What to Pack for a Half-Day Canoeing Adventure: Simple Essentials for a Safe and Fun Trip

You have a canoe, a paddle and a lifejacket for every person. What else do you need for a half day canoeing adventure?  

The great thing about a half day canoeing adventure is how easy it is to just go. Unlike a full day of paddling which requires a bit more planning to make sure you have the food you’ll need for a longer adventure and are ready for whatever the weather may throw at you later in the day, a half day splash doesn’t need much thought beyond looking out the window and seeing what the sky above has in store for you. Of course, we always have a grab bag of gear ready to go.

So, in addition to your canoe, paddle and lifejacket, here’s what we recommend you have on hand for a short canoe outing with one or two other people. 

•  First aid kit. No matter where we go in the outdoors, we always carry a first aid kit. The contents of the kit vary depending on what we’re doing, but as a minimum this should include a snake bite bandage and some pain killers (like paracetamol). 
• Personal medication. Of equal importance to the first aid kit is any personal medication and/or any other medical aids. Asthma puffers and heart medication, but also hearing aids or possibly strapping tape for that niggling injury… 
• Communications. Depending on where we are this might be as simple as our mobile phone in a waterproof case. But we also think that personal locator beacons (PLB) are excellent for half day adventures. 
• Clothing appropriate to the weather. Dress for whatever the weather suggests, we recommend sun protective clothing, a spare warm top, along with swimmers if you think you’ll be going for a swim. Don’t forget you’ll probably warm up a bit while paddling, and also be more exposed to the sun, wind and rain when out on the open water.  
• Closed-toed Shoes. Shoes that you are happy to get wet and a little dirty – you never know when you’ll want to jump ashore and go and check out that little waterfall just out of view… 
• Rain jacket. Even if the weather is dry, raincoats are a great windproof layer. If you get wet and there is a bit of a breeze, it’s a great way to stay warm. 
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat. Or if you’re feeling disregard for the fashion police: a legionnaires hat. Australia still has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world – make sure you cover up, even in winter. 
• Drinking water. At least a litre. But possibly much more. Hot dry windy weather really takes it out of you, but it’s important to stay hydrated in cold weather too – dehydration is a predisposing factor for hypothermia.  
• Food. The importance here is that whatever you choose is easy to grab. We always have an emergency muesli bar in our bag. It’s a great little energy boost when you get an unexpected headwind. We also like to throw in a piece of fruit like an apple or banana. It’s lovely to stop in a beautiful place and enjoy some fresh food while watching the world go by, even if only for a minute.  
• Toilet kit. You never know when nature is going to call… Our mini toilet kit is pretty small. It’s just a quarter roll of toilet paper, a small trowel and some hand sanitiser in a plastic bag.  
• Sponge. Aside from helping to clean out the canoe at the end of a trip, a sponge is a great way to bail out the last of the water in a canoe if you happen to capsize. 
• Map, compass, and trip notes. Even when going somewhere you’ve been many times before, it’s a great idea to be able to navigate when things don’t go to plan. Sometimes you can’t fight that headwind and need to pull out somewhere unexpected, sometimes you need to get to medical help and a different pull-out point will get you help faster, and sometimes you just need to know what’s around that corner! 

Other Items to consider: 

• Emergency shelter. For a quick spin we typically don’t worry about an emergency shelter, because if we ever really need one, we can pull up on shore and flip over the canoe. Having said that, a simple lightweight option to consider is an emergency bag. Similar to the very popular emergency blankets, and emergency bag is no increase in weight, but is vastly superior in keeping someone warm and dry in an emergency. 
• Spare paddle. Aside from ensuring we’re not embarrassingly caught “up the creek without a paddle” – literally – we like our spare paddle to be a different model so we can adapt to different paddling conditions or paddle in different styles. For example, a traditional paddle vs a bent shaft paddle.  
• Kneeling mat. Not everyone kneels in a canoe, but if you do, you’ll know that a kneeling mat makes all the difference. 
• Insect repellent. The need for insect repellent depends on where and when you are paddling, but the sad fact is that diseases associated with ticks and mosquitoes are on the rise in Australia, so cover up even if you aren’t someone who typically reacts to being bitten. 
• Camera. While we love getting lost in nature and leaving the technology behind, we love capturing moments for sharing with and inspiring others to get out. We recommend a waterproof camera and a leash so you can’t drop it. 
• Torch. If you are paddling in the afternoon, it’s a great idea to be ready for the unexpected. A small headtorch allows you to keep your hands free for paddling that last 100m or so to the boat ramp, or perhaps to tie the boat on the roof of the car in the dark. But if you don’t make it back as planned, it also helps other people find you in an emergency. 
• Whistle. We have these attached to our personal lifejackets, so they aren’t an extra item to remember, and we always have them with us to attract attention, even if we get separated from our canoe and/or other gear. 
• Floating frisbee. When paddling with kids or with more than one boat, we love to pack a ball or a frisbee to have a play. It’s a fun way to race along the river (“first to the frisbee wins!”) or great for a game of “classic catches”. 

While a full day canoeing needs a little more preparation, you should be able to do a half day canoeing trip very little “stuff”. Keep it simple with this list and you’ll not only be ready for most of what gets thrown at you, but you’ll also find it easy to get out the door and have more adventures in your canoe. 

10% DISCOUNT ON CANOE HIRE

Subscribe to our newsletter to hear the latest from the Valley Outdoors team and get a 10% discount on canoe hire.

Sign Up Here

Ready to hit the water?  

Check out our blog for more canoeing tips, gear recommendations, and to plan your next adventure with us!