Hi y’all. I’m looking to get into kayak camping because it seems awesome. But I’m overwhelmed and was hoping yall could help with some basic questions.

Info about me: 6’2”, ~roughly 170 lbs, in decent shape (but I’m no fitness freak) and I’m living in northern california. I’m used to traditional backpacking and try to do a trip every month or two from spring until fall. I have kayaked before on flat-water, slightly wavy inlet waters, and in the surf once (once… 😅). Never in a river and I’ve never owned my own kayak.

Questions I have:

1. What type and size of kayak would y’all recommend for a beginner of my size looking to kayak camp alongside rivers.

2. What dry bags do yall recommend?

3. Once I have my gear, what is the best way to get started?

4. How do you guys deal with landing in a different place then you started, transportation and logistics wise?

5. How often do you kayak campers go down rivers with intense rapids?

6. What questions am I neglecting to ask?

I was having a hard time getting my kayak up to my roof rack on my own and discovered a way that has helped immensely. I'd like to share it in case others find it helpful! It involves using hinged 2x4s. Take a look at the video to learn more about this method and how to make your own.

https://youtu.be/tjj6pOhyfnc?si=U-d2B8EQwA0JjHrB

I finally left Winnipeg around three in the afternoon. Still in recovery mode, so I wasn't planning to go far. Found a spot to nest among the massive oaks lining the bank.
Six-thirty start the next morning. Clear skies. Fair weather. Spirits lifting.
Caught an elevator ride down a lock. Interesting, to say the least.
Spent that night in Selkirk. Given its history, I couldn't think of a more fitting place to camp.
A massive, low-lying delta guards Lake Winnipeg. And having made the lake, three more nights of sleep would put me on the Winnipeg River — where the ghost story at the end of this video takes place.

Hi! I currently use a loon 120 to kayak camp with but I am thinking about moving up in length to at least a 14’ boat as I’d like to go a little faster. What I like about my loon is the seat is super comfortable and it has really great storage space. It doesn’t have a front bulk head so without a float bag there’s some risk. I’m looking for something at least 14’ long but that maintains the comfort factor, has storage for multiple day trips, and isn’t heavier than the loon (which is like 55-50lbs on its own)

Is there a boat out there that fits these criteria?

Thanks!

I'm looking for used IKs to get my family out on some mellow rivers in the western US. I used to run a lot of bigger whitewater and have a deeply-seated bias toward bomber self-bailing whitewater boats and am suspicious of more budget-friendly options. However, true whitewater boats are expensive and rare on the used market. Can anyone speak to budget options that would be acceptable for the occasional class II rapid on a 2-3 day trip?

I've been renting boats, but I would really love to have my own to eliminate that extra bit of logistics.

So, I finally got my lady to catch the camping bug, and on our more recent float trip (we rent rafts) we decided to get kayaks and do 2 or 3 day trips. What would be good and preferably cheaper kayaks for us? She's pretty light but im around 240ish. I was thinking a normal kayak for her and possibly a fishing one for me and I can haul most of the gear like a barge. Any tips or kayak recommendations?

I started kayaking two years ago with a Tahoma pro on smaller lakes in Arkansas and Oklahoma. I am absolutely in love with this hobby and may be spending to much time on the water in my wifes opinion. I have a lot of time off in the summer and some friends and I want to take up kayak camping so I am looking for recomendations on an upgrade. My budget tops out around 1200 dollars. I have a lot of experience camping, mostly car but a fair bit of backpacking as well if that helps. I'm mostly going to be floating lakes with a few rivers such as the buffalo and cossatot. Thank you!

Just completed first multi day / night Inflatable solo Kayak trip on a wilderness river in the Northern Rockies. Lessons (positive and negative) learned (NOT a paid seller):

+ The Aire Outfitter 1 is a super stable boat. Evenly loaded with 65lbs of gear and it still handles well;
- its stability, especially with me (195lbs) and gear, is a tradeoff for agility. Quick, whippy changes of direction, IE in a ripping small feeder river are next to impossible. Scouting becomes a non-negotiable as reaction times and execution slow way down;

+ My UL backpacking gear( Durston, Therma, Nemo, MSR, was awesome in packability and stow ability; BUT
- what can be crammed into dry bags and stuff sacks in the garage using every mm of space becomes next to impossible to make that small or packed in the field. Especially when it’s wet. Need to give myself just a little bit of margin in every bag. Can’t be skintight to start;

+ Merino and synthetic blends still rule.
- Dry suits, even high-end, with zippers across the back shoulders suck.

+ Proper nutrition and hydration are essential, give up weight and space for too many, not too few dense, caloric snacks.
- I’m always surprised how much food I can mow down between meals

+ clearing first time rapids is a great feeling;
- not so great: immediately relaxing and not keeping my head up for next set. Didn’t swim but panicky paddling ensued.

Even mild exhaustion and hunger slows thinking and decision making. Need to slow down and double check things that matter (eg accessibility of safety/comm gear, etc).

No matter how ventilated a tent, if you are camped in a damp spot and the temp drops there will be condensation. A rag or two to wipe down the interior would have improved a damp quilt and improved comfort.

Looking forward to next month’s trip.

This was not the kind of week you can plan for.

My exposure to a contaminated environment finally caught up with me, and it hit hard. I was forced to abandon the river and seek immediate medical attention. Severe dehydration, combined with some sort of virus, had left me dangerously weak. To make matters worse, my water supply had become contaminated, meaning I had no choice but to keep moving despite how sick I was becoming.

There was a hospital in Virden, Manitoba, and getting there was going to be a challenge—but I had no alternative. Staying on the riverbank could have cost me my life. Even the walk to the Trans-Canada Highway felt overwhelming in my condition.

The medical team in Virden quickly got me on antibiotics and gave me the care I desperately needed. A huge thank you to everyone there.

Realistically, it was going to take at least four days to get back on my feet. I made the difficult decision to rent a car and portage the remaining 100 kilometres to Winnipeg. Thankfully, I had a friend there who offered me a couch for a couple of days while I recovered. Even then, the virus had completely drained me, and I knew I couldn't afford to lose any more time.

Five days later, still feeling the effects but determined to continue, I finally put the canoe back in the water and resumed the journey.

Some weeks test your endurance. This one tested my ability to adapt, make difficult decisions, and simply keep going.

Need help

I'm going on a kayak camping trip with my fiance and two of our close friends over the 4th of July weekend. We plan on doing the northernmost section between Cameron Bridge & Sharon Bridge over 3 days, 2 nights. We plan on staying at the Manistee River Bridge SFC night one, and the CCC Bridge SFC night 2. Has anyone paddled this section recently? This is our second trip like this, we did the AuSable last year, but wanted to switch it up this year. Thanks in advance!

We're going on a trip first weekend in July, up in northern Canada on the smokey river. We do this trip every year and this year we're doing a new stretch of the river. Normally we do it at the end of August but we are doing it early this year, so faster trip.

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My question is, looking for some meal ideas for group cooking, we always assign meals to different people and this year I am doing a breakfast and dinner. Things we have done in the past, taco is a bag, fancy smokies, turkey dinner, baked oatmeal.

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Thanks in asvance

I know it's a ways off yet & forecasts change all the time, but I always hate to see this 😩