AWW – Packing List Guidance

The trip profile you’ve been provided shares a detailed list of what you will want to bring to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable excursion.

As a reminder, this is a completely off the grid adventure, providing no opportunity to acquire forgotten or needed items along the way. Advance planning and checking / rechecking your list, to ensure all items are accounted for, is highly recommended.

Below is what your guide considers highly pragmatic suggestions related to your detailed packing list. Where appropriate links are provided for your convenience to view (and even purchase) these items online at Amazon.

Finally, at the bottom of this page is guidance on how to pack to minimize the number of moving parts.

PACKING LIST-RELATED

Water Purification & Bottle

To minimize the load we carry each participant is required to bring their own water purification method and water bottle. We have had great success with GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier.

Clothing

Light clothing is better than dark (during spring and summer) for the following reasons:

• Light clothing reflects the sun (dark clothing will cause you to heat-up faster).
• Bugs are more attracted to dark clothing – reason enough to avoid!
• You can more easily see ticks and other insects on light colored clothing.

Nylon shirts and pants are highly recommended as nylon doesn’t retain moisture. And, long sleeves and pants provide added protection against insects.

Hat – To keep the sun and bugs off the head you’ll find your guide sporting a Tilley Hat (The Finest in all the World – It says so right on the label). While they have many colors, it is suggested that you stick with the lighter shades (as mentioned above).

Watershoes – Your guide has had excellent experience with Tevas. They provide a good balance of foot protection, comfort as well as water / air flow to enable quick drying. It is suggested that you put a few miles on these well in advance of the trip, to break them in.

Rain Gear * – Gore Tex, or similar quality gear as the cheap-o models shred during the first 1-2 wears.

For the bugs

Insect Repellent – With DEET. We’ve had good experience with Ben’s.

Head Net – While insect repellent is absolutely required, the flies may still be buzzing around your head, even temporarily landing. To eliminate this nuisance factor a head net is highly recommended – especially in the early part of the season.

To ensure dry gear

To keep your gear dry you’ll want to pack everything in waterproof / dry bags. We haven’t used this particular brand / model but the reviews are outstanding and the specs outline the required features we’ve found necessary to ensure dryness.

Paracord – You’ll want to have about 25’ for hanging / drying clothes.

Your primary wilderness tool

The knife – Your guide’s favorite is the Leatherman. Below are 2 suggestions to consider (only 1 knife is required).

• High-end Multitool carried on the belt. Provides pretty much any basic tool you could need – at your fingertips.
• Pocket Size Multitool – a pragmatic alternative.

For your sleeping comfort

Sleeping Pad – Thermarest self inflating sleeping pad.

Sleeping Bag * – Rated for 20 degrees less than the lowest temperatures expected. These come in many shapes and sizes, so you’ll want to select a sleeping bag that is best for you and compact to minimize bulk.

Battery powered and mobile phone-related

• Flashlight Headlamp – Highly recommended as it enables you to free your hands while aiming your light at night.
• Bring extra batteries for any items requiring power on-the-go (headlamp, etc.).
• While there is NO CELL SIGNAL on this excursion, you’ll want to bring a backup power pack if you plan to use any smartphone apps (e.g., GPS) and/or your phone’s camera.
  • It is recommended that you place your phone in Airplane Mode once we are off the grid, to conserve power.
• Waterproof case for your cell phone – The waterproof / dry bag recommended above includes a case for your mobile phone. Alternatively, your guide has had fantastic experience with Lifeproof cases. They are waterproof, submerge-able and shock proof. Be sure to select the case that is applicable to your smartphone.

Notes on the above

• The above is NOT the complete list of items you’ll want to bring. Please refer to the detailed packing list, provided in the trip profile.
• For items flagged with a * it is highly recommended that you visit an outfitter (such as Cabela’s, EMS or LL Bean), to see, touch and/or try-on in advance of acquiring.
• While links to Amazon are provided for convenience you may find many of these items at your local Walmart.
• Bottom-line: You can spend as much (or as little) as you want on any of these items. It is best to err on the side of quality to ensure durability for the duration of your Northwoods adventure.

PACKING GUIDANCE

It is EXTREMELY important to minimize the moving parts / loose items because:

• We will load / unload / lug this stuff to / from canoes multiple times per day.
• If a canoe capsizes, want to be able to easily retrieve items that “were” in the canoe 🙂

Only (up to) 3 bags per person for the Waterway / in canoes:

• 2 Dry Bags (40-liters or less)
• 1 Small back pack

Other personal items:

• Tent
• Fishing Pole

We hope you find this information helpful to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable excursion.

If you should have any questions or comments, please feel to Contact Us.

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