Everything But the Kitchen Sink

My Mississippi River Packing List

When you’re preparing to camp for two months, packing becomes less about convenience and more about survival, safety, and sanity. Every piece of gear has to earn its place- because once we’re on the water, it’s a lot harder to run to the store for forgotten necessities.

After months of trial runs, gear tests, and last-minute Amazon orders, I finally packed up everything I’ll carry with me on the trip. Below is a complete list of what made the cut (plus a photo of it all laid out!)

Some of it will prove essential, some will probably end up as dead weight… but for now, I’m just amazed it all fits!

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The Complete Packing List:

Worn Daily (top row, above my head!)

• Life Jacket

• Spot Tracker

• GoPro

• Pocket Knife

• Wide-brimmed Hat with Net for Mosquitos

• GPS Watch

• Paddle Gloves

Quick Access Bag-10L (bottom right corner)

• VHF Marine Radio

• Head Lamp

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen and Bug Spray

• Trowel, FUD, and Peri Bottle

• Hand Sanitizer

• Aspirin/Tylenol

Kitchen Bag- 30L (top left corner)

• Soto Wind Master Stove and Pot Support

• Isobutane Fuel Canisters x3

• Titan Kettle - 1,400 ml

• Silicone Spatula

• Storm Matches

• Can Opener

• Scour Pad and Dish Soap

• Spoon/fork x3 (I lost one on our test trip, bought two more, then found the missing one in my tent bag!)

• Seasoning Salt and Cooking Oil

• Insulated Cozy, courtesy of seamstress Suzanne Ingram

• A Week’s Worth of Food (Not pictured, but very important)

Daily Grooming -10L (bottom left)

• Toothbrush and Paste

• Witch Hazel Toner, Cotton Pads, and Facial Lotion

• Wet Brush and Hair Ties

• Deodorant and Wet Wipes

• Vitamins and Daily Rx

• Cotopaxi Losdoz Zip-Off Pants x2

• Capilene Cool Long Sleeve T-Shirt x2

• Undergarments x7

• Night Gown

• Aloe Gel

Tent Bag - 20L (left side, two from bottom)

• Thermarest Neoloft Sleeping Pad and Pump Sack

• Rumpl Travel Blanket

• Cocoon Travel Pillow and Travel Sheet

• Fan and Moji Rechargeable Lantern

• Alaska Bear Eye Mask and Earplugs

• Tent Broom

• Bible and Drawing Near Devotional

• Kindle

Less Frequently Needed Bag- 10L (left side, one up from bottom)

• Camp Saw and Screwdriver

• Rain Jacket and Spray Skirt

• Patch Kits for tent, sleeping pad, and boat

• First-aid Kit (Band-Aids, wound cleaner, clotting agent, allergy medicine, anti-itch cream, tweezers for ticks, etc.)

• Towel

• Sewing Kit

• Shower Kit: Razors, Fingernail Brush, Curl Cream (oh, how I wish we had frequent access to showers!)

• Manuals for marine radio, spot tracker, etc.

Loose in Boat (right side, upper 2/3rds)

• Tent, Sand Stakes, Ground Liner

• 10L Hydrapak, 10L Water Cell, and Sillcock key (we’re carrying about a week’s worth of water each)

• Airtag and Case

• Paddle Float

• Sponge

• Carabiners x10

• Portage Cart

• Dock Lock

• Rubber Boots

• Chacos

• Garbage Bag, 10L

• Solar system & External Batteries x2

• Drone Box and Float

• Big Water Bottle

• 230cm Greenland Paddle (my spare- Leah’s been trying to convert me to the stick for years and I confess it’s working!)

• 225cm European Paddle

I don’t even want to begin to guess how much this weighs, or how much will (or won’t!) be useful on the trip. I’m just impressed it all fits in the boat! Please feel free to ask any questions about our gear for the trip.

What would you bring on a similar journey? What would you leave out?

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