about how many people have been completely separated from their canoe and pack in the BW? It seems very hard to do.

ockycamper: The one year I carried my keys with me while tripping I lost them. Fortunately someone found them and turned them in to the outfitter

I learned my lesson: NEVER carry keys with you in a canoe. Leave them with the outfitter, or in the car console or glove box (assuming you have keyless entry)"

I have thought about this, but I have never thought about where to leave keys if not using anything from an outfitter. Sadly I do not have keyless entry, but I suppose a hidden magnetic key box on a car is not a bad idea...

What got my attention about the keys is the outfitter's comments. Since I have a keys that have a chip in them that are programmed to the car, he said if I had lost them I would have to have the car towed to Duluth to a dealer to have a new key programmed to the car (we were in Gunflint). The tow and the new key would have been 3 times the cost of the trip

NikonF5user: "

ockycamper: The one year I carried my keys with me while tripping I lost them. Fortunately someone found them and turned them in to the outfitter


I learned my lesson: NEVER carry keys with you in a canoe. Leave them with the outfitter, or in the car console or glove box (assuming you have keyless entry)"

I have thought about this, but I have never thought about where to leave keys if not using anything from an outfitter. Sadly I do not have keyless entry, but I suppose a hidden magnetic key box on a car is not a bad idea..."

Okay, this is the way... Put your car key fob in one of these Jumbo magnetic key holders and mount it under your car. Make sure not to mount it near the driver's door as it will be close enough to let your car become unlocked by proximity. Magnetically mount it instead on the muffler. Then tell the outfitter where it is mounted. That way they are not responsible for your keys and yet they can move your vehicle if necessary. Also, you may not always be parking at an outfitter but rather an entry point. The Jumbo key hider fits every key and is THE game changer!

Available on Amazon for under $5.38

scottiebaldwin: "

NikonF5user: "

ockycamper: The one year I carried my keys with me while tripping I lost them. Fortunately someone found them and turned them in to the outfitter



I learned my lesson: NEVER carry keys with you in a canoe. Leave them with the outfitter, or in the car console or glove box (assuming you have keyless entry)"

I have thought about this, but I have never thought about where to leave keys if not using anything from an outfitter. Sadly I do not have keyless entry, but I suppose a hidden magnetic key box on a car is not a bad idea..."

Okay, this is the way... Put your car key fob in one of these Jumbo magnetic key holders and mount it under your car. Make sure not to mount it near the driver's door as it will be close enough to let your car become unlocked by proximity. Magnetically mount it instead on the muffler. Then tell the outfitter where it is mounted. That way they are not responsible for your keys and yet they can move your vehicle if necessary. Also, you may not always be parking at an outfitter but rather an entry point. The Jumbo key hider fits every key and is THE game changer!


Available on Amazon for under $5.38


"

Why on earth would you do this if using an outfitter. Our outfitter gathers up our groups keys and locks them in the safe until we come back.

scottiebaldwin: "

NikonF5user: "

ockycamper: The one year I carried my keys with me while tripping I lost them. Fortunately someone found them and turned them in to the outfitter



I learned my lesson: NEVER carry keys with you in a canoe. Leave them with the outfitter, or in the car console or glove box (assuming you have keyless entry)"

I have thought about this, but I have never thought about where to leave keys if not using anything from an outfitter. Sadly I do not have keyless entry, but I suppose a hidden magnetic key box on a car is not a bad idea..."

Okay, this is the way... Put your car key fob in one of these Jumbo magnetic key holders and mount it under your car. Make sure not to mount it near the driver's door as it will be close enough to let your car become unlocked by

proximity. Magnetically mount it instead on the muffler. Then tell the outfitter where it is mounted. That way they are not responsible for your keys and yet they can move your vehicle if necessary. Also, you may not always be parking at an outfitter but rather an entry point. The Jumbo key hider fits every key and is THE game changer!


Available on Amazon for under $5.38


"

Best advice yet. + 1

I mostly solo with dog. In addition to both silent and very-loud whistles around my neck, I wear my PFD always, so I always have:

Quick deploy dog leash rigged for hands-free use
Phone on lanyard
Tripping documents in freezer bag
Dog poop bags
Sunglasses and sometimes sunscreen
Monocular
Pill tube with tums, ibuprofen
Inreach
Compass

If water is warm I don't bother but in shoulder seasons I will have a ditch kit consisting of:
Spark-wheel thingy and firestarter
Mylar blanket
Contractor bag (makeshift rain gear or shelter, serves also as spare for pack)

All of this just barely fits into a fishing vest with lots of pockets. I don't fish on solo trips.

