I decided to add this mainly because I didn’t have a detailed equipment list. Oh, I have a list with things like “sleeping bag” and “tent”, but nothing with the name/model of those items. So for archiving sake, I thought I’d make this list. Most are NOT new items that I am reviewing; just a list of what I have and perhaps what I think about them. The list is haphazard because I jotted the stuff down on a scrap of paper as I put it away.

Julie had her own tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc. I won’t comment on her stuff except to say she seemed to like them and they seemed to work well. I know her tent is an REI, two-man with two vestibules; her sleeping pad is a thermarest; and she got a new, lighter weight and more compact sleeping bag.

Sleeping Pad -- Big Agnes Insulated Air Core 20 x 78 x 2.5 Primaloft. This air mattress is about the size of a qt. Nalgene bottle when deflated. It is very light as well. Takes 2 minutes to blow up by mouth. I get just the best sleep on it! Great performer. Its purchase is the best recommendation I have ever gotten.

Water Filter -- PUR Hiker Another great performer. Last year I had a small piece break and the filter gave off some black stuff (carbon I think). Katadyn (new owners of PUR) gave me a new housing and new PRO filter. The PRO filter includes a protective membrane that wraps around the filter element that makes cleaning super easy, helps prevents clogs, and helps the filter to last longer. Great! 

Food Packs – I took two food packs for this trip.  The first was my standard “solo” rig; the Garcia Bear Barrel inside a Kelty day pack. I like this set up very much. In addition to the barrel, there is enough room for my utensil roll, saw, water filter, some other things, and two water bottles in the side, mesh pockets. I carry this pack with the canoe for portaging.

The other pack is a military, canvas rucksack with a 5-gallon, gamma-sealed bucket for food. The pack is large enough for some other things around the bucket. It has two side pockets where I put my stove, extra fuel bottle, string net hammock, and other smaller items. Of course as the food disappears other items go into the bucket starting with the cook kit and other “back-jabbing” items. BTW – I not only don’t hang my food packs, I don’t even hide them.

Stove – I have a few, but the one I took this time (and the one I usually take) is the Coleman Peak 1 Model 400. It is an old model with foldout legs and two levers – the normal RED lever and the additional BLACK lever for cleaning and simmer control. It takes Coleman fuel (naphta). What can I say … it works well.

Fuel Bottle – Normally I wouldn’t mention it, but I believe these are rare. It is a red, Nalgene Fuel bottle that has a built in funnel. They stopped making them. I have no idea why. Mine works great.

Fishing Stuff – The rod & reel is a Zebco something (not a “Barbie” or “Sponge Bob”, more normal looking). I have a canvas bag with strap and Velcro tabs (to attach to a thwart) as a tackle bag. Inside is: a small, two-sided box with lures, hooks, and jigs; white Twister Tails; brownish, worm-like Power Baits; needle nose pliers; folding filet knife; cord stringer; and a rod tip repair kit. None of it matters. I never catch anything. I figure someday I’ll run into some kid who just lost his fishing stuff over the side of his boat, his dad is po’ed, and I’ll just give my stuff to him, and, thus, get to heaven (it’s my only hope).

Reflector Oven – It a Freden Aluminum Folding Reflector Oven that I bought from Rutabaga. It is THE best campfire baking gizmo, IMHO. 

Hatchet – a Browning. Looks like a Gerber. It’s OK.

Saw – a Sawvivor. I like it!

Thwart Bag – a Cooke Custom Sewing thwart bag with detachable map case. Great! I added a couple of Velcro tabs to attach/detach quickly.

Tarp – For this trip it was a Guide Gear, 10 x 10, nylon, ellipsoidal tarp. It worked well. I also have a 10 x 10 square nylon tarp I take sometimes and a Eureka VCS 16 for group trips.

Cook Kit – Open Country Cook Kit. Stainless Steel. Two Pots with lids & a measuring cup. I added a Walmart fry pan with the handle knocked off and an 8” round bake pan. It all fits in the carry bag that the cook kit came with.

Tea Pot – Nesters Tea Pot Stainless steel with a detachable handle. I think it is one quart. I made a carry bag for it. Works very well.

Water Bottles –Nalgene Bottles quart-size, wide mouth. I have other Nalgenes for other stuff.

Coffee Cup – A PDQ (convenience store) Cup. This is one item I will really be sad about when it’s gone. You just can’t get them like this one anymore. It is one of those short, squat, lidded car coffee cups circa 1980. It’s not one of those high, skinny ones that tip over easy when not in a molded-into-the-consul-of-your-car cup holder. You could safely give this one filled with steaming hot coffee to a nursing home resident. Great cup!!!

Utensil Roll – made by Cooke Custom Sewing. Good. Most of my utensils are plastic or lexan. However, I have metal forks (Walmart 8 for $1). The tines on the lexan forks tended to curl when hot.

Map Case – In addition to my map case on my thwart bag I have a Granite Gear Map Case. It’s good. I have two so there was a map for my bow partner. She needed one to keep me from getting lost.

Rain Coat -- the good, ol’ Stearns (teal color) Rain Coat, the one I was wearing in the Howard Sprague documentation of my moose hunting escapades. I went back to it after my fancy, new Red Line coat failed on my June trip. This Stearns rubbery thing kept me nice and dry and warm.

Kitchen Sink – Granite Gear Collapsible Sink . I forgot my collapsible bucket and purposely didn’t bring my inflatable kitchen sink on this trip. My partner was disappointed on both accounts since she was washing the dishes and filtering most of the water. So I pried open my wallet and bought the Granite Gear Sink in Ely. It works well as a sink; less well as a bucket. When I have to bring a sink I’ll probably bring this one over the inflatable one.

Sleeping Bag – Woods Otter 1 rated to 35 degrees. Works well. No problem. No need to replace it.

Packs – Camptrails Canoe Pack and Guideline #3. The Camptrails is good. Nothing wrong with it. The Guideline is fine as well. It is an absolutely no-frills, cordura, #3 pack I bought from Thrifty Outfitters many years ago for next to nothing.

Tent – Eureka Spitfire. I’ve grown to like this tent. It is small set up and packed up. It’s lightweight. It is not freestanding, but it only takes two stakes to keep it up, and after two BWCA trips with it I never had a problem staking it out. While small, I find it big enough to sleep in and hold my book, flashlight, clothes, and has a place for my glasses. The small vestibule is big enough for my shoes and socks. I CAN get dressed in it but it is a challenge, so I don’t. It stayed nice and dry and believe me that was tested on this trip. I didn’t use a ground cloth at all, neither an innie nor an outie.

PFD – A Stearns PFD. It’s fine. This is probably an item that I could upgrade.

Paddles – I probably have a dozen to choose from. For this trip Julie selected a Wenonah, wood, straight shaft. She seemed to do well with it. We had a Wenonah aluminum/plastic, T-handle (probably made by Carlislie) as our back up -- a good, functional, durable, spare paddle (though it didn’t get used). I used a Red Tail beaver tail paddle that I bought from Old Scout Products. I liked it a lot.

Canoe – Wenonah Prospector 16. I really like this boat.