How much can I actually pack in a canoe or sea kayak?

Far more than you can carry, which is exactly why loads creep. A tandem canoe can take several hundred pounds, and a touring kayak swallows a week of supplies in its hatches. The real limits are the portages, the loading and unloading, and how the boat handles when it is heavy. Pack for the hardest carry on the route rather than the space available, and keep weight low and centred so the boat stays stable.

Can I drink the water I am paddling on?

Not untreated. Even clear backcountry water can carry giardia, cryptosporidium, or bacterial contamination, and the risk is higher downstream of agriculture, livestock, or settlement. Carry a filter or purifier, chemical treatment as a backup, or the fuel to boil. Plan your resupply points before you go rather than assuming a source will be there.

What is the most common mistake on a first overnight paddle?

Underestimating wind and overestimating daily distance. A loaded boat is slower than an empty one, headwind on open water can cut your pace dramatically, and afternoons are usually windier than mornings on lakes and coastlines. Plan conservative days, start early, and build in a spare day. Then waterproof the sleep system properly, because the second-most-common mistake is a wet sleeping bag on night one.

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Multi-Day Touring & Canoe Camping

Overnight trips by canoe or sea kayak. You are carrying camp with you and you are further from help. The boat will carry far more weight than a backpack, which is the trap: pack for the portages and the loading, not for the volume available.

Waterproofing is the whole discipline here. Assume every dry bag will be submerged at some point and pack the sleep system and the fire kit as if the boat will swamp.

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Common questions

How much can I actually pack in a canoe or sea kayak?: Far more than you can carry, which is exactly why loads creep. A tandem canoe can take several hundred pounds, and a touring kayak swallows a week of supplies in its hatches. The real limits are the portages, the loading and unloading, and how the boat handles when it is heavy. Pack for the hardest carry on the route rather than the space available, and keep weight low and centred so the boat stays stable.
Can I drink the water I am paddling on?: Not untreated. Even clear backcountry water can carry giardia, cryptosporidium, or bacterial contamination, and the risk is higher downstream of agriculture, livestock, or settlement. Carry a filter or purifier, chemical treatment as a backup, or the fuel to boil. Plan your resupply points before you go rather than assuming a source will be there.
What is the most common mistake on a first overnight paddle?: Underestimating wind and overestimating daily distance. A loaded boat is slower than an empty one, headwind on open water can cut your pace dramatically, and afternoons are usually windier than mornings on lakes and coastlines. Plan conservative days, start early, and build in a spare day. Then waterproof the sleep system properly, because the second-most-common mistake is a wet sleeping bag on night one.