In pants pockets:
Head net
Bandana
Bug spray
Map if not clipped to thwart

Compass and knife in my PFD. Map attached to a thwart. Ditch kit only in shoulder season. In warm weather if I can't reach my pack then most probably I won't be able to use it. Of course if I was running serious whitewater my attitude would be different.

Compass/mirror
Phone
Lighter/matches
Whistle, tethered to shoulder strap
Glow sticks
Couple of snack bars
Sunglasses
Small binoculars
Small light attached on the rear
Quickclot
Bug head net
Small waterproof flashlight
Sunscreen/dermatone type of stick

Sometimes my keys are on me, sometimes they’re hidden at the vehicle.

In my pockets, a knife. Anything else makes me feel like I’m bonking around

Why on earth would you do this if using an outfitter. Our outfitter gathers up our groups keys and locks them in the safe until we come back."

What does it cost to have the outfitter drive out to your entry point and collect your keys? I have never asked.

TechnoScout: "

Why on earth would you do this if using an outfitter. Our outfitter gathers up our groups keys and locks them in the safe until we come back."

What does it cost to have the outfitter drive out to your entry point and collect your keys? I have never asked."

I believe they're referring to outfitters who are at the entry points, like Williams & Hall on Moose, or Kawishiwi Lodge & Outfitters on Lake One, rather than having someone from say Piragis Northwoods Co. coming out to get your keys for safe keeping.

TechnoScout: "

Why on earth would you do this if using an outfitter. Our outfitter gathers up our groups keys and locks them in the safe until we come back."

What does it cost to have the outfitter drive out to your entry point and collect your keys? I have never asked."

We always used outfitters that are directly on the water we are paddling on. We rent the canoes, and buy showers. Holding the keys does not cost anything extra.

Only one time we used an outfitter that was not on the water. By the time we loaded everyone up, the canoes, and gear, then got to the entry point it was 10 AM. Never again. After that we use only oufitters that are directly on the water we paddle with no need of transport to an entry point. We are on the water by 7:30 AM or earlier that way.

Compass
Whistle
Bug headnet
Paddling gloves if I'm not wearing them at the moment
Knife

I keep my keys, wallet, and phone in a waterproof box tied to the canoe.

Somewhere on my person (pfd, pockets, belt pack) I keep:
Matches
Lighter
Bug spray
Knife
Leatherman
Pipe and tobacco (I never smoke except on canoe trips. It's a voyageur thing.)
Bandanna
Compass
Small but powerful flashlight mainly just so I always know where it is.
+ I always wear a hat.

A knife and a compass. If conditions are too dangerous to keep everything else in a pack, than I portage or wait for weather to improve.

Blatz: "I'm curious about how many people have been completely separated from their canoe and pack in the BW? It seems very hard to do."

We lost one boat & its contents from a two-boat group a few years back. Damn near lost the two paddlers that were in it as well.

Take my advice: don't try it.

We lost a canoe when the wind came up, rolled the canoe over and over off the bank and into the water. . . .then across the lake. We managed to find it but if we had not we would have been prepared.

ockycamper: "We lost a canoe when the wind came up, rolled the canoe over and over off the bank and into the water. . . .then across the lake. We managed to find it but if we had not we would have been prepared."

Willing to bet that a "Canoe tie down policy" has now been established on Seagull Lake.

I keep my map, ferro rod and mora eldris short knife attached to my pfd.

Swiss army knife, lighter, and a couple of energy bars.

Just emptied my PFD pockets to change out the old stuff. Here's what I found:




The in-reach is tied to my pfd as is my phone. Both have their own pocket. The multi-tool slides into a slot and is connected. The rest of the stuff fits in the other larger pocket and the stuff that has to stay dry is in small plastic bags. I usually put a granola bar or two in each day for snacks. The mini fishing kit is overkill as a situation that requires me to fish for survival isn't going to have a good outcome.
For me, the fishing kit will serve the purpose of keeping my mind occupied should something bad happen.