Other than the most obvious essentials (canoe, paddle,life jacket, food, cook stove, fishing gear, tent, sleeping bag, rain suit, etc.....), what is the single most indispensible piece of gear that you bring on your trips?

What else is there?

After the canoe, paddle, PFD with ditch bag. . .hammock and accesories, extra tarp dutch oven, single burner back up stove, water filtration. And a pole and lures. that about it. No big chairs, no big coolers, nothing big, bulky or heavy. (other then the canoe. . . but my Voyager is only 38 lbs.

quote LuvMyBell: "Other than the most obvious essentials (canoe, paddle,life jacket, food, cook stove, fishing gear, tent, sleeping bag, rain suit, etc.....), what is the single most indispensible piece of gear that you bring on your trips?"

I don't even think a lot of that stuff is "essential". I could have a good time without fishing. Nag certainly would not need a tent nor a stove to have fun.

(1) First aid kit

(2) Map

(3) TP

(4) Spare TP ;)

(5) Tasrp

(6) BDB's

Attitude

I would have to say it would be a compass. You could draw your own map as you go, but hard to navigate without a compass.

quote LuvMyBell: "Other than the most obvious essentials (canoe, paddle,life jacket, food, cook stove, fishing gear, tent, sleeping bag, rain suit, etc.....), what is the single most indispensible piece of gear that you bring on your trips?"

I should have been more clear.....Indispensible to you but maybe a little unique. Something that makes your trip easier or more enjoyable but that most people wouldn't think to bring along.

IBFLY's 'Attitude' response is great. It doesn't have to be a physical item.

a piece of thin, fairly stiff, closed cell foam. approximately 16"x24", 1/4" thick. (thanks again pk)

-butt pad
-kneeling pad
-tent entry mat
-fire fanner
-sunshower "floor"
-stove windscreen
-back padding in my kondos 3 pocket

im sure there will be other uses too.

quote kanoes: "a piece of thin, fairly stiff, closed cell foam. approximately 16"x24", 1/4" thick. (thanks again pk)


-butt pad
-kneeling pad
-tent entry mat
-fire fanner
-sunshower "floor"
-stove windscreen
-back padding in my kondos 3 pocket


im sure there will be other uses too.





"

Now we're thinking...Excellent.

I second the butt pad!

Coffee!

A folding chair.

Duluth pack canoe and camp chair, thwart bags, depth finder.

I'll go with the Bakepacker. I consider fresh bread, steaming hot blueberry muffins for breakfast, and warm chocolate cake for dessert essential and so the Bakepacker is indispensable.

I like a:

LittlBug wood stove and Fiskars loppers for cutting wood. Great for boiling water for dehydrated food.

Alite Monarch chair, the one with 4 legs

Gravity water filter (Platypus)

Carbon felt for baking inside a pot on my alcohol burner. I bake coffee cakes, corn bread, bisquick biscuits with fruit or chocolate chips while my friend screws around with coffee in the morning.

Minibull Alcohol stove

Composite Lippa tool for fishing

Dutch biners

quote kanoes: "a piece of thin, fairly stiff, closed cell foam. approximately 16"x24", 1/4" thick. (thanks again pk)


-butt pad
-kneeling pad
-tent entry mat
-fire fanner
-sunshower "floor"
-stove windscreen
-back padding in my kondos 3 pocket


im sure there will be other uses too.





"

excellent idea. this is going to become a piece of my standard gear. thanks for sharing.

+2

Thanks

quote andym: "I'll go with the Bakepacker. I consider fresh bread, steaming hot blueberry muffins for breakfast, and warm chocolate cake for dessert essential and so the Bakepacker is indispensable."

Never knew this existed Will be getting one for sure
Thanks

an axe. worth it's weight for getting the dry "heartwood" on those soakers for a fire. works great for stripping branches off limbs to be cut when standing up. use for tent stakes in hard, rocky ground. can shape many pieces of wood used for many differnt purposes--- quickly. A guy could fashion a useable paddle from a decent wood stick pretty quickly,, with a knife would take a LONG time. a sharpened axe in the sticks is my best friend.

an axe is kinda of 50/50 with people. basketball nets to hold rocks for anchors would be my something differnt 30/70. a flint shaving fire stone is on the list also. canoe backrest's also.

Common sense.

quote SevenofNine: "Common sense."

Another intangible item to go along with IBFLY's "Attitude"........

duct tape
10 ft of small gauge wire (i.e. bread wire)
rod tip repair kit
needle, thread, buttons
cotton balls (fire starter)
anchor bag

quote Ingvald: "duct tape
10 ft of small gauge wire (i.e. bread wire)
rod tip repair kit
needle, thread, buttons
cotton balls (fire starter)
anchor bag"

Not trying to be picky...Just a honest question here regarding cotton balls....

Are they legal to burn? Depending on their use, some would consider them to be trash and trash is illegal to burn in the BWCA.

I've soaked (more like spread actually) vaseline on cotton balls to use as fire starter. I keep the cotton balls in 35mm film cannisters. Works great but I've never done that in the BWCA. On wet, misty mornings being able to use these as a fire starter would be great if they are legal to use.

Gravity-fed water filter

quote kanoes: "a piece of thin, fairly stiff, closed cell foam. approximately 16"x24", 1/4" thick. (thanks again pk)


-butt pad
-kneeling pad
-tent entry mat
-fire fanner
-sunshower "floor"
-stove windscreen
-back padding in my kondos 3 pocket


im sure there will be other uses too.





"

Our additional use: the dog's pad in the canoe.

We used a cut-up yoga mat for this. We brought it specifically for that and then discovered many of kanoes's other uses. Ours is a bit larger due to the size of the dog, and it was slightly annoying at portages because it was a loose item that had to be either put into a pack's side pocket or hand carried, but the dog needed it in the canoe to help him feel secure and it gave him a cushion, so it was worth it for that alone...but the additional uses were gravy. Awesome item (I would bring a smaller one on future trips even if we don't have the dog along).

Here's my kids using it:

quote Ingvald: "duct tape
10 ft of small gauge wire (i.e. bread wire)
rod tip repair kit
needle, thread, buttons
cotton balls (fire starter)
anchor bag"

What do you do with the wire?

quote nojobro: "

quote Ingvald: "duct tape
10 ft of small gauge wire (i.e. bread wire)
rod tip repair kit
needle, thread, buttons
cotton balls (fire starter)
anchor bag"

What do you do with the wire?"

I like to keep it on hand for emergency repairs. I have a ton of plastic coated wire from the underground fence for my dog. I just wind up a bunch of it and it takes up almost no space and weighs almost nothing. But there's really nothing you can't fix with duct tape and breadwire.

As to the cotton balls- I never thought of it as trash but that's an interesting point.

Everyone on this board loves bdb's, and i like them too but in my opinion these are better rubberized twist ties. These work very well. Hold items securely and are quite versatile.

Cotton balls and Vaseline for fire starters...

I'll say it again- Ibuprofen!

quote finman: "Cotton balls and Vaseline for fire starters..."

I love this one!
We keep em in the ditch kit too.

quote gutmon: "I'll say it again- Ibuprofen!"

?????????
Is this your way of saying this thread is giving you a headache?

I would hope not since there is nothing controversial in the replies and we're getting a lot of ideas for useful gear that are not normally thought of. Pretty harmless stuff.

quote gutmon: "I'll say it again- Ibuprofen!"

It's. Been a long day gutmon. The light just came on after I typed my previous reply.....Sorry. Ibuprofen is an excellent suggestion.

quote LuvMyBell: "

quote gutmon: "I'll say it again- Ibuprofen!"

?????????
Is this your way of saying this thread is giving you a headache?


I would hope not since there is nothing controversial in the replies and we're getting a lot of ideas for useful gear that are not normally thought of. Pretty harmless stuff."

No, it was a serious answer (just one that's shown up in several previous threads over the years).

Clear plastic resealable map case, holds maps, licenses, permit, compass for instant reference. I'm sure everyone uses these, but didn't see it mentioned.

baby wipes.

I was thinking about taking wipes of some type as well. I was trying to find a good facial wipe.
And I've debated a map case. This may seem like a dumb rookie question, but why the map case if your maps are already waterproof?

quote Goldenbadger: "I was thinking about taking wipes of some type as well. I was trying to find a good facial wipe.
And I've debated a map case. This may seem like a dumb rookie question, but why the map case if your maps are already waterproof? "

to prevent them from possibly blowing away, and to clip on a pack while portaging.

Thank you, Kanoes.

when it is needed, a good well fitting mosquito head net. Kinda like first aid kit, you don't want to use it, but when you do, relief is immediate, :-)

Hello? Emergency Scotch in case you get stuck out an extra night due to wind or weather? Or, maybe you are just having a regular scotch emergency.

quote TheBrownLeader: "Hello? Emergency Scotch in case you get stuck out an extra night due to wind or weather? Or, maybe you are just having a regular scotch emergency."

Canadian Club always seems most appropriate to me. Although I've had my share of Tangdrivers as well.

quote gutmon: "I'll say it again- Ibuprofen!"

haha - no doubt!

A pocket Swiss Army knife is another thing I always bring. So many things can be done with one of these.

quote Savage Voyageur: "A pocket Swiss Army knife is another thing I always bring. So many things can be done with one of these. "

Along with the multi-use swiss army knife I include a multi-tool in that category and never leave home without them.

After getting a hole in our Alumicraft last year and taking on water, EPOXY kit. Saved our ASS! :)

A body bug net. When your tent zipper fails at midnight and the swarms are out, nuff said...

Wouldn't go anywhere without my leathermans

quote BearBrown: "Everyone on this board loves bdb's, and i like them too but in my opinion these are better rubberized twist ties. These work very well. Hold items securely and are quite versatile. "

+1 on these, we have used them to rig canoes together as a catamaran (very stable on windy lakes) and even to rig a sail on it. we always take at least 20 on a trip.

quote Kots: "After getting a hole in our Alumicraft last year and taking on water, EPOXY kit. Saved our ASS! :)"

I'd be willing to bet this is one of the most forgotten or not thought of items to bring....a good canoe repair kit.

Great suggestion.

quote LuvMyBell: "

quote Kots: "After getting a hole in our Alumicraft last year and taking on water, EPOXY kit. Saved our ASS! :)"

I'd be willing to bet this is one of the most forgotten or not thought of items to bring....a good canoe repair kit.

Great suggestion."

Partial roll of duct tape.

quote LuvMyBell: "

quote Kots: "After getting a hole in our Alumicraft last year and taking on water, EPOXY kit. Saved our ASS! :)"

I'd be willing to bet this is one of the most forgotten or not thought of items to bring....a good canoe repair kit.

Great suggestion."

I always include 2-part epoxy resin packets from West and a small patch of fiberglass cloth in the emergency kit. I think that I can fix almost anything with that, duct tape and/or wire.

SE

i really like the energizer headlamps. very lightweight and bright and hands free cooking at night. duct tape is a must. never enough rope(cloths line and much more)the baby wipes i always bring now(wipe your pits-crotch-butt)

quote awbrown: "Coffee!"

YEP!

quote awbrown: "Coffee!"

YEP! OOPs! double clicked. But, I really do like coffee!

quote campcook184: "

quote BearBrown: "Everyone on this board loves bdb's, and i like them too but in my opinion these are better rubberized twist ties. These work very well. Hold items securely and are quite versatile. "

+1 on these, we have used them to rig canoes together as a catamaran (very stable on windy lakes) and even to rig a sail on it. we always take at least 20 on a trip."

+1

And the Figure 9 caribiner - my last rainy trip I had two tarps up and didn't have to tie a single knot (I have 10 of the medium size ones and 2 of the large. Putting tarps (or any rope item) up, adjusting them, and taking them down are about a 1/4 of the time now.

headlamp or wetwipes... thats a toss up for most important.

Baby wipes are the unsung heroes of modern outdoor gear.

quote shock: the baby wipes i always bring now(wipe your pits-crotch-butt)"

important to keep the order in the right sequence.

quote gutmon: "

quote shock: the baby wipes i always bring now(wipe your pits-crotch-butt)"

important to keep the order in the right sequence."

no wonder i really stink when i get home!

I've updated my required gear list to include baby wipes. Never thought of it for a BWCA trip before. What a great multi-use idea. Thanks

quote gutmon: "

quote shock: the baby wipes i always bring now(wipe your pits-crotch-butt)"

important to keep the order in the right sequence."

gutmon 2 funny lmao

1 comment on ropes and tarps. on the cheaper tarps ,on the corners bunch it up and wrap the rope around the coner 8" in many times do not use the eyelets. and you can use more rope in the middle to lift the center for good rain off.

It's easier to stay clean if you don't get dirty. To that end I have a piece of waterproof nylon canvas (3'x4') that I kneel on when ever the work requires it.
I was looking for a usable wind screen and nothing I could find looked large enough to really work. Made my own from aluminum flashing 18" by about 3'. Five folding sections. Fits inside my blue plastic barrel. Shields my stove and pot from any wind.
When the paper towel roll gets down to about 1/4 left I change out the roll and cut the small roll in two, squashed flat and taken camping, I have T.P. that's up to the job and of course anything else that I might need a paper towel for.
Best Wishes, Rob

Figure 9’s, the small ones, I can tie all the knots just find but for ease of use they just can’t be beat. They can be moved in seconds, come off in seconds, just a wonderful trinket to have along, I bring a bunch every time for tarps and rainfly’s.

My gerber multi-tool. I have used it for more things than I can remember.

Empty Peanut Butter (JIF) jars. I use one to hold my coffee which lasts about 7 days worth of cups, and another that holds creamer packets, splenda packets, salt and pepper packets (fast-food style single serving things). I have even used peanut butter jars to hold my fishing supplies. They work great.

I rate essential according to the time spent using the item. Allowences are made for the obvious. A chair get used a lot and is therefore awarded space in my travel.

Platypus water filter is just awesome. Used to spend way too much time pumping water and cleaning water filters. If you drink coffee a great French press works great.

Indispensable gear? My trip partner, whoever it may be. At least that was the first thought that came to mind.

I like to bring a pair of Goggles. Never know when you might have to go diving.

a roll of paper towels...

Hammock
Extra paddle
Mesh onion/potato sack for rock anchor
Extra key for the truck, hide it in the woods near the parking spot
Three stackable plastic bins with covers that fit my food pack perfectly. Adds less than two pounds. Helps immensely in sorting meals and keeps everything dry. Helps keep things from getting too squished as well. Double-duty as dishpans, too.

I always crave a cold drink after a few days in the woods. Each person brings a plastic bottle of their favorite beverage; Coke, beer, iced Caribou coffee, or whatever. On the first lake in from the entry point, put the drinks in a mesh sack with a few rocks to ensure it sinks. Tie a length of line to the sack, sink the bundle in at least 20-25 feet of water and run the line to shore. Tie it to a branch, kind of hidden so no one else will find it. And if someone does - Cheers to them!
On the last day, before you get to the canoe landing, paddle to the secret spot, pull up the line and cold beverages. Voila!
If I could just figure out a way to make it work with ice cream...

quote TomP: "baby wipes."

I would never take a baby into BWCA. Besides being just another thing to carry, they make noise at the wrong times, scaring game and annoying other campers, and they get sunburned easy. Best to leave the baby at home or with a sitter. You can find a sitter easy on Craigslist, some will even come and get the baby and take it away so you don't even have to drive to their house.

Here's a related thread.

Little things that make a BIG difference

....and another.....



Cant go without

I am trying to not duplicate, but I just scanned the thread.

Two items that I brought last time were a 5 gallon bucket and a sheet of aluminum.

The bucket was multipurpose. On the move, it was a great place to put odds and ends items. At the camp, I used it to dip water, turn it over for my old back side to rest while cooking, and we used it to wash our dishes.

The aluminum was single purpose. I made a custom windshield for the stove with it. It was flexible enough to put in a pack, but rigid enough to stand up and keep the wind off the flame.

They will be brought on future trips as well.

Paddle's pretty indespensible. Worst thing to lose, besides the canoe of course. That happens from time to time, I understand.

Redundant fire starting methods. Using white gas and improvised flint and steel works in a pinch but for 3 days is a pain. Some aluminum foil, a small grill (6x8), Biofreeze (4% menthol) for aches and pains. Shoe goo.

quote LuvMyBell: "

quote LuvMyBell: "Other than the most obvious essentials (canoe, paddle,life jacket, food, cook stove, fishing gear, tent, sleeping bag, rain suit, etc.....), what is the single most indispensible piece of gear that you bring on your trips?"

I should have been more clear.....Indispensible to you but maybe a little unique. Something that makes your trip easier or more enjoyable but that most people wouldn't think to bring along.

IBFLY's 'Attitude' response is great. It doesn't have to be a physical item."

My spouse, Bellolake. He does the planning, carries most of the weight, buys all the gear to keep us both comfortable, keeps me warm if it's cold, chops the wood, starts the fires, catches the fish, drives me there (so I can read), quotes my dad (who is deceased and also loved and tripped in the BWCA), thanks me for every meal I cook, always has a great attitude, and loves having me along!

Hatchet and saw

quote SunnyDay: "

quote LuvMyBell: "

quote LuvMyBell: "Other than the most obvious essentials (canoe, paddle,life jacket, food, cook stove, fishing gear, tent, sleeping bag, rain suit, etc.....), what is the single most indispensible piece of gear that you bring on your trips?"

I should have been more clear.....Indispensible to you but maybe a little unique. Something that makes your trip easier or more enjoyable but that most people wouldn't think to bring along.


IBFLY's 'Attitude' response is great. It doesn't have to be a physical item."

My spouse, Bellolake. He does the planning, carries most of the weight, buys all the gear to keep us both comfortable, keeps me warm if it's cold, chops the wood, starts the fires, catches the fish, drives me there (so I can read), quotes my dad (who is deceased and also loved and tripped in the BWCA), thanks me for every meal I cook, always has a great attitude, and loves having me along! "

Whats the name of that chair you are sitting in?

quote finman: "Cotton balls and Vaseline for fire starters..."

+1

quote lean: "

quote SunnyDay: "

quote LuvMyBell: "

quote LuvMyBell: what is the single most indispensible piece of gear that you bring on your trips?"

. Something that makes your trip easier or more enjoyable but that most people wouldn't think to bring along.physical item."

"

Whats the name of that chair you are sitting in?"

YES, what are the names of those Chairs! And how do you like them?

GCI backpacking chair

According to this review I don't think they make it anymore. Mostly comfortable. Directions for assembly attached to chair. Great for backpacking.

quote RT: "Empty Peanut Butter (JIF) jars. I use one to hold my coffee which lasts about 7 days worth of cups, and another that holds creamer packets, splenda packets, salt and pepper packets (fast-food style single serving things). I have even used peanut butter jars to hold my fishing supplies. They work great."

Now that's a great idea! Just about the right size for coffee. I've tried all sorts of containers, and that one would be waterproof besides being the right size. Thanks a heap.

Now I gotta go on an all peanut butter diet.

quote Beaverjack: "

quote TomP: "baby wipes."

I would never take a baby into BWCA. Besides being just another thing to carry, they make noise at the wrong times, scaring game and annoying other campers, and they get sunburned easy. Best to leave the baby at home or with a sitter. You can find a sitter easy on Craigslist, some will even come and get the baby and take it away so you don't even have to drive to their house."

Beav... that just made my morning! funny stuff!

quote Beaverjack: "

quote TomP: "baby wipes."

I would never take a baby into BWCA. Besides being just another thing to carry, they make noise at the wrong times, scaring game and annoying other campers, and they get sunburned easy. Best to leave the baby at home or with a sitter. You can find a sitter easy on Craigslist, some will even come and get the baby and take it away so you don't even have to drive to their house."

Best laugh all week.

I bring a small Sony MP3 player and earbuds. I have pretty bad insomnia when camping and having music playing while I try to go to sleep a) helps me go to sleep and b) if I can't, it helps pass the time and takes my mind off the fact that I can't sleep. The battery lasts over 50 hours of play. If I'm on a trip that is longer than 4 nights, I bring a portable battery charger. Both devices are very small and lightweight.

To that end, Advil PM is a must-have. Helps sleep, and helps ease the ache of the day's exertion. I also bring Excedrin Migraine for the day's headaches that come with caffeine withdrawal and daily aches and pains - I don't drink coffee, and while a nice cold bottle of Coke would be great at the end of the day, it's not really practical ;-)

The last indespensible item is my inflatable neck pillow. It weighs next to nothing, squashes flat when not in use, but is a necesity to being able to sleep comfortably - I am a side sleeper. If I sleep on my back, I snore to the point of near sleep apnea. If I sleep on my stomach, my back will be out of sorts the rest of the trip. Sleeping on my side requires proper head elevation (pillow) as well as having something in front of me to drape my upper arm over... mitigates snoring and keeps me from rolling over on to my stomach. fleece jacket stuffed with other clothes usually fills that requirement.

And I thought I had problems, BuckFlicks...

quote Beaverjack: "

quote TomP: "baby wipes."

I would never take a baby into BWCA. Besides being just another thing to carry, they make noise at the wrong times, scaring game and annoying other campers, and they get sunburned easy. Best to leave the baby at home or with a sitter. You can find a sitter easy on Craigslist, some will even come and get the baby and take it away so you don't even have to drive to their house."

Excellent!

My fifteen year old son. Can't imagine a trip without him. It would not be the same.

I never go very far without either my Luminox or G-Shock watches.
Particularly the Luminox as it glows nice and bright!

quote boonie: "And I thought I had problems, BuckFlicks..."

Yeah, I probably made it sound worse than it is, but sleeping and camping are like water and oil for me :-\ I'm generally able to get a few hours each night. After two nights of fitful sleeping, I'm usually able to get a better night's rest. Upgrading my sleeping bag and pillow situation helped quite a bit, as did getting an anti-snoring mouthpiece.

Hell, I don't even sleep well at home with all my aches and pains, BuckFlicks. I do sleep better in camp since replacing my Thermarest with an Exped Synmat though.

I always trip with my Hennessy hammock. Waking up each morning without sore and stiff hips, back and shoulders does wonders for my day.

quote boonie: "Hell, I don't even sleep well at home with all my aches and pains, BuckFlicks. I do sleep better in camp since replacing my Thermarest with an Exped Synmat though."

I've been thinking about getting a mat like this, more specifically a Big Agnes, as I have the Lost Ranger sleeping bag. The size and weight have kept me from taking the plunge, though.

quote BuckFlicks: "

quote boonie: "Hell, I don't even sleep well at home with all my aches and pains, BuckFlicks. I do sleep better in camp since replacing my Thermarest with an Exped Synmat though."

I've been thinking about getting a mat like this, more specifically a Big Agnes, as I have the Lost Ranger sleeping bag. The size and weight have kept me from taking the plunge, though. "

I don't know what you're sleeping on now, but mine packs down smaller than my old Thermarest and doesn't really weigh any more.

Bandana. Can't believe nobody's mentioned this. Many, many uses.

Hippo Patch

JB

Okay, this might be something I bring that many may not:

A camera tripod. Mine is about 4" long and can stand up as a tripod or be wrapped around a stick with included velcro strap. I think I got it at Eddie Bauer years ago. I really enjoy being able to take a couple pics of the entire group during the trip, or of myself on a solo.

Great list of gear in this thread!
Thanks